Cornelia "Connie" Rietema DeVries Randol

October 8, 2009

Cornelia "Connie" Rietema DeVries Randol, 82, of Kanawha, passed away on Thursday, October 1, 2009, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services were held on Monday, October 5, at the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church, with Pastor Sheldon Starkenburg officiating. Burial was in the Oakwood Cemetery, Pella.

Connie, the daughter of Fred and Cora (Vanden Bosch) Rietema, was born on February 2, 1927 in Kanawha. On August 27, 1946, Connie was united in marriage to James DeVries at the Wright Christian Reformed Church near Kanawha. They lived most of their married life farming the Rietema family farm and later moved to Clarion. Connie worked as an insurance agent for Bankers Life and Casualty. Jim and Connie also opened the "Our Place" Restaurant in their home in Clarion. In March 1992, Jim and Connie moved to Pella during their retirement years and managed the Heritage Village Retirement Apartments. Jim passed away in March 1999.

Later in life Connie married Dale Randol of Pella. Connie was soon after diagnosed with the debilitating disease, Dementia Lewy Bodies Disease that ravaged her life. In October 2005, Connie became a resident of the Westview Care Center in Britt.

Connie will be remembered for her love of life, the great outdoors, fishing and gardening. She also enjoyed music and sang in a community chorus.

Left to cherish her memory is one daughter, Suzanne (Paul) Olson of Urbandale; four sons, James (Judy) DeVries of Pacific, Missouri, Joel (Rita) DeVries of Britt, Jay (Charlotte) DeVries of Upland, California and Jon (Danny) DeVries of Clarion; ten grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; one brother, Art (Henrietta) Rietema of Kanawha; one sister, Winifred Pommer of Pella; and one sister-in-law, Grada Rietema of Holland, Michigan.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James in 1999; two sisters, Tena Van Otterloo and Minnie Christians; and four brothers, John and Clarence Rietema along with two infant brothers.
© Wright County Monitor 2009

Betty Ruth Sease

October 8, 2009

Betty Ruth Sease, passed away on Thursday, October 1, 2009, at the Careage of Clarion, at the age of 87 years.

Funeral services were held on Monday, October 5, at the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Eagle Grove, with Rev. Gary Shultz officiating. Burial was in the Highland Memory Garden Cemetery in Des Moines.

Betty, the daughter of Frank and Mae (Hosier) Stearns, was born on February 16, 1922 in Rolfe, Iowa. She was raised and educated in the Rolfe and Plover area. On August 16, 1940, Betty was united in marriage with Lewismilo Sease. The couple made their home in Des Moines. Betty lived in Des Moines for 40 years and during that time she worked many years at Bankers Life. She moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and then to Goldfield in 1992.

Betty was a member of the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Eagle Grove. She enjoyed quilting, puzzles, reading and caring for others.

 She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lewismilo in 1979: daughter, Ellen Goff; sisters, Eunice Maulsby, Dorcas Brazier and Florence Dickinson; and brothers, Clarence, Paul, Frank Jr. and Allan Stearns.

Survivors include her daughter, Sherry Howard and husband, Richard of Des Moines; son, Mark D. Sease and wife, Henrietta of Albuquerque, New Mexico; son-in-law, Tom Goff of Des Moines; 10 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandson; sisters, June Hotovec of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Joy Sorensen of Goldfield, Connie Kraft of Goldfield, Rachel Freeman of Des Moines and Jacquelene (Jackie) Hudson of Goldfield.
© Wright County Monitor 2009

Mary Ellen Arndorfer

October 8, 2009

Mary Ellen Arndorfer, passed away on Friday, October 2, 2009, at the Adams Health Care in Adams, Minnesota, at the age of 107 years.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Wednesday, October 7, at the St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion. Visitation was held on Tuesday, October 6, with a Rosary and Vigil Service at the Foust Funeral Home in Eagle Grove. Burial was in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery, Clarion.

Ellen, the daughter of Henry and Sarah (Koehler) Pieper, was born on January 30, 1902 at Hanover, Kansas. She attended school and graduated from the St. Joseph Catholic School, Olpe, Kansas. Ellen taught second grade at the St. Joseph Academy until 1924. On June 4, 1924, Ellen was united in marriage with Edward Frank Arndorfer at the St. Joseph Church in Akron, Colorado. Together they lived in Akron and farmed until 1930, when they moved to Iowa and farmed near Galt from 1932 to 1960. They retired and moved to Clarion.

Ed and Ellen spent many winters in Edinburg, Texas, where they made their home in the Citrus Mobile Park. Ed passed away on December 20, 1987. In 1989, Mary Ellen moved into the Rotary Ann Retirement Home in Eagle Grove, where she lived for 15 years. In 2004, Ellen moved to the Adams Nursing Home in Adams, Minnesota, where she resided until her death.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edward on December 20, 1987; a son, Francis; a daughter, Norma; a daughter-in-law, Lorene; and four brothers and two sisters.

Ellen is survived by her children, Jim Arndorfer and Gladys of Humeston, Clarence Arndorfer and Joyce of LeRoy, Minnesota, Rosemary Laliberte and John of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Kenneth Arndorfer and Margaret of Austin, Minnesota, Roger Arndorfer and Helen of Woolstock and John Arndorfer and Janet of Mankato, Minnesota; 45 grandchildren; 84 great-grandchildren; 23 great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Tillie Pieper of Swink, Colorado; and many nieces an nephews.
© Wright County Monitor 2009

Maybelle Hebner

October 22, 2009

Maybelle Hebner, passed away on Monday, October 12, 2009, at the Humboldt Care Center North, at the age of 91 years.

Memorial services were held on Saturday, October 17, from the Foust Funeral Home in Goldfield, with Pastors Tony Brandt and Robert Dishman officiating. Burial was in the Glenwood Cemetery in Goldfield.

Maybelle, the daughter of Bert J. and Jeanette L. (McCarty) Siemens, was born on January 26, 1918 in Kanawha. She was raised and educated in the area of her birth, graduating from the Goldfield High School in 1935. After graduating from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, Maybelle taught 2nd grade in Cooper, Iowa.

On August 16, 1940, Maybelle was united in marriage with Carl A. Hebner at the Siemens family farm near Goldfield. The couple farmed in the Cooper area for eight years until they moved to their farm home in rural Goldfield in 1949. In 1994, they moved to The Meadows in Clarion. Carl preceded her in death on April 16, 1999.

Maybelle was a member of Park Church of Christ in Goldfield and the Humboldt County Porkettes.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; and brothers, Albert and Dr. John Siemens.

Survivors include her five children, Edwin (Judy) Hebner of Stevensville, Montana, Larry (Janine) Hebner of Rogers, Minnesota, Kathryn (Dane) Tyner of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, David (Patty) Hebner of Manhattan, Montana and Alan Hebner of Goldfield; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; sister, Phyllis (Don) Silver of Fort Dodge; brothers, Paul (Ruth) Siemens of Goldfield, Frank (Ellen) Siemens of Renwick and Roger (Rita) Siemens of Silver Star, Montana.

Memorials gifts may be given to the Capital Improvement Fund at the Park Church of Christ in Goldfield.
© Wright County Monitor 2009

Leonard Jelske Cramer

October 22, 2009

Leonard J. Cramer, 93, of Clarion, passed away on Thursday, October 15, 2009, at the Careage of Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, October 20, at 11:00 a.m., at the United Methodist Church in Clarion, with Pastor Don Morrison officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion. Military graveside services are under the direction of the Clarion American Legion and VFW.

Leonard Jelske Cramer, was born on May 25, 1916, on a farm near Riceville. His parents were Herman and Sophia (Schmidt) Cramer. He attended country school and graduated from the Clarion High School in 1934. He moved to the Spencer area and after multiple jobs, began working for the Spencer Machine Works. At the outbreak of WW II, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves as a 2nd Class Machinist Mate and later received training as an optical specialist and was stationed in various places, including Washington D.C., Brooklyn, Alaska and Okinawa.

At the end of the War, Leonard returned to Clarion and soon began working for IPS (Iowa Public Service) and ran the power generating plant for the city of Clarion. After several years of this, he started his own business, the Clarion Manufacturing Company which he continued to run until the early 1960's when he started working for Bourns in Ames as an experimental machinist. In the late 1970's, he returned to Clarion and resumed operating the Clarion Manufacturing Company. He continued to enjoy his shop and helping people through the rest of his life.

Shortly before joining the Navy, he married Lucile Mae Armstrong of Clarion, on March 14, 1942. On December 15, 1942, a son, David, was born. Leonard and Lucile enjoyed nearly forty years of marriage before Lucile died in January 1982. On July 20, 1984 Leonard married Mavis Kent from Guttenberg, Iowa. They were married for approximately twenty years.

Leonard was a very active member of the First United Methodist Church in Clarion. He also was active in the Boy Scouts both locally and council-wide earning a Silver Beaver Award in recognition of his many years of service. Leonard was active in the Blacksmith and Welders Association both locally and statewide. He also was very proud of the Heartland Museum in Clarion and supported it strongly with time and donations.

Leonard is survived by his son, David and his daughter-in-law, Marj; 2 grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Charles; his sister, Delores; and his two wives.
© Wright County Monitor 2009