Lila Ann Stevens

November 14, 2002

Lila Ann Stevens, 96, of Osage, formerly of Clarion, passed away on Thursday, November 7, 2002, at the Faith Lutheran Home, Osage.

Funeral services were held on Monday, November 11, at the United Presbyterian Church, Clarion. Rev. Candace Adams officiated at the 10:00 a.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home of Clarion was in charge of the arrangements.

Lila Ann Hardy, was born on October 29, 1906 at Clarion, the daughter of Wesley and Charlotte Rumford Hardy. She attended Clarion schools, graduating from the Clarion High School with a normal training certificate. She taught for several years at Grant #8 School in rural Clarion.

On November 29, 1929, she and Leslie Lawrence Stevens were united in marriage and they lived on the same farm until his death in 1997. Lila continued to live on the farm until August of 1999, when she moved to the Faith Lutheran Home in Osage.

Lila was a life long member of the United Presbyterian Church in Clarion where she taught Sunday School for over 40 years. Her greatest joy was to have former students remember her with cards, letters or just to greet her on the street. Lila enjoyed her flowers, home and visiting with her many friends and relatives.

Lila is survived by one sister, Etta Dahlgren of Pensacola, Florida; one brother, Irwin Hardy and sister-in-law, Nelda Hardy both of Osage; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; one sister, Ina Harding; and two brothers, Kenneth and Hurvy.
© Wright County Monitor 2002

Nellie D. Horn

November 21, 2002

Nellie D. Horn, 86, of Clarion, died on Saturday, November 16, 2002, at the USA Health Care Center in Clarion, due to complications of pneumonia.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, November 20, 2002, at 10:30 a.m., at the Sunnyside Chapel, rural Charles City. Rev. Dennis Niezwaag conducted the service. Burial was in the Sunnyside Memory Gardens, Charles City.

Nellie D. Christensen, was born on January 8, 1916 in Greene, the daughter of Hans P. and Clara E. (Druschel) Christensen. She and Joseph R. Horn were united in marriage on March 31, 1935 in Charles City. She was a housewife.

Survivors include her husband, Joe of Clarion; and one brother, Claude Christensen and wife, Shirley of Cedar Falls.

She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Kenneth M. and one in infancy; two sisters, Emma Parsons and Margaret Bray.
© Wright County Monitor 2002

Randall Robert Kirstein

Randall Robert Kirstein, 57, of Clarion, passed away on Saturday, November 16, 2002, at the Trinity Regional Hospital, Fort Dodge.

Memorial services were held on Tuesday, November 19, at the United Methodist Church in Clarion. Stan Watne officiated at the 1:30 p.m. service. Interment was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Randall Robert Kirstein, was born on November 8, 1945, in Clarion, the son of Robert D. and Laurel G. (Cole) Kirstein. He was baptized and confirmed at the United Methodist Church in Clarion. Randy attended the Woolstock #3 Country School, Clarion Junior High School and graduated from the Clarion High School with the class of 1963. During high school, he was active in wrestling and FFA.

On September 17, 1964, Randy was united in marriage to Loraine Schnittjer. The couple had two children, Kim and Troy. He later married Beth Finney and this union resulted in a very special relationship with his stepson, Pat.

Randy worked as a hired man for many area farmers from Hampton to Fort Dodge; worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation; and most recently was a custodian and bus driver for the Clarion-Goldfield Public School System. Randy was very dedicated to his job at the school and he truly enjoyed driving the sports teams to their out of town games as well as his regular bus route. He also loved to maintain the Cowboy Football Field.

Survivors include his children, Kim Kilzer and her husband, Troy of Ames, Troy Sheffield of Clarion and Pat Finney of Littleton, Colorado; two grandchildren; mother, Laurel Kirstein of Clarion; one sister, Mildred Hoyd and husband, Dale of Boise, Idaho; two brothers, Phil Kirstein and wife, Judy of Clarion and Paul Kirstein and wife, Pat of Clarion; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert; and an infant sister.
© Wright County Monitor 2002  

 
Theresa Elaine Backues

December 5, 2002

Teresa Elaine Backues, 40, of Goldfield, died on Sunday, November 24, 2002, at the Wright Medical Center, Clarion.

Memorial services were held on Friday, November 29, 2002, at the First Lutheran Church, Clarion. Pastor Gary Boen officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Interment was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Teresa Elaine Pletcher, was born on July 4, 1952 at Cedar Falls, the daughter of Richard and Judy (Schulz) Pletcher. Her family moved to Clarion in 1967, where Teresa attended and graduated from the Clarion High School in 1980.

Following her graduation, Teresa held various jobs, including working at the Clarion Health Care Center. In October 1991, Theresa moved to Missouri where she worked as a steel worker. On February 14, 1992, Teresa and David Backues were married in Linn, Missouri. They made their home in Missouri until 1997 when they moved back to the Clarion and Goldfield area.

Survivors include her husband, Dave of Goldfield; one daughter, Natasha Powell of Clarion; Dave’s two sons, Seth and Jared Backues, both of Vienna, Missouri; parents, Richard and Judy Pletcher of Clarion; one brother, Todd Pletcher and wife, Christine of Newton; one sister, Tanya Bierl and husband, Darren of Clarion; grandmothers, Georgia Schulz and Dorothy Jones, both of Eagle Grove; and two nieces and one nephew.

She was preceded in death by three grandfathers, Frank Schulz, Eldon Pletcher and Francis Jones.
© Wright County Monitor 2002  

George Oliver Legge

December 5, 2002

George Oliver Legge, 90, of Belmond, formerly of the Garner and Clarion areas, died on Monday, November 25, 2002, at his home in Belmond.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 30, 2002, at 10:30 a.m., at the Belmond United Methodist Church. A private family interment will be held at a later date in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

George Oliver Legge, was born on May 5, 1912, the son of William Abner and Mary Margaret (Spencer) Legge, on the family farm in Wright County, southwest of Clarion. He attended Clarion area rural schools.

George and Edna Mae Mason, were married on December 23, 1933 at the Methodist Episcopal Church, Clarion by Rev. N. A. Wenterstein.

George was a farmer and was still engaged in farming full time until his retirement in 1972. After his retirement he continued to help his nephew, Mike Legge, in the farming operation until he was 87. He and his wife lived on their farm in Liberty Township, rural Garner.

George is survived by two daughters, Pat Oswald and husband, Andy of Fertile and Lisa Lassig and husband, Craig of Minneapolis, Minnesota; four sons, Randy Oswald and wife, Patti of Hanlontown, Terry Legge and wife, Sue of Grimes, Mike Legge and wife, Monica of Garner and Robert Legge and wife, Ruth of Garner; sisters-in-law, Leona Severe and husband, Tom of Webster City, Donna Ainger and husband, Francis of Belmond, Lila Amonson and husband, Richard of Clarion, Evelyn Wooten of Des Moines and Anna Mae Mason of Amboy, Minnesota; two brothers-in-law, Albert Claude of Clarion and Bill Beenen of Belmond; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Edna in July 1994; one son, James; great-grandson, Mathew Legge; and seven brothers and sisters.
© Wright County Monitor 2002

Myrtle Irene Farrington

November 28, 2002

Myrtle Irene Farrington, 93, of Clarion, died on Monday, November 25, 2002, at the USA Health Care Center, Clarion.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 28, at the Garry-Roberts-Murphy-Schaaf Funeral Home in Algona, from 5-7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 29, at the Funeral Chapel in Algona. Rev. Philip Webb will officiate at the 11:00 a.m. service. Interment will be in the LuVerne Cemetery.

Myrtle Irene Schaffer, was born on