Sidney H. Ketchum

February 12, 2009

Sidney H. Ketchum, passed away on Thursday, February 5, 2009, at the Kootenai Medical Center (Circle of Life) after a courageous and hard fought battle with lung cancer.

Memorial services were held on Tuesday, February 10, 2009, at the Yates Funeral Home in Idaho.

Sid was born on February 2, 1936, to Philip and Dorotha Ketchum in Clarion, Iowa and graduated from the Rowan High School in 1954. On February 20, 1955, Sid married the love of his life, Barbara Strever at the United Church of Christ Congregational in Clarion.

From 1955 to 1957, he served in the Army and spent a year in Italy. After returning home, Sid worked for the Chicago Great Western Railroad as a telegrapher and then a brakeman. In 1960, he and Barbara moved to Southern California where he became a salesman for IDS selling mutual funds and insurance and then as a salesman for a manufacturing representative for Aero-Space. Being a natural salesman was just one of Sid's many talents. He was also great with his hands and in the late 60's he opened Ketchum Company, a wood working company specializing in Grandfather clocks. In 1978, Sid and Barbara moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho, where Sid started Great Oak Enterprises, a wholesale furniture company specializing in occasional tables and accessories.

Sid is survived by his wife, Barbara; two sons, Steven (Miyuki) and Scott (Veronica); seven grandchildren; two brothers, Robert Ketchum and Gene Ketchum; one sister, Patricia Crafton; and brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and many very good friends.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Lisa; and parents, Philip and Dorotha.
© Wright County Monitor 2009

Delores Lott

February 12, 2009

Delores Lott, 84, of Le Mars, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2009, at the Good Samaritan Village in Le Mars, following complications from Alzheimer's disease. A private family memorial service will take place at a later date.

Kathryn Dolores Lister, was born on March 16, 1925 at Milo, Iowa, the daughter of Rev. Frank and Maude (Fenimore) Lister. She graduated from the Ottumwa High School in 1943. She would later receive a Home Economics Degree from Iowa State University in 1947.

On August 18, 1947, Dee and James G. Lott were united in marriage at Boone. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, and loyal supporter of Dr. Lott's medical practices in Clarion, Iowa (1952-1982) and Manson (1982-1986). Dee and Dr. Lott resided in Ames from 1987-1997. In later years, Dee lived in Denver, Colorado before returning to Ames.

She was a member of the American Association of University Women, Delta Delta Sorority and the United Methodist Church. The pleasures of Dee's life included flowers and gardening, pets, reading, traveling and being a caregiver to both friends and family.

Dee is survived by two daughters, Lorraine Osborn of Arvada, Colorado and Linda Smith and husband, Steve of Marcus, Iowa; and two grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two brothers; and two sisters.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Big Sioux Alzheimer's Association, Sioux City, Iowa.
© Wright County Monitor 2009

Gilbert L. Samuel

March 5, 2009

Gilbert L. Samuel, 93, of Clarion, died on Sunday, February 8, 2009, at the Careage in Clarion.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, February 28, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Tarkio, Missouri.

Gilbert Samuel was born on October 7, 1915, at the home of his parents, Harry A. Samuel and Pearl (Proctor) Samuel, near Cedar Gap, Missouri. He attended elementary school at a country school known as "Mountain Side" in Douglas County, Missouri. He graduated from high school at Ava, Missouri in 1934. He worked on the family farm until 1937, then moved to Washington state where he worked in the apple orchards.

He moved to Indio, California, where he worked for the U.S. Government as an assistant manager of a migratory camp, which was one of several camps set up to accommodate victims of the Dust Bowl who had been forced from their farms. He married Elsie McMillon in 1938 in Springfield, Missouri. They spent the first two years of their marriage in Indio, then moved to Washington where he again worked in the apple orchards.

Gilbert became one of Jehovah's Witnesses along with his wife in 1941. They continued in their faith for the rest of their lives. In 1945, they moved to Tarkio, Missouri where they were instrumental in starting the local congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. To support their ministry, he became a carpenter and owned a construction company and for the next 25 years built many fine homes in the Tarkio and Mound City area.

In 1984, he lost his wife to cancer after 46 years of marriage. In 1987, he married Agnes Churchill of Clarion, where they made their home. He assisted his wife with her home rental business until his death.

He is survived by his wife, Agnes; three daughters, Roberta Peregrine of St. Joseph, Missouri, Ramona (Jerry) Hertzell of Greensboro, North Carolina and Rebecca (Scott) Whitehill of Rock Port, Missouri; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elsie; his parents; and a brother, Robert B. Samuel.
© Wright County Monitor 2009

Mary Lois Hagen

February 26, 2009

Mary Lois Hagen, 81, of Clarion, formerly of Britt, passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2009, at the Careage of Clarion in Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Friday, February 20, at 1:00 p.m., at the St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion, with Fr. Nils Hernandez officiating. Burial was in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Clarion.

