Alabama School Yearbooks by State and County
Monday, December 22, 1997
Ralph W. Behn
Ralph W. Behn, 77, of Sioux City died Sunday, Dec. 21, 1997, at a Sioux City hospital following a brief illness.
Services will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Sean M. Smallwood, pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church, officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Mr. Behn was born May 25, 1920, in Magnet, Neb., the son of William H. and Augusta (Eggert) Behn. He moved to Sioux City in 1938. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946.
He married Thelma Henrichson on March 18, 1947, in South Sioux City. She died June 16, 1994, in Sioux City. He was employed as a salesman with De De Beverage for many years, retiring in 1980.
Survivors include a stepson, Richard Cabana of Sioux City; two granddaughters, Tracey Gilmer and Stacey Cabana; a great-granddaughter; two brothers, Raymond of California and Walter of South Sioux City; and a sister, Gertrude Fiben of Norfolk, Neb.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
John L. Johnson Jr.
John L. Johnson Jr., 69, of Sioux City died Saturday, Dec. 20, 1997, at his residence following a lengthy illness.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Faith Lutheran Church, with the Rev. David Fechner officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.
Mr. Johnson was born May 21, 1928, in Keokuk, Iowa, the son of John L. Sr. and Alice (Floria) Johnson. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War.
He married Pat N. Tool on Feb. 8, 1947, in Sioux City. He was employed with Hoak Oldsmobile for many years and with Arrow Stage Lines for many years. He most recently was employed with Crown Lincoln Mercury.
He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter and her husband, Susan and Mike Jovanovic of Sioux City; two sons and their wives, Scott and Janet of Austin, Texas and Russ and Susie of Sioux City; three brothers, Bill, George and Bob, all of Keokuk; seven grandchildren, Todd and Eric Evans, Brandy Steele, Raquel Hubbard, Tim, Jarrod and Alan Johnson; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a son, John Michael; and a sister, Lucille.
Pallbearers will be Jim Flanagan, Phil Warnke, Harold Boden, Danny, Rod and Steve Martin.
Robert C. Mercure
Robert C. "Bob" Mercure, 46, of Sioux City died of cancer Saturday, Dec. 20, 1997, at a Omaha hospital.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Elaine Miller, interim pastor of Mayflower Congregational United Church of Christ, and the Rev. Patricia Minnick, pastor of First Congregational Church in Whiting, Iowa, officiating. Burial will be in Logan Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 2 to 9 p.m. today, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.
Mr. Mercure was born May 26, 1951, in Sioux City, the son of Edward and Marian (Ebmeier) Mercure. He married Carol F. Koenig on May 25, 1974, in Whiting, Iowa. He was employed with the City of Sioux City and was currently the night supervisor for the street department. He also ushered at the Sioux City Auditorium for various events.
He was a member of the local Stagehand Union.
Survivors include his wife; a son, Eric at home; a daughter and her husband, Tammy and Scott Jones of Chicago, Ill.; seven sisters and brothers-in-law, Marilyn and Ron Millage, Pat and Larry Simon, Sandra and Melvin Pies and Deanna Mercure, all of Sioux City, Bette and Bill Beacom of Jackson, Neb., Barb and Richard Dilley of Little Rock, Ark. and Linda and Wayne King of South Sioux City; and a brother and his wife, Jerry and Kathy Mercure of San Jose, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials in his name may be directed to the American Cancer Society in Sioux City.
Alexander A. Socknat
Alexander A. Socknat, 89, of Sioux City died Sunday at a Sioux City nursing home.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, with a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at the Larkin Morningside Funeral Home.
Joan M. Verschoor
Joan M. Verschoor, 53, of Sioux City died Saturday, Dec. 20, 1997, at a Sioux City hospital.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, with the Rev. Paul-Louis Arts officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today, with a parish vigil service at 8 p.m., at the Larkin Northside Funeral Home.
Miss Verschoor was born Dec. 3, 1944, in Sioux City, the daughter of William O. and Bertha (Vonderharr) Verschoor. She graduated from Heelan High School in 1965.
She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
Survivors include two sisters, Bertha Ebel of South Sioux City and Judy and her husband Don Karrer of Sioux City; and three brothers and their wives, Michael T. and Virjean and Richard and Patricia, all of Sioux City and James and Theresa of Lawton, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Mary Ann Thomas; and a brother, William E.
Pallbearers will be Ronald Johnson Sr., Joshua Johnson, James and Susan Verschoor, Greg Lucken and Corey Pitham.
Memorial in her name may be directed to the Immaculate Conception School Endowment Fund.
Paul W. Warner
Paul W. Warner, 70, of Sioux City died Sunday, Dec. 21, 1997, at a Sioux City hospital following a brief illness.
Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Boniface Catholic Church, with the Rev. Marvin J. Boes officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery at Mapleton, Iowa. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. today, with the family present from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., a rosary at 4 p.m. said by the Catholic Daughters of America, a Scripture service at 7 p.m., followed by a 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus rosary, followed by a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus chalice service, at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.
Mr. Warner was born Nov. 25, 1927, in Onawa, Iowa, the son of Odie and Katherine (Wimer) Warner. He was raised in the Onawa area. He served in the U.S. Navy and then with the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
He married Mary Frances Jacoby on Jan. 2, 1952, in Mapleton. The couple moved to Sioux City in 1963. He was employed with Wilson Trailer for 27 years.
He was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, the 3rd Degree Knights of Columbus Epiphany Council 743, the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Garrigan Assembly, the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 54 and the American Legion Monahan Post 64.
Surviors include his wife; two daughters, Alice and her husband Mark Cone of Blue Springs, Mo. and Susan Warner of Sioux City; a son and his wife, Michael J. and Vicki of Sioux City; and four grandchildren, Sarah Abbott, Brandon and Grant Cone and Sean Warner.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and a sister.
George K. Dodd Sr.
ALTA, Iowa - George K. Dodd Sr., 72, of Alta died Sunday at the Buena Vista County Hospital in Storm Lake, Iowa.
Services will be at 10:30 Wednesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery at Alta, with military rites conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6172 of Alta. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present from 6 to 8 p.m. and a Scripture wake service at 7:30 p.m., at the Barker Funeral Home in Alta.
Teresa Dozler
DENISON, Iowa - Teresa Dozler, 97, of Denison died Sunday at the Eventide Nurisng Home in Denison.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Denison. Burial will be in St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Tuesday, with a Legion of Mary at 4 p.m. and a parish wake service at 7 p.m., at the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison.
Harold R. Grigg
PRIMGHAR, Iowa - Harold R. Grigg, 78, of Primghar died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 1997, at the Hope Hospice House in Fort Meyers, Fla.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today at United Church of Primghar, with the Rev. Richard Dunn officiating. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Gaudian-Eldridge Funeral Home of Primghar is in charge of the arrangements.
Mr. Grigg was born April 22, 1919, in Cherokee, Iowa, the son of John R. and Mary (Alseph) Grigg. He attended school in both Cherokee and Milwaukee, Wis. After graduating from high school, he attended Cherokee Junior College followed by the University of Iowa, where he received both his bachelors and law degrees. While in law school, he served as editor of "The Iowa Law Review."
He married Eva Ruth Bohner on Sept. 16, 1950. He opened his first law practice in Cherokee and became the county attorney for Cherokee County. In 1955, the couple moved to Primghar, where he joined the law firm, Smith, Grigg, Shea and Klinker.
He was a member of United Church of Primghar and the American College of Trail Lawyers. He served on the Board of Governors of the Iowa Bar Association and as president of the Iowa Defense Coucil, he served on the Primghar School Board and the hospital board. He enjoyed yard work and playing golf.
Survivors include his wife; a son and his wife, Rick and Pat of Hamden, Conn.; a daughter and her husband, Cindy Grigg and Don Thurston of Williston, Vt.; and three grandchildren, Andrew and Hannah Grigg and Eli Thurston.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Jean; and a brother, Harvey.
Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society.
Florence Griggs
DENISON, Iowa - Florence Griggs, 83, of Denison died Saturday, Dec. 20, 1997, at the Denison Care Center.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison. Burial will be in Crawford Heights Memory Gardens. Visitation will be after 3:30 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Mrs. Griggs was born Sept. 30, 1914, in Dakota City, the daughter of John C. and Flora Stading. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith. She graduated from South Sioux City Community School.
She married Laurence Ellis in 1938. The couple made their home in Allen, Neb. She was employed with the Elms Nursing Home in Ponca, Neb. as a nurses aide for several years. He died in 1979.
She married Orville Griggs and they settled in Washington, Iowa. He died in 1985. She moved to Denison.
She was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Ponca. She enjoyed gardening, baking and playing the piano at the church.
Surviors include two daughters, Phyllis Niebuhr of Denison and Micky and her husband Kevin Schurch of Beresford, S.D.; three sons and their wives, Deryl and Darlene Ellis of Sioux City, Bill and Sherryl Ellis and Denny and Connie Ellis, all of Denison; 21 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Melvin Ellis; a daughter, Marilyn Ellis; and three brothers, George, John ad Earl Stading.
John Lyftogt
ORANGE CITY, Iowa - John Lyftogt, 84, of Orange City died Saturday at the Long Term Care Facility of the Orange City Municipal Hospital.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Reformed Church in Orange City. Burial will be prior to the service in Newkirk Cemetery. There will be a prayer service at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Burton Meeves
DENISON, Iowa - Burton Meeves, 65, of Denison died Friday at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. today at the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison. There will be no visitation.
Rose Niehus
REMSEN, Iowa - Rose Niehus, 91, of Remsen died Saturday, Dec. 20, 1997, at the Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars, Iowa following a lengthy illness.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Remsen, with the Rev. Thomas J. Hart officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with a rosary at 3 p.m. said by the Christian Mothers and the Catholic Daughters of America and a vigil prayer service at 7:30 p.m., at the Fisch Funeral Home in Remsen.
Mrs. Niehus was born May 5, 1906, in rural Remsen, the daughter of Frank and Margaret (Ludwig) Beelner. She was raised in the Remsen area and attended St. Mary's Catholic School. She did domestic work in the Remsen area.
She married Joe Niehus on Jan. 26, 1927, in Remsen. The couple farmed near Remsen, retiring and moving into Remsen in 1962. She was employed in the hot lunch program at St. Mary's Catholic School for seven years.
She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, the Christian Mothers, the Catholic Dauthers of America, the Missionary Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters and their husbands, Esther and Joe Schmitz of Carroll, Iowa, and Carole and Randy Voss of Cherokee, Iowa; a son and his wife, Ronald and Peg of Remsen; 17 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; a sister, Kathryn DeGroot of Atlanta, Ga.; two half sisters and their husbands, Helen and Boots Heuer of Sun City, Ariz. and LaVonne and Earl Slife of Hawarden, Iowa; a half brother and his wife, Arnold and Margaret Beelner of Worthington, Minn.; and two sisters-in-law, Florence and her husband Clarence Schroeder of Le Mars, Iowa and Loretta Harpenau of Remsen.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Matt, Ted and Michael Beelner; a sister, Mary Loutsch; and a half sister, Elsie Eckes.
Pallbearers will be Steve Niehus, Danny and Doane Schmitz, Todd Smith, Mark Torrence and Brian Voss.
Edna Pfaffle
REMSEN, Iowa - Edna Margaret Pfaffle, 94, of Remsen died Sunday, Dec. 21, 1997, at the Kingsley Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Kingsley, Iowa following a brief illness.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First Lutheran Church in Kinglsey, with the Rev. Michael Gruhn officiating. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery at rural Marcus, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. today, with the family present from 6 to 7 p.m., at the Earnest-Michaelson Funeral Home in Kingsley.
Mrs. Pfaffle was born June 6, 1903, in Garfield Township, Plymouth County, Iowa, the daughter of Wilson and Kate (Daringer) Knight. She was raised on the family farm and graduated from Kingsley High School. She attended Morningside College and then taught rural school.
She married Earl M. Pfaffle on Sept. 13, 1923, in rural Marcus. The couple farmed in Henry Township for many years. He died March 30, 1981.
She was a member of First Lutheran Church and the Neighborhood Birthday Club. She was a former member of Trinity Lutheran Church and its Ladies Aid.
Surviors include two sons and their wives, Wayne and Janice of Remsen and Floyd and Joyce of Kingsley; two sisters, Alice Ohlendorf of Kingsley and Margaret and her husband George Meyer of Fort Collins, Colo.; seven grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son and daughter in infancy; a brother; and three sisters, Agnes Ohlendorf, Mabel Cussen and Ina Krekow.
Pallbearers will be Todd, Steven, David and Kevin Pfaffle, Bill Powell and Karl Bahrke.
Wilbur Riemersma
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa - Wilbur Riemersma, 73, of Sioux Center died Friday, Dec. 19, 1997, at the Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull, Iowa.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Covenant Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center, with the Rev. Daniel De Groot officiating. Burial will be at 10:15 a.m. Tuesday in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be after 8 a.m. today, with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m., at the Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center.
Mr. Riemersma was born Oct. 31, 1924, in Ocheyedan, Iowa, the son of Henry and Freda (TeBrake) Riemersma. He attended school near Ocheyedan to the eighth grade. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946, his last tour was in Japan.
He married Theresa Beimers on Jan. 24, 1947, in Sibley, Iowa. The couple lived in Sibley, where he was employed with Houghton Hatchery. They moved near Ashton, Iowa, and farmed during which he worked at Heeren Produce. In 1965, they moved to Sioux Center, where he worked for Plasier Plumbing and Heating. He was employed as a maintenance worker at the Sioux Center Community Hospital from 1976, until retiring in 1988.
He was a member of Covenant Christian Reformed Church, where he served as an elder. He enjoyed bowling, fishing and making quilts.
Survivors include his wife; three sons and their wives, Hal and Judy and Larry and Ruth, all of Sioux Center, and Randy and Nancy of Willmar, Minn.; two daughters and their husbands, Leola and Arlen Van Ravenswaay of Sanborn, Iowa and Beth and Gary Maas of Harrison, S.D.; 18 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two brothers and their wives, John and Susie of Worthington, Minn. and Donald and Annetta of Rochester, Minn.; two sisters, Gertrude and her husband Willie Iedema of Ocheyedan and Helen Vander Stoep of Rock Rapids, Iowa; and a sister-in-law, Engelena Riemersma of California.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Gerrit and an infant brother.
Pallbearers will be Mark and Michael Van Ravenswaay, Cory, Jason, Jeremy and Justin Riemersma, Ralph and Dwaine Lammers.
Rose Mary Schrum
DENISON, Iowa - Rose Mary Schrum, 41, of Denison died Saturday at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Dension.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Denison. Burial will be in Crawford Heights Memory Gardens. Visitation will be after 3:30 p.m. today at the Huebner Funeral Home in Denison.
Marvin E. Storm
ARCHER, Iowa - Marvin Emil Storm, 83, of Archer died Saturday, Dec. 20, 1997, at the Northwest Iowa Health Center in Sheldon, Iowa.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Archer United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Charles Tefft officiating. Burial will be in Roseland Cemetery at Sanborn, Iowa. Visitation will be after 11 a.m. today, with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m., at the Sanborn Funeral Home.
Mr. Storm was born Dec. 12, 1914, near Archer, the son of Emil and Elizabeth (Wisser) Storm. He attended school in O'Brien County. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II aboard the USS South Dakota.
He married Irene A. Byers on Sept. 19, 1950, in Elk Point, S.D. The couple farmed until moving to Archer in 1983.
He was a member of Archer United Methodist Church and the Sanborn American Legion Earl T. Conaway Post 318. He served as secretary of the Archer Farmer's Co-op Board, and as treasurer of the Lord Acre. He enjoyed the outdoors and reading.
Survivors include his wife; a son and his wife, Larry and Carolyn of Archer; two grandsons, Charles and Samuel; a brother and his wife, Alvin and Sadie of Archer; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Wallace; and a surrogate son and his wife, Floyd and Margaret Larson.
Pallbearers will be Leo Kuiper, Don Koepnick, Wayne Storm, John Vander Sluis, Gilbert Vollink and Darvin Rusche.
Irma C. Witt
LE MARS, Iowa - Irma Caecilie Augusta Witt, 84, of Le Mars died Friday, Dec. 19, 1997, at the Plymouth Manor Care Center in Le Mars.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Remsen, Iowa, with the Rev. Craig Miller officiating. Burial will be in Remsen Cemetery. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today, with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m., at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars.
Miss Witt was born Oct. 23, 1913, in rural Sioux County, the daughter of John J. and Rosa (Hansen) Witt. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith. The family moved to a farm near Marcus, Iowa, in 1915. She attended country school and graduated from Le Mars Central High School in 1931. She attended the National Business Training Institute in Sioux City and graduated from Westmar College and the University of Iowa, where she received her juris doctorate degree in 1953.
She was employed with Plymouth Co-op Oil from 1935 to 1941, and with Roseberry and Pitts Law Firm from 1941 until she went to law school. In 1954, she entered private practice in Le Mars. In the 1970s she relocated to her residence where she continued to practice. She entered the Plymouth Manor in 1994.
She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, the Plymouth County Bar Association, where she served as secretary-treasurer, the Iowa Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the American Association of University Women, the University of Iowa Alumni Association and the National Association of Business and Professional Women.
Survivors include a nephew and his wife, Dale and Sandi Witt of Spencer, Iowa; a niece, Donna Klungseth of Eau Claire, Wis.; and three grandnephews.
Pallbearers will be Dale and Travis Witt, Jerry Ruba, Roger Johnson, Dean Lemickson and Kenneth Heidesch.
Marlys Alt Milne, 79, of Vermillion, S.D. died Sunday; Iverson-Siecke Funeral Home of Vermillion.
