G. G. Dutch Riekena, 90

May 14, 2003

G.G. Dutch Riekena, 90, of Forest City, died on Friday, May 2, 2003.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 6, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City. The Rev. Lee Laaveg officiated. Casket bearers were Bennie Riekena, Sheldon Bohn, Brian Johnson, Kenney Riekena, Brian Nelson and Wayne Johns. Burial was in the Oakland Cemetery, Forest City, with military rites conducted by the Forest City American Legion Post 121. The Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City was in charge of the arrangements.

Dutch is survived by his wife, Bea Riekena of Forest City; two brothers, George Riekena of Merlin, Oregon and Edward Riekena of Britt; and several nieces and nephews.

A complete obituary appears in the May 14 edition of the Forest City Summit.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Marjorie A. Blank, 67

May 7, 2003

Marjorie A. Blank, 67, of Britt, died on Saturday, May 3, 2003, at the St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

Funeral services were held on Monday, May 5, at the United Methodist Church in Garner. The Rev. Kay Hooper officiated.

Survivors include her mother, Frances Brozik of Garner; three children, Kim Fabich and her husband, Mike of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kent Blank and his wife, Michelle of Henry, Illinois and Lee Blank and his wife, Shelley of Smithville, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Daniel Fabich, Lindsey Blank, Patrick Fabich, Bryant Blank, Sarah Fabich, Joey Fabich and Wesley Blank; two uncles, Rudy Urich and his wife, Dorothy of Garner and Elmer Urich of Garner; and an aunt, Eleanor Brozik of Garner.

A complete obituary appears in the May 7 edition of the Forest City Summit.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Vickie Bucher, 54

May 7, 2003

Vickie Bucher, 54, of Forest City, died on Sunday, May 4, 2003, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., today Wednesday, May 7, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City. The Rev. Lee Laaveg will officiate. The Peterson Lund Funeral Home in Forest City is in charge of the arrangements.

Left to cherish her memory are her combined families. Vickie leaves behind her birth mother and step-father, Marie and Chuck Matthews of Gilbert, Arizona; sister, Sherri (Bucher) Steenstra of Brandon, South Dakota; brother, Daniel (Karen) Matthews of Surprise, Arizona; sisters, Dawn (Gary) Vick of Glendale, Arizona and Darlynn (Craig) Stephens of Gilbert, Arizona; nieces and nephews include Jason (Pam) Bush of Ihlen, Minnesota, Jeremy Bush of Pipestone, Jonathan Steenstra of Holland, Minnesota, Justin Steenstra of Brandon, South Dakota, Jason Matthews of Phoenix, Arizona, Hilary (Brian) Mink of Phoenix, Arizona, Mark (Martina) Musser of El Mirage, Arizona and Bryan Stephens of Gilbert, Arizona; along with great-nieces, great-nephews, aunts, uncles, several cousins and many close friends.

A complete obituary appears in the May 7 edition of the Forest City Summit.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Dennis R. Larson, 60

May 7, 2003

Dennis R. Larson, 60, of Owatonna, Minnesota, died on Sunday, May 4, 2003, at the Owatonna Hospital, after a long battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., today Wednesday, May 7, at the St. John Lutheran Church in Owatonna. The Rev. Victor Jortack will officiate. The Michaelson Funeral Home in Owatonna is in charge of the arrangements. Memorials are preferred to the Owatonna Hospice or the donor's choice.

Survivors include his wife, Diane Larson of Owatonna; two sons, Richard and Lori Larson of Lakeville, Minnesota and Dan and Deb Larson of Claremont, Minnesota; his mother, Naomi Larson of Missouri; a sister, Judy Gjerde of Missouri; a brother, Gary Larson of Landers, Wyoming; and six grandchildren.

A complete obituary appears in the May 7 edition of the Forest City Summit.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Bruce O. Smith Jr., 82

May 14, 2003

Bruce O. Smith Jr., 82, of Northwood, died on Tuesday, May 6, 2003, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Memorial services were held on Friday, May 9, at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Lake Mills. The Rev. Jeanne Martin officiated. Burial was in the Sunnyside Cemetery, Lake Mills, with the Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills in charge of the arrangements.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Ingrid Miles, 93

May 14, 2003

Ingrid Miles, 93, of Forest City, died on Friday, May 9, 2003, at the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City.