Mary Lois, the daughter of Harold and Della (Hilpipre) Rohrer, was born in Clarion on January 1, 1928. She attended Clarion Schools and graduated from the Clarion High School in 1945. After graduation, Mary Lois taught country school for three years. She was united in marriage to Wallace Hagen on November 3, 1948, at St. John's in Clarion. In 1963, the family moved to Britt where she worked at the We-3 Market for 17 years. Upon returning to Clarion in 1980 the couple purchased Tomke's Drug Store, renaming it Hagen's Gift Store, which they ran for 12 years.

Following her retirement Mary Lois became a homemaker and took care of Wallace when he became ill. After suffering a stroke, Mary Lois became a resident at Careage of Clarion in 2005. Mary Lois loved her family and being a wrestling mom. She enjoyed knitting, playing cards, riding her bike and shopping. Mary Lois will be remembered as a great cook, who made good fried chicken and tasty blueberry pies. She was a very loving mother and grandmother.

Mary Lois was a member of the St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion, where she was involved in various circles. She was also a member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas in Clarion and Britt.

Mary Lois is survived by two sons, John Hagen of Amery, Wisconsin and Brent (Carol) Hagen of Denison; four grandchildren; her siblings, Francis Rohrer of Eagle Grove, Duane (Carol) Rohrer of Mason City, Edward (Fritz) Rohrer of Dunwoody, Georgia, Gary (Shirley) Rohrer of Clarion, Caryl (Carol) Rohrer of Clarion and Diane (Gary) Dahlgren of Fort Dodge; along with numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

Mary Lois was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wallace in 2002; and one infant brother.
© Wright County Monitor 2009

Mitchell Murawski

February 26, 2009

Mitchell Murawski, age 94, of Custer, South Dakota, passed away on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, at the Custer Regional Senior Center in Custer.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Monday, March 2, at the Eagle Grove United Methodist Church, with Pastor Michael Agnew officiating.

Mitchell was born on October 27, 1914 in Minsk, Poland, to John and Jadwiga (Bethke) Murawski. He graduated with a business degree from the Warsaw Institute of Poland. Mitchell served as a First Lieutenant in the Polish Army and worked with the underground. He was also a survivor of the Auschwitz concentration camp. On July 10, 1946, he married Sophie Prorok in Kessel, Germany. They lived in various places throughout Europe before immigrating to the United States in 1952. Mitchell worked at a cookie factory in Chicago, Illinois and then as a teller at a downtown bank, until his retirement in 1980. He then moved to Eagle Grove with his family.

Mitchell was a member of the Eagle Grove United Methodist Church. He also enjoyed playing bingo, cards, bowling, visiting friends and helping others.

Mitchell is survived by his wife, Sophie and daughter, Diana (Daniel) Edwards, both of Custer.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Irene.
© Wright County Monitor 2009

Ramona Carole Nagel

February 26, 2009

Ramona Nagel went to join the Lord on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Wright Medical Center in Clarion.

A celebration of her life will be held at the St Peter Lutheran Church in Pocahontas, at a date to be determined.

Ramona was born in Peterson, Iowa, on November 6, 1935, to Walter and Leota (Bailey) Heick. She married Daryle Nagel on August 20, 1955 in Peterson. During their 53 years of marriage, the couple lived in Peterson, Inwood, Dike and Pocahontas. To this union were born three children.

Ramona was an active member of the St. Peter Lutheran Church. She loved flowers and watching the birds that perched on her many bird feeders. She enjoyed fishing trips and visiting the Rock Mountains in Colorado. Ramona especially loved traveling with her husband within the United States and abroad.

She will be remembered as a compassionate, involved member of the communities where she lived, a caring friend, and as a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

Ramona is survived by her husband; three children and their families, eldest son, Dan and wife, Cindy and their five children and 11 grandchildren; son, Tim and wife, Denise and their nine children; daughter, Kim Graves and her husband, Doug and their two children; and sisters, Frances Zahren and Norma Nagel.

She was preceded in death by her sisters, Geraldine and Doris; and cherished granddaughter, Tara Nagel.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to the St. Peter Lutheran Church in Pocahontas, Wright County Hospice in Clarion, Pocahontas Community Hospital Hospice or to The Animal Rescue Alliance, Independence, Missouri.
© Wright County Monitor 2009

Lt. Col. James Russell Larson

March 5, 2009

Lt. Col. James Russell Larson, USAF Ret., passed away in Blanco, Texas, on Monday, February 23, 2009, four days short of his 89th birthday.

He will be buried on Friday, March 6, in the Ft. Snelling Military Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with full military honors, next to his wife, Alice (Owen).

