Mary "Betty" E. Bates

Mary E. “Betty” Bates, 79, of Rochester, Minnesota, died on Friday, May 4, 2001, at the Samaritan Bethany on 8th Nursing Home, Rochester, Minnesota. 

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 8, at 10:00 a.m., at the Samaritan Bethany on 8th Nursing Home. Rev. David Rinden officiated at the 10:00 a.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion, at 2:30 p.m. 

Mary E. Austin was born in Clarion on May 24, 1921. She was raised in the Clarion area and attended Clarion schools, graduating from the Clarion High School in 1939. She also attended Cedar Falls Teachers College.

In 1944 she enlisted in the Waves where she was a Technician in various hospitals. She lived in Los Angeles and Roland Heights, California, and moved to Rochester, Minnesota in 1989 and worked as a Medical Transcriber. 

She and Loren Bates were married in 1947 and they made their home in Whittier, California. They were later divorced. Betty moved to Rochester in 1989 and was employed at the Mayo Clinic as a Medical Transcription Secretary. She enjoyed gardening, reading and traveling. She was a member of the Gethsemane Lutheran Church. 

She is survived by three nieces; two nephews; and one grandniece. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Amy Hill; two brothers, Ralph and Charles Austin; and one nephew, Chuck A. Hill.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Hartzell Spence

Hartzell Spence, 93, a best selling author born in Clarion, recently of Essex, Connecticut, died on Wednesday, May 9, 2001, at his home.

Spence wrote "One Foot in Heaven", a collection of more than 100 short stories about a Methodist minister and his family as they moved from town to town. Spence based the book on his own experience as the son of a Methodist clergyman. One Foot was named to the best seller list in 1941, and eventually was adapted to the silver screen in a movie starring Frederic March.

Spence's father, William H. Spence, served the Methodist Church in Clarion from 1907-1909. Parson, as he was called, thought of himself first as a minister and second as a family man. He ruled with an iron hand.

Hartzell Spence was born on February 15, 1908, in Clarion. He graduated from the University of Iowa, Magna Cum Laude in 1930. He served as the Iowa Bureau Manager of the United Press Associate from 1930-1941. In 1963, Spence was named to the University of Iowa School of Journalism.

Before finding success with his book, Spence received dozens of rejection letters from publishers. Finally, a friend suggested, why don't you write something you know best about? The result was "One Foot in Heaven".

One Foot chronicles Parson's predicaments and his ingenious means of getting out of them. The congregation in the book is split into warring factions and the choir is described as a cross between the devil's grandmother and a swarm of mountain wildcats.

Spence's family moved from Clarion to Fort Dodge in 1909, where Parson served the Methodist Church there until 1917. The church was located next to the fire station, which caused a problem if the fire alarm sounded during his sermon.

In 1921, Parson acquired a Ford Model T and the family motored to Colorado for a vacation.

During World War II, Hartzell Spence founded Yank Magazine for the enlisted men. As Executive Editor of Yank, Spence championed pin-up girls and the comic strip Sad Sac. Spence received the Legion of Merit in 1945 for his services.

In 1964, Spence wrote "Marcos of the Philippines" a biography of Ferdinand E. Marcos. During his lifetime, Spence authored more than 200 articles for publications including the Saturday Evening Post, Look, and Reader's Digest.

"One Foot in Heaven" is available at the Clarion and Belmond libraries by making arrangements through the Iowa State Traveling Library.
© Wright County Monitor 2001  

Burton Merle Hines

Burton Merle Hines, 60, of Hampton, died on Monday, May 14, 2001, at his home in Hampton.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 18, at the Sietsema Vogel Funeral Home, Hampton at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. 

Burton Merle Hines was born on January 19, 1941, in Council Bluffs, the son of Francis S. Hines and Sylvia Brooks. He was raised in Clarion and received his education in the Clarion School System. Burton was a truck driver. 

Burton is survived by four sons, Merle Hines of Alberta, Minnesota, Kenny Hines of Mason City, Burt Hines Jr. of Glenwood and Jeremy Hines of Hampton; one daughter, Juanita Bekx of Graettenger; four brothers, Raymond Hines of Corpus Christi, Texas, Bob Hines of Denver, Colorado, Bill Hines of Clarion, Benny Joe Hines of Arizona; two sisters, Lila Carpenter of Hastings, Minnesota and Merelene Andreasen of Forest City and six grandchildren. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons; and one sister.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Thelma Benson

Thelma Benson, 97, of Clarion, died on Tuesday, May 15, 2001, at the USA Health Care Center, Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 19, at the United Methodist Church, Clarion. Rev. Charles Kellogg officiated at the 11:00 a.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home, Clarion, was in charge of the arrangements. 

Thelma Brannan was born on August 18, 1903, on a farm near Rowan, the daughter of James Henry Brannan and Louisa Esther (Ingraham) Brannan. Her parents farmed in the Dows and Rowan area.