Funeral services were held on Monday, May 12, at the Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Ingrid is survived by four daughters, Ione Erickson and husband, Robert of Forest City, Arlene Knapper of Forest City, Elsie Mechem and husband, Dean of Thompson and Shirley Hiemstra and husband, Carl of Huntington, Indiana; a sister, Martha Idsoy of Stavanger, Norway; 20 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

A complete obituary appears in the the May 14 edition of the Forest City Summit.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Bertha L. Roth, 80

May 14, 2003

Bertha L. Roth, 80, of Woden, died on Saturday, May 10, 2003, at the Titonka Care Center.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 13, at the First Presbyterian Church in Woden. Lay Pastor Judy Junkermeier officiated.

Bertha is survived by her children, Lucille Arneson of Renton, Washington, Russell Roth and his wife, Sharen of Waukon, Barbara Halstead and her husband, Grant of Aneroid, Saskatchewan, Canada, Norman Roth and his wife, Shirley of Thompson, Wayne Roth of Rake, Wanda Schwartz and her husband, Bill of North Mankato, Minnesota and Marlys Mueller and her husband, Dale of Titonka; 20 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary Ellen Ross of Marshalltown; and many nieces and nephews.

A complete obituary appears in the May 14 edition of the Forest City Summit.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Richard Willier, 47

May 21, 2003

Richard A. Willier, 47, of rural Nora Springs, died on Monday, May 12, 2003, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, May 15, at the Riverside Friends Church in Mason City. The Rev. John N. Bates of the Eden Presbyterian Church, Rudd and Rev. Spencer Thury of the Riverside Friends Church, officiated.

Richard will be sadly missed by his wife, Amber of rural Nora Springs; his father, Ralph Willier of Leland; four step-children, Eric, Danielle and Joey of rural Nora Springs and Dean of Mason City; four sisters, Judy and Roger Beenken of Nora Springs, Jerrie Klitzke of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Ruth Willier of Mason City and Judy Johnson of Forest City; his mother-in-law, Maxine Zeigler of Corwith; a sister-in-law, Nelda and Kelly Jackson of Garner; two brothers-in-law, Ronnie Zeigler of Britt and David and Blanche Zeigler of Corwith, Carol Willier of Mason City; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A complete obituary appears in the May 21 edition of the Summit.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Spence Abrams, 97

May 21, 2003

Spence M. Abrams, 97, of Clear Lake, died on Monday, May 12, 2003, at the Oakwood Care Center in Clear Lake.

Funeral services were held on Friday, May 16, at the Evangelical Free Church in Clear Lake. The Rev. David Wiersbe officiated. Burial was in the Grant Center Cemetery, rural Clear Lake, with the Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City in charge of the arrangements.

He is survived by his children and their spouses, Spence Abrams Jr. and wife, Janice of Clear Lake, Arlyn Abrams and wife, Janice of Beresford, South Dakota, Vonnie Pederson and husband, Sever of Westland, Michigan and Jenny Copeland and husband, Tim of Bradford, Vermont; 17 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren; two half-brothers, Melvin and Francis; and two half-sisters, Margaret and Arlene.

A complete obituary appears in the May 21 edition of the Summit.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Mildred Sager, 93

May 21, 2003

Mildred K. Sager, 93, formerly of Forest City, residing in Mesa, Arizona, died on Thursday, May 15, 2003, in Mesa.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., today Wednesday, May 21, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City. The Reverends Lee Laaveg and Karl Nelson will officiate. Burial will be in the Oakland Cemetery in Forest City, with the Petersen Lund Funeral Home in Forest City in charge of the arrangements.

Mildred is survived by her loving husband, Howard Sager of Mesa; by her three daughters, Marilyn Opatz and husband, Tom of Lake Oswego, Oregon, Carol Borgese of Canoga Park, California and Margaret Johnstad and husband, Rolfe of Ames; by grandchildren, Tom E. Opatz, Kathleen Walls, Elizabeth Henderson, Vince Borgese, Steve Borgese, Jeannie Holcomb, Jennifer Ringler, Susan Johnstad, Jane Johnstad and Tim Johnstad; sixteen great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Nelson of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Barbara Bulman of Forest City; sister-in-law, Luise Hanson of Palm City, Florida; and by a host of dear family members and friends.

A complete obituary appears in the May 21 edition of the Summit.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Faith Lorraine Champlin

June 4, 2003

Faith Champlin was born on Friday, May 23, 2003, at the Madelia Community Hospital, Madelia, Minnesota and died about a hour later. She was diagnosed with a congenital birth defect early in the pregnancy. The family's hope and prayers were for a miracle. However, she is in a better place with the Lord.