Known as "Russ," he was born on a farm seven miles south of Kanawha, Iowa, on February 27, 1920, to Joseph and Ruth (Richardson) Larson and graduated from the Belmond Township 4 Country School and the Belmond High School. He farmed with his family and enlisted after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He graduated from the Army Air Corps' Flying Cadet Program at Brooks Air Base near San Antonio, Texas. When a buddy called him "Swede," the nickname stuck, even though his family was Norwegian.

As "Swede Larson," he was first assigned to Panama to protect shipping routes and then to North Africa. From Sicily and Corsica he flew into Italy, Southern France and Eastern Europe with the 4th Fighter Squadron and was an exchange officer with the British Royal Air Force, protecting the oil fields of the Middle East. He flew the P-39, P-40, Spitfire and P-51. After the war ended, he served as the commander of the single engine aircraft section at Brooks, the military commander for the southern half of Indiana, Central Kentucky and Southeast Illinois, reopened the air base in Kearney, Nebraska and was the military governor of Hokkiado, Japan during the occupation. From Japan, he participated in the police action in Korea, flying the F-80, in the first use of jet powered aircraft in combat. In all, he flew 208 combat sorties and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, eight air medals, three unit citations and many other medals and ribbons.

After a peacetime career as "Jim" that took him to the Azores, Germany and several states, he retired from the Air Force in 1970. He returned to Iowa and received his last nickname, "the Colonel." With his youngest son, Joseph he farmed until his passing. He maintained his love of flying and for many years, the Colonel kept a single-engine plane at the Clarion airport. In his later years, he spent the "off season" in Blanco, Texas, where several of his flying buddies had retired.

He was married to Alice Owen, who died after a long illness. He is survived by his daughter, Patricia (Peter) Saunders of Chicago; sons, James, Jr. (Mary) of Philadelphia, John of Corvallis, Oregon and Joseph (Peggy) of Goodell; ten grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sisters, Doris Shear of Kanawha, Clarice Yarger of San Diego and Joanne Betten of New Hampton; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was predeceased by his wife, Alice; a sister, Marion Didio Urnst of Belmond; a brother, Lowell of New Hampton; and a granddaughter, Adrienne Generalis.

During his lifetime, he flew 43 different types of aircraft and logged over 17,000 hours of military and civilian pilot time. He also piloted many farm craft and logged uncounted hours of field time. The family invites all who knew him as Russ, Swede, Jim, the Colonel, Dad, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle, Cousin and friend to come to a memorial party in his honor at the family farm he loved on Saturday, July 18, 2009.
© Wright County Monitor 2009

John Richard "Dick" Derscheid

March 5, 2009

John Richard "Dick" Derscheid, passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2009, at the Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr, Iowa, at the age of 83 years, 8 months, and 28 days.

A visitation was held on Tuesday, March 3, at the Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, March 4, at the United Methodist Church in Ellston, Iowa, with Rev. Dan Fernandez officiating. Old Testament Scripture was read by Todd Derscheid and an Eulogy was given by Dr. Rachel Derscheid. Music was provided by Paula Anderson, Jon Staron and the Hynek family.

Casketbearers were his grandchildren. Burial was on Wednesday, March 4, in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Eagle Grove. A memorial fund has been set for the Tingley Meal Site and MACHA Activity Fund.

Dick was born on May 30, 1925 in Webster County, Iowa, the son of John Frederick & Marcelean Anna (Friday) Derscheid. He graduated from the Webster City High School in 1943. On February 9, 1946, Dick was married to Hester Stanford and they later divorced. Dick was a lifelong farmer. He farmed near Clarion, Iowa before moving to Ringgold County in 1974 and farming north of Kellerton, Iowa. He was an avid supporter of youth programs. Dick rarely missed an event connected to the school, whether it was in the fine arts department, sports arena, F.F.A. activities or 4-H programs.

Dick loved to attend the Ringgold County Fair and the Iowa State Fair. He was a member of the Ringgold County Cattleman's Association, Ringgold County Farm Bureau, Tingley Lions Club and the United Methodist Church in Ellston.

He was preceded in death by his parents and stepfather, G.A. Blue; a son, Paul; brother, Jim Blue; and sister, Judy Blue.

Survivors include his sons, Raymond Derscheid and wife, Debra, Ted Derscheid and wife, Nancy and Scott Derscheid and wife, Raydeen, all of Ellston and Dale Derscheid and wife, Susan of Urbandale; a daughter, Sally Woodley and husband, Gary of Clarion; 10 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; sisters, Marge Neese and husband, Chet of Edmond, Oklahoma, Lois Hanson of Eagle Grove, JoAnn Heath of Ida Grove and Bonnie Patrick and husband, Doug of Shawnee, Kansas; a brother, Ron Blue and wife, Karen of Shawnee, Kansas; a sister-in-law, Betty Blue of Webster City; and nieces, nephews and other relatives and many friends.
© Wright County Monitor 2009