She graduated from the Dows High School as Salutatorian of her class on May 31, 1923. She attended summer school at Ellsworth College in Iowa Falls and taught a short time in Blaine Township. She was baptized into the Lutheran Church. 

Thelma Brannan and Louis Benson were united in marriage at Eagle Grove on November 27, 1924. Their first home was on a farm west of Eagle Grove and then they farmed in the Wright County area until they retired from farming and moved to Clarion in 1959. She worked as a cook for Bud Gannon at the Hotel Moore in Clarion, and later worked for Lolly Palmer, Bea Peyton, and Ann Groves. Her husband, Louis, died April 20, 1981.

She was a devoted member of the United Methodist Church and was a member of the UMW and Circle Group. She will be remembered for her many crochet and handwork projects created for family and friends and donation to church bazaars. She had made the USA Health Care Center her home since December of 1995, when she was unable to be in her own home. 

Thelma was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two grandsons, Larry and Michael Hill; two sisters, Clare and Deone; and one brother, Merle. 

She is survived by two sons, James and wife, Zella of Goose Creek, South Carolina and Roger and wife, Linda of Somers, Montana; one daughter, Dorla Hill and husband, Myron of Clarion; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; many nieces and nephews.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Dr. Paul Marley Sims

Dr. Paul Marley Sims, 90, of Naperville, Illinois, formerly of Clarion, died on Wednesday, May 16, 2001, at the Sunrise Assisted Living Home, Naperville, Illinois.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, May 19, at the United Church of Christ Congregational, Clarion. Rev. Curt Miner officiated at the 2:00 p.m. service. Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Eagle Grove. The Willim Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. 

Paul Marley Sims was born on October 17, 1910, in Martin County, Indiana, the son of Clyde and Ethel Sims. He attended the Eagle Grove High School until the age of 16 and Eagle Grove Junior College for the next one and one-half years. In 1934, he graduated from Northern Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago. 

Paul Sims and Marion Ethel Fisher were united in marriage on June 1, 1936, in Eagle Grove. They made their home in Clarion, where Paul practiced as an Optometrist from 1935-1982. After retiring, they enjoyed 15 years in Florida before returning to Clarion. Paul moved to Naperville, Illinois in 1999 to be closer to his family.

Paul was a member of the Rotary Club for 47 years, Masonic Lodge, and American Optometric Association. Paul was also vice-president of the Iowa Optometric Association and served in the American Academy of Optometry for 63 years. He enjoyed helping people, loved nature and animals, and was an avid reader. 

He was preceded in death by his parents; and wife, Marion in 1997. 

He is survived by two sons, Dr. John W. and wife, Kay of Naperville, Illinois and Dr. Scott and wife, Michele of Eagle River, Alaska; five grandchildren; three great-granddaughters; and one sister, Edna Coleman of Dallas, Texas.
© Wright County Monitor 2001

Carol Eugene Steffenson

Carol Eugene Steffenson, 66, of Goldfield, died on Wednesday, May 30, 2001, at LaFarge, Wisconsin.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 2, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Renwick. Rev. Sandra Krynik officiated at the 10:00 a.m. service. Burial was in the Glenwood Cemetery, Goldfield. The Willim Funeral Home of Eagle Grove was in charge of the arrangements. 

Carol Eugene Steffenson was born on February 22, 1935, in Goldfield, the son of Andrew Martin and Myrtle Gray (Chapman) Steffenson. He grew up in rural Goldfield and attended the Liberty Township No. 6 Country School and the Goldfield Public School. He was baptized and confirmed at the Holmes Evangelical Lutheran Church. He served in the National Guard Company C Unit in Eagle Grove from 1953-1962. 

He was united in marriage to Beverly Elaine Prilipp of Renwick, on February 25, 1962, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Renwick. Carol farmed his whole life northeast of Goldfield and retired from farming in the fall of 1999. Carol and Bev lived on the family farm until 1980 when they moved into Goldfield and he continued to farm. He worked part-time at Goldfield Telecom for the past 6 1/2 years. 

He was preceded in death by his father, Andrew in 1944; mother, Myrtle in 1980; four brothers, Alvin, Andrew (Bud), Norman, and Kenneth; father-in-law, Elmer Prilipp; and one sister-in-law, Marilyn Prilipp. 

He is survived by his wife, Beverly of Goldfield; three daughters, Connie Rasmussen and husband, Rick of Goldfield, Kathy Nelson and husband, Jeff of Goldfield and Nancy Frakes and husband, Tom of Kearney, Missouri; one brother, Orville and wife, Charlotte Steffenson of Goldfield; three sisters, Mary Ann Lane and husband, Robert of Renwick, Betty Sunner and husband, Dr. Kurt of Spirit Lake and Merlyn Tjelle and husband, Jerry of Holt, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Rosina Steffenson of Wellston, Oklahoma and Shirley Griffin and husband, Pat of Jefferson; mother-in-law, Cora Prilipp of Goldfield; one brother-in-law, Don Prilipp and wife, Sandy of Algona; many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
© Wright County Monitor 2001