Robert Porter Campbell, Jr.

Robert Porter Campbell, Jr., 83, of Clarion, died on Tuesday, July 3, at the Community Memorial Hospital, Clarion. Private family services were held on Friday, July 6. Burial and graveside services were held on Saturday, July 7, at Indianola.

Robert Porter Campbell Jr. was born on April 4, 1918, in rural Warren County, the son of Robert and Belva (Taylor) Campbell. He attended and graduated from the Liberty Center School, now known as Southeast Warren.

Robert and Gillie (Lester) Campbell were married on February 2, 1941, in Princeton, Missouri. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with family. The couple moved to Humboldt to begin farming and continued farming near Thor, Goldfield, Clarion and Grundy Center. After retiring from farming, Robert and Gillie continued to live in Goldfield and enjoyed several years in California and Arizona during the winter months.

Robert is survived by his wife, Gillie, of Goldfield; four children, Linda Axon and husband, Michael, Mary Jo Jones and husband, Jerry of Goldfield, Robert III and wife, Carrie and Patricia Wallace and husband, Randy; nine grandchildren; one sister, Jeane Morton and husband, E. J. of Coulter; and nieces and nephews.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; two brothers, Harris and Wayne; one sister, Jessie; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Darlene "Jiggs" Anderson

Darlene Anderson, 73, of Clarion, died on Saturday, July 21, 2001, at the Community Memorial Hospital in Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 24, at the Willim Funeral Home in Clarion. Pastor Daniel Fields officiated at the 11:00 a.m. service. Burial was in the Northlawn Cemetery in Fort Dodge. The Willim Funeral Home in Clarion was in charge of the arrangements.

Darlene Van Houten was born on April 28, 1928, at Hardy, the daughter of Earl and Florence (Smith) Van Houten. She graduated from the Vernon High School.

Darlene and Lyle Anderson were united in marriage in November 1946 at Clarion. Darlene worked for 20 years at Hawk Bag in Clarion and retired in 1996. She and her husband raced stock cars and were active in the Boy Scouts organization. They had lived in Goldfield, Webster City and Denison in addition to Clarion.

Darlene is survived by five children, Ronald and wife, Karen of Denison, Roberta Elwell and husband, Jim of Jefferson, South Dakota, Michael and wife, Sei Hyon of Lakewood, New Jersey, Debra Askvig and friend, Jerry Scriver of Clarion and Pamela Paumen and husband, Ron of Galt; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Donna Drummer and husband, George of South Beloit, Illinois.

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Lyle in May of 1987.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Delilah "Dedee" Stewart

Delilah “Dedee” Stewart, 59, formerly of Clarion, died on Sunday, July 22, 2001, at her son’s home in Lake Wood, California.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, July 28, at the Kanawha Lutheran Church. Rev. Dr. William H. Breen, Interim Pastor, officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Amsterdam Township Cemetery, Kanawha. The Ewing Dugger Funeral Home, Kanawha, was in charge of the arrangements.

Kevin Wicks and Lana Gray shared memories of Dedee, soloists were Andy Vivanco and Monica Abbas and Gary Brandt was the organist. Pall bearers were Danny Abbas, Jason Feckey, Derek Gray, Shannon Gray, Mike Noble and Andy Vivanco.

“Dedee” was born Delilah Dee Wicks on July 20, 1942, in Roland, the daughter of Everett and Viola Wicks. Both of her parents were children of Norwegian immigrants. She grew up on a farm near Kanawha as part of a large family. She was one of six children. She attended area country school and after graduation from the Clarion High School, moved to Clarion and worked for the telephone company.

On January 20, 1962, she and Tom Stewart were married. They were the parents of two children, Lance, born in 1966 and Tami, born in 1968. Tom and Delilah were divorced after 25 years of marriage.

In 1988, Dedee moved to California and began working for State Farm Insurance. Her children soon followed her to California, Tami in 1988 and Lance in 1990. She retired from State Farm in 1999.

When she discovered she had cancer earlier this year, she held on to her faith, which gave strength to everyone around her.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Betty Jean Loomis

Betty Jean Loomis, 80, of Clarion, died on Monday, July 23, 2001, at the USA Healthcare Center, Clarion. She had resided there since October 2000.

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 30, at the United Methodist Church, Clarion. Rev. LaVonne Kaasa officiated at the 11:00 a.m. service. Gary Brant was organist. Interment was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. The Tenold Funeral Homes, Belmond-Klemme, were in charge of the arrangements.

Betty Jean Littlefield was born on September 27, 1920, in Clarion, the only child of Ora Nellie (Lester) and Frank Noah Littlefield. She graduated from the Clarion High School and worked as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone Company.

On January 9, 1943, she and Paul Harvey Loomis, of Harshaw, Wisconsin, were united in marriage. A talented musician, Betty Jean gave piano lessons to hundreds of young children, beginning while she was still in high school. For 49 years she was the organist at the First Methodist Church in Clarion, where she was a life long member. She was also a member of Chapter FS of the P.E.O. Sisterhood for 48 years.

She is survived by one daughter, Carol Bank of Portage, Wisconsin; two granddaughters; and many cousins and friends.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Paul in January of 2001; and an infant son, David Paul.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Kendall Herman Longley

Kendall Herman Longley, 77, of Clarion, died on Friday, July 27, 2001, at the USA Healthcare Center, Dows, where he had resided since May 10 of this year.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 31, at the United Methodist Church, Dows. Rev. Tony Hershey officiated at the 10:00 a.m. service. Burial was in the Fairview Cemetery, Dows. Military rites were conducted at the cemetery by the Dows American Legion Post #523. The Elledge Funeral Home of Dows was in charge of the arrangements.

Kendall Herman Longley, was born on August 31, 1923, in Dows, the son of Klem O. and Linda Damerow Longley. He attended school in Dows through the sixth grade when his family moved to Bremerton, Washington, where he graduated from the Bremerton High School in 1941.

On May 27, 1943, he entered the United States Army at Fort McArthur, California, and was honorably discharged on November 14, 1945, at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. During that period of time he served in the infantry in the European Theatre.

In 1991, Kendall moved to Clarion and resided at the Meadows. He was baptized at the United Methodist Church in Dows and was a member of the Dows American Legion Post #523.

Kendall is survived by one sister, Margaret Jean Sherman and husband, Keith of Lacey, Washington; one sister-in-law, Shirley A. Longley of Grandview, Missouri; and one cousin, Kaye Moore of Lincoln, Nebraska.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and twin brother, Klemme.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Orten Lerdal

Orten Lerdal, 90, of Goldfield, died on Sunday, July 29, 2001, at the Community Memorial Hospital, Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, August 1, at the Lake Lutheran Church, rural Goldfield. Pastor Herbert Schiller officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Lake Lutheran Cemetery, Goldfield. The Willim Funeral Home in Eagle Grove was in charge of the arrangements.

Orten Lerdal, was born on January 3, 1911, in Humboldt County, the son of Ole and Anna (Skiye) Lerdal. He graduated from the Goldfield High School.

He and Margaret Heggen were united in marriage on March 21, 1939 in Eagle Grove. Orten was a life long member of the Lake Lutheran Church as well as being a life long farmer, long time member of the Board of Directors of the Goldfield State Bank, and various other community boards. His pastimes included playing cards, bowling, golfing, fishing, and most all, spending time with his family.

Orten is survived by three children, Orin and wife, Karen of Ohio, Illinois, Duane and wife, Inge of Hartford, Michigan and Terry and wife, Mary of Goldfield; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Orten was preceded in death by six siblings, Myrtle Luthro, Joseph Lerdal, Lloyd Lerdal, Lillian Tyler, Verner Lerdal and Helen Campbell.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Marjorie J. Thielen

Marjorie J. Thielen, 77, of Hampton, died on Tuesday, July 31, 2001, at the Franklin General Hospital Nursing Facility, Hampton.

Funeral services were held on Friday, August 3, at the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Latimer. Burial was in the Hampton Cemetery. The Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Marjorie J. Thielen, was born on June 1, 1924, in Burchinal, the daughter of Richard O. and Gladys L. (Rodemeyer) Thielen. She attended country school in Coulter. She was a homemaker her whole life. Marjorie was a member of the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Latimer and the Ladies Guild. She enjoyed reading, embroidering, and doing handwork.

Marjorie is survived by three brothers, Laverne Thielen of Cedar Falls, Duane Thielen of Hampton and Gayhart Thielen of Latimer; four sisters, Betty Gausman of Latimer, Shirley Swieter of Clarion, Irene Shear of Batesville, Arkansas and Sandy Kracht of Dows; one sister-in-law, Bertha Thielen of Latimer; nieces & nephews; and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Bill and Dick; and one niece, Deborah Bakker.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Thomas Lester Lee Francis

Thomas Lester Lee Francis, 54, of Clarion, died on Tuesday, July 31, 2001, at his home in Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, August 4, at the Vigen Memorial Home, Keokuk. Pastor Craig Burton officiated at the 11:00 a.m. service. A private burial will be held at a later date in the Keokuk National Cemetery.

Thomas Lester Lee Francis, was born on January 16, 1947, in Keokuk, the son of Thomas Elisha and Mary Irene Cooper Francis. Thomas had been employed at the Unlimited Opportunities, Inc. Workshop in Clarion for 10 years.

He liked cars and semi-trucks, was very mechanically inclined and liked to take things apart and put them back together. Thomas liked to fish and enjoyed showing farm animals at local fairs. He looked forward to participating in the Special Olympics every year.

He is survived by one sister, Lavonne Cline of Keokuk; three brothers, Lenny Francis and wife, Missy of Keokuk, Chris Francis of Keokuk and Jim Francis of Missouri; his cousin and guardian, Bonny Sammons of Keokuk; several nieces and nephews; and one great-niece.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Leonard Francis.
© Wright County Monitor 2001