Services were held on Tuesday, at the Trinity Church in North Mankato, Minnesota. Burial was in the Vernon Center Cemetery, with the Pilgrim Funeral Home in Madelia, in charge of the arrangements.

Survivors include her parents, Christopher and Kristi (Nieman) Champlin of Madelia; a sister, Alayna; paternal grandparents, R. Brian Champlin of Vernon Center, Minnesota and Lorraine Ellis and husband, Thomas of North Mankato; maternal grandparents, Roger and Renee Nieman of Forest City; along with many aunts, uncles and cousins.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Wilbur "Spike" Otterbeck Sr., 79

June 4, 2003

Wilbur "Spike" Otterbeck Sr., 79, of Miller, formerly of the Dubuque area, died on Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

An informal gathering was held on Saturday, May 31, at the Swiss Valley Park in Dubuque. His body was donated to medical science.

Survivors include his wife, Maxine Otterbeck of Miller; his children, Steve Otterbeck of Potosi, Wisconsin, Deb Johnson of McGregor, Greg Otterbeck of Appleton, Wisconsin and Dave Otterbeck of Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin; a step-son, Rex Hale of Miller; two step-daughters, Yavonne McGrew of Justin, Texas and JoAnn Truhlicka of Winter Garden, Florida; a sister, Marlana Lolli of Des Moines; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A complete obituary appears in the June 4 edition of the Forest City Summit.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Richard Smith, 62

June 4, 2003

Richard Smith, 62 of Crystal Lake, died on Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 31, at the Calvary Lutheran Church, Crystal Lake. The Rev. Robert Snitzer officiated.

Richard is survived by his wife, Marjorie; great-niece, (whom Richard and Marjorie raised) Nicole Johnson Wright of Troy, Texas; granddaughter, Hayley Wright; brother, Paul and Diane Smith of Crystal Lake; brother-in-law, Harold and Judy Swenson of Leland; sisters-in-law, Helen Stohr of Forest City and Sheryl and Don Hall of Sheffield; eight nephews; three nieces; and many great-nieces and nephews.

A complete obituary appears in the June 4 edition of the Forest City Summit.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Emmet Eugene Montag, 74

June 11, 2003

Emmet Eugene Montag, 74, of West Bend, formerly of Forest City, died on Wednesday, May 28, 2003.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 31, at the Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church in West Bend. The Rev. Ed Tiedeman officiated. Patsy Wirtz served as soloist and organist was Teresa Peterson.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Jane of West Bend; his seven children, Sue Prentice of Aurora, Colorado, Tim Montag of Olathe, Kansas, Joe Montag of West Bend, Pat Montag of Washington, D.C., Judy Montag of Forest City, Mary Jane Montag of Clear Lake and Phillip Montag of Forest City; brothers and sisters, Helen Ladd of Seattle, Washington, Jim Montag of Nora Springs, Richard Montag of Colo, Jerry Montag of Rockford and Anna Zita Brown of West Bend; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

A complete obituary appears in the June 11 edition of the Forest City Summit.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Maurice R. Reyerson, 79

June 4, 2003

Maurice R. Reyerson, 79, of Northwood, died on Thursday, May 29, 2003, at the Lake Mills Care Center.

Funeral services were held on Monday, June 2, at the Silver Lake Lutheran Church in rural Northwood. The Rev. Thomas Hagen officiated, with the Mittelstadt Funeral Home in Lake Mills in charge of the arrangements.
© 2003 Forest City Summit

Orville C. Thompson, 92

June 4, 2003

Orville C. Thompson, 92, of Britt, died on Friday, May 30, 2003, at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, June 3, at the Britt United Methodist Church. The Rev. Robert Dodge officiated.

Orville is survived by his son, Tommy Thompson and his wife, Janet of Rockwell; daughter, Janice Hetland and her husband, Dean of Ellsworth; daughter-in-law, Bonnie Newgard and husband, Rich of Laurens; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Thora Clauson and her husband, Donald of Forest City and Elaine Vergeront of Riverside, California; two brothers, Terry Thompson and his wife, Elnora of Forest City and Richard Thompson and his wife, Darlene of Crystal Lake; longtime friend, Adala Bailey of Britt; along with numerous cousins, relatives and friends.

A complete obituary appears in the June 4 edition of the Forest City Summit.
© 2003 Forest City Summit