Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Patricia Burl (Neal) Bledsoe, 74, of 523 10th Ave. North, Clear Lake, died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa.
Patricia was born Jan. 31, 1929, in Clear Lake. She was the daughter of Henry Earnest and Alvena Leone (Pedersen) Neal. She attended grades K-10 at Clear Lake and graduated from Mansfield High School, Mansfield, Mo.
Patricia married
John Junior Bledsoe, of Hartville, Mo., on Dec. 28, 1946 in Mountain Home, Ark. She and John had five children, Roger A. Bledsoe and wife, Nancy, Coon Rapids, Minn., Donna S. Prescott and husband, Marvin, Lake Mills, Iowa, John David Bledsoe and wife, Barbara, Galesburg, Ill., Linda M. Dickersbach and husband, Steven, Malvern, Iowa and Steven D. Bledsoe and wife, Kathy, Clear Lake. She had 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and by her sisters, Marjorie Nyhus, Margarett Beard and Elizabeth DeMeritt. She is survived by her sister, Janet (Melvin) Schroeder of Seymour, Mo.
She had many interests and hobbies. Patricia and John loved to garden and grew many varieties of flowers and produce. She enjoyed the butterflies, squirrels, hummingbirds, wrens, cardinals and the occasional turkey that took advantage of their gardens and feeders.
Patricia worked at the Clear Lake Bakery for 12 years and was a waitress at several local restaurants. Her award-winning pies, other baked goods and candies were much sought after at farmers markets.
She was an avid reader and skilled Scrabble player. She loved to camp and fish with family and friends, and to play with her grandchildren. She remains greatly loved and dearly missed.
In lieu of flowers, her family asks that memorials be made to the Hospice of North Iowa Center.
Interment will be at a later date.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
John Henry Johnson, 96, passed away Dec. 23, 2003 in Glendale, Calif. Graveside services will be Friday, Jan. 2, 2004, 10:30 a.m. in Clear Lake Cemetery with the Rev. Jan Burnett of Clear Lake United Methodist Church officiating. Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, is in charge of the graveside service.
John was born in Clear Lake, Iowa the son of John and Maude (Hibel) Johnson. He graduated from Clear Lake High School.
John was a longtime Glendale resident and was a retired draftsman (50 years) with Lockheed Aircraft. He was a member of North Glendale United Methodist Church and the I.O.O.F. Odd Fellows Lodge #187, Clear Lake.
Several cousins survive John. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Gladys Johnson, June 10, 1999.
Susan Eggers Dietz, 57, 1104 S. 3rd St., Clear Lake, died Friday, Dec. 26, 2003 at the Methodist Hospital, Rochester, Minn. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, at the United Methodist Church, 508 2nd Ave N., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Keith Scott officiating. Interment will be held at the Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. Visitation will be Friday from 5 -7 p.m. at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake. Memorials may be given to the Susan Dietz Memorial Fund.
Susan was born Aug. 6, 1946 in Mason City, the daughter of Ernest and Leona (Marchand) Roth. She graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1964. Susan attended Hamilton College in Mason City. Susan married
Robert Eggers. She drove for GAF and helped manage her father's business as Ernie's Smoke Shop and later John's Smoke Shop. Susan later went back to Hamilton College and earned her degree. She then worked for IMI Cornelius in Mason City in the Custom Order Dept.
Susan married
Guy Dietz on Feb. 18, 1989 at the United Methodist Church, Clear Lake. She loved her family and grandchildren. She enjoyed camping, her dogs and cat, shopping and celebrating birthdays and Christmas with her family. She was involved in softball, pool and dart leagues for many years. Susan was a member of the United Methodist Church in Clear Lake and a past member of the Clear Lake Evening Lions.
Susan is survived by her husband, Guy Dietz, Clear Lake; son, Bob Eggers and his wife, Vicki, and their daughter, Megan, Mason City; two daughters, Susan Borremans and her husband, Eric, West Allis, Wis. and Timilyn Hunzelman and her husband, David, and their daughters, Madelyn and Sophie, Chesterton, Ind.; brother, James Roth and his wife, Judy, Vancouver, Wash.; her aunts and uncles, Arthur and Marge Petersen, Mason City, Donna Nelson, Ft. Dodge, Iowa Dick and Ruth Marchand, Clear Lake, and Marlys Roth, of Iowa and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Hildegard C. Beckmann, 78, of 909 Main Street, Clear Lake, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004 at Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City. Services were held Monday, Jan. 5, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Ventura, Iowa with the Rev. Daird W. Korth officiating. Memorials may be left to the Hildegard Beckmann Memorial Fund.
Hildegard Charlotte, the daughter of Willi and Elisabeth (Stark) Grunert, was born May 17, 1925 in Berlin, Germany. She received her education in Berlinchen. She worked as an apprentice clerk from 1949 1952. Hildegard was united in marriage to Willi O. Beckmann on March 25, 1949 in Munich, Germany. In 1952 she moved with her husband and daughter, Traudi, to Ventura, Iowa, later moving to Clear Lake in 1953. She worked for the Clear Lake Bakery, the Fashion Shop, and Dawne's Clothing where she did tailoring. She later did tailoring from her home.
Hildegard enjoyed swimming, biking, walking and quilting for World Relief. She was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church of Ventura, where she sang in the choir.
Hildegard is survived by her husband, Willi, of Clear Lake; her daughter, Traudi Schwab and her husband, Manfred, and one grandson, Markus Schwab, all of Munich, Germany; one sister-in-law and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers, Gerhard, Heinz, and Werner.
Betty M. Hegney, 75, of 510 Main Street, Hanlontown, Iowa, died Monday, Dec. 29 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City. Funeral services were held Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004 at Grace Lutheran Church, Hanlontown, with the Rev. Kris Snyder officiating. Burial was at Brush Point Cemetery. Memorials may be left to the Betty M. Hegney Memorial Fund, 510 Main Street, Hanlontown, Iowa, 50444.
Betty Maxine, the daughter of John and Grace (Barrick) Kennedy, was born Sept. 12, 1928 in Burchinal, Iowa. She attended country school near Burchinal. After her schooling she worked for the Clear Lake Bakery. She married
Orain Hegney on April 1, 1961 in Hanford, Iowa. She was a very dedicated homemaker. She also did a lot of babysitting for many families.
Betty enjoyed dancing and bird watching, but her favorite pastime was spending time with her family. She was a member of the Grace Lutheran Church of Hanlontown, in which she was very active, a member on the Park Board for Hanlontown, and she played an instrumental role in revamping the park. She was also a Girl Scout Leader.
Betty is survived by her husband, Orain, of Hanlontown; her children, Michael Kennedy and his wife, Donna, of Hanlontown, Cheryl Tietjens and her husband, Roger, of Kensett, Iowa, Julie Losee and her husband, Kevin, of Hanlontown and Barbara Suby and special friend, Daniel Kramer of Hanlontown; seven grandchildren, Jeromy and Kelly Kennedy, Amy Pilcher, Andrew Tietjens, Mallory, Selena, and Ethan Losee, and 11 great-grandchildren Andrea, Emily, Arianna, and Cassie Kennedy, Dalton DeWitt, Samantha, Alexis, Trenton, and Leah Tietjens, Aria Pilcher, and Katie Saathoff. Also surviving are her siblings, Delores Klang, Clear Lake, Robert and Carol Kennedy, Mason City, Melvin and Linda Kennedy, Burchinal, Iowa and Dorothy and Don Nichols, Clear Lake and one sister-in-law, Jeanette Holm, Glenwood, Minn.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; one grandson, Aaron Tietjens; one sister, Mildred Bates; two brothers-in-law, Merlin Klang and Donovan Bates and many aunts and uncles, including Ida Thovson.
Dean W. Gilles of Bradenton, Fla. died Dec. 31, 2003 at Blake Hospital.
A Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Bernard Catholic Church, Holmes Beach, Fla. on Monday, Jan. 5. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Bernard Catholic Church.
Dean "Porky" Gilles was born May 16, 1915 in Osage, Iowa. Porky moved to Florida from Clear Lake in 1973. He owned and operated The Ritz Supper Club in Clear Lake for 36 years prior to his retirement. He was a charter member of the Holy Name Society of St. Bernard Parish and a fervent participant in all fund raising activities.
Survivors include his wife, Pat, of 63 years; two sons, Jack, of Clear Lake, and Tom, of Prescott, Wis.; a daughter, Barbara Leith, Ames, Iowa; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Griffith-Cline Funeral Home Manasota Chapel, 941-748-1011, was in charge of arrangements.
DeLos James Armstrong, 93, of 901 N. 12th St, Clear Lake, passed away Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004 at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004 at the United Methodist Church, 508 2nd Ave N, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Jan Burnett officiating. Interment will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Delos James Armstrong Memorial Fund.
DeLos was born Sept. 3, 1910, the son of Harry and Pearl (McCormick) Armstrong at Iona, S.D. Delos moved with his folks at an early age to Dows, Iowa to the home farm. DeLos was united in marriage to Margaret Smith on March 30, 1930 and they farmed in the Franklin County area. In 1950 they moved to the Clear Lake area and continued to farm and later he was in trucking, hauling livestock and grain. Margaret passed away in August of 1965.
DeLos married
Loretta Jahnke on Aug. 15, 1970. They enjoyed square dancing and camping. They wintered in Texas from November to April for over 20 years. He was a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church
DeLos is survived by his wife, Loretta, of Clear Lake; three sons, James Armstrong, Clear Lake, Robert Armstrong and his wife, Sally, Detroit, Mich., Paul Armstrong and his wife, Linda, Des Moines, Iowa; one daughter, Irene Alshouse and her husband, Lyle, Dubuque, Iowa; two step-children, Ronald Jahnke and his wife, Ruth, Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Judy Whitfield, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; two sisters, Alice Creighton and her husband, Rex, Hampton, Iowa and Ann Brinkman, Dows, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Lois Armstrong, Texas; nine grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, six step-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchilren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Margaret; a sister, Avis Armstrong and a brother, Walter Armstrong.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge or arrangements.
Lilah A. Trowbridge, 91, Clear Lake, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004 at the Sheffield Care Center, Sheffield, Iowa. Funeral services were held Monday, Jan 12, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with Chaplain Kathy Graves officiating. Interment was held at the Fairview Cemetery, Dows, Iowa. Officiating at the Graveside service was the Rev. Anthony Hershey of the Dows United Methodist Church. Memorials may be given to Ventura Senior Citizens Center, 10 S. Weimer St, Ventura, IA 50482 in memory of Lilah A. Trowbridge.
Lilah was born March 27, 1912 at Bristow, Iowa the daughter of Alva and Dorothea (Elkema) Mathews. Lilah graduated from Bristow High School in 1930 and attended one year of business school in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Lilah married
Mitchell Trowbridge on June 23, 1932 in Galt, Iowa. Lilah and her husband farmed for over 43 years in Wright, Mitchell and Howard counties, retiring to Clear Lake in 1974. Lilah was a member of Clear Lake United Methodist Church. She was also a 50 year member of Queen Rebekah Lodge. She was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening, canning and trying new recipes. She crocheted many afghans for her family, grandchildren and great grandchildren in her later years.
She enjoyed traveling very much and had visited every state in the U.S., plus Europe, England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. She wrote many stories of her travels and enjoyed talking about it. She enjoyed her many visits and spending time with all her family and friends.
She took great pride in living in her own home and taking care of herself up until Thanksgiving, when she fell and had to be hospitalized and was transferred to the Sheffield Care Center where she passed away after a brief illness on Jan. 9, 2004.
Survivors include two sons, Jon and Maryln Trowbridge of Akron, Iowa, George and Jan Trowbridge of Largo, Fla.; five daughters, Doris and Charles Greibel of New Ulm, Minn., Dorothea and Gary Borchardt of Sheffield, Iowa, Doreen Machin of Lakeville, Minn. and Leann and Calvin Rasmusson of Mason City, Iowa, Linda and Duane Rodamaker of Clarksville, Iowa. Lilah leaves 19 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Lilah is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Mitchell T. Trowbridge on Dec. 10, 1981; two brothers, Lloyd and Laverne Mathews; one sister, Lilian Hopkins and two great-grandchildren.
Hazel Marie Wonsmos, 88, Thornton, Iowa, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004, at Muse-Norris Hospice of North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa. According to her wishes, she is being cremated. She will have a private inurnment at the Richland Lutheran Cemetery, Thornton, Iowa. Memorials may be given to the Richland Lutheran Church or Hospice of North Iowa.
Hazel was born Feb. 2, 1915 in Jackson, Minn., the daughter of Marius and Ida (Rosedahl) Oredsen. She graduated from Fertile High School. Hazel married
Chris Wonsmos on Nov. 15, 1948 in Hampton, Iowa. They lived in Thornton. Hazel cleaned homes and several businesses in Thornton. She also worked at the Clear Lake Bakery. Hazel was a member of the Richland Lutheran Church in Thornton.
Hazel is survived by two sisters, Dorothea Hansen, Los Angeles, Calif. and Edna Mae Seager, Sacramento, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Dorothy A. Wonsmos, Albuquerque, N.M., several nieces, nephews and numerous friends.
Hazel was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 1961; four brothers, Melvin, Stan, Don, and Pete Oredsen and two sisters, Fern and Frances.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.
Donald E. Hoversten, 72, of 604 S. 3rd St., Clear Lake, died suddenly of a heart attack Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004, at Mercy Medical Center North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa. Memorial services were held Monday, Jan. 12, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake. Inurnment was at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City. Memorials may be given to the Don Hoversten Memorial Fund.
Don was born July 28, 1931,the son of Elmer Truman and Bessie Ilo (Weaver) Hoversten, in Hamilton County, Williams, Iowa. Don graduated from Alden High School in 1949, and entered the U.S. Air Force on Dec. 29, 1949 in Des Moines, Iowa. He was an Airman 1st Class serving during the Korean War and was discharged July 16, 1952. Don married
Jacqueline H. Hall on Aug. 2, 1952 at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa. They lived most of their married
life in Clear Lake where Don worked at the Clear Lake Bakery for seven years on the loading dock. He joined the staff of the Clear Lake Sanitary District in 1973 where he was employed until retiring in 1993. Don was a collector of wooden trains. He enjoyed gardening, watching the Price Is Right, Wheel of Fortune and football, especially the Vikings and Hawkeyes. He also enjoyed going to the casino and playing games of chance. Don liked to dine out with his family at many local restaurants and enjoyed spending time with his grandkids. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, American Legion, and Thrivent.
Don is survived by his wife, Jackie Hoversten of Clear Lake; three children, Susan Swartwood and her husband, Steve, Mason City, William Hoversten, Clear Lake, and Kathy Verhalen and her husband, Eric, Clear Lake; five brothers, Wally, Merle, Dave, Butch and Ron Hoversten; five sisters, Evelyn Kinstle, Verna Scott, Betty Richtsmeier, Fran Rout and Delia Rockow; five grandchildren, Joshua Heginger, Mason City, Justin, Nathan, Nicholas and Jami Verhalen, Clear Lake, and one great-granddaughter, Kourtney Verhalen-Hare, Mason City.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Richard, Robert, Harold and Gene and two infant sons, Todd and James.
Yasuko K. Amundson, 66, passed away at her residence, 6032 South Shore Dr., Clear Lake, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004. Memorial services were held Tuesday, Jan. 13, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake. Inurnment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. Memorials may be made to the Yasuko K. Amundson Memorial Fund.
Yasuko was born Dec. 21, 1936 at Yokosuka, Japan the daughter of Yoshimi and Matu (Nakagawa) Kojima. Yasuko married
Ronald Amundson, July 24, 1956 in Tokyo, Japan. During his 22 years of service in the U.S. Navy, they lived in Spain, Taiwan, Philippines and Italy. After his retirement in 1970, they returned to Clear Lake.
Yasuko was an excellent cook and was a very generous, caring person and very devoted to her family.
Yasuko is survived by her son, Rick Amundson of Clear Lake; daughter-in-law, Jeana Amundson; two grandchildren, Jacob and Taya Amundson, all of Clear Lake; a brother-in-law, Jerry Amundson and his wife, Beverly, of Kansas City, Kan. and a sister-in-law, JoAnn Montilla and her husband, Jose, of Orlando, Fla.; three sisters, Eiko Takahashi, Masako Tukloka, and Chiyko Kosaki; two brothers, Kotaro Kojima and Yoshio Kojima, all of Japan.
Her parents, husband, mother-in-law, one sister and two brothers preceded her in death.
Ida U. Goethe, 101, Clear Lake, died Monday, Jan. 12, 2004 at Heritage Care Center, Mason City, Iowa. She had been a resident since Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2003. The body was cremated with an inurnment to be held at Parkersburg, Iowa at a later date.
Ida was born March 6, 1902 at Cylinder, Iowa. She was the daughter of Gidvert and Cora (Satter) Dyrland. She attended school through the eighth grade. She was united in marriage on July 17, 1943 to Chris Jacobson, of Britt, Iowa in St. Louis, Mo. They made their home in Britt. Chris passed away June 11, 1950.
On Nov. 26, 1953 Ida was united in marriage to Robert L. Goethe at the Goethe home in Omaha, Neb. They resided there until Robert passed away Jan. 26, 1957. Later that year Ida and her step-daughter, Marlys Goethe, moved to Clear Lake. Marlys passed away Aug. 28, 1976. Ida spent most of her life as a homemaker. She was famous as a good cook and bread maker.
Survivors include a step-daughter, Betty (Jacobson) Anderson, Indian Head Park, Ill.; four step-grandchildren, Roger Jacobson, Britt, Jim Jacobson, Coronado, Calif., Jill (Jacobson) Morelli, Bexley, Ohio, Gary Craycroft, Fresno, Calif.; several step-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
Memorial gifts will be left to the discretion of the family.
Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, is in charge of arrangements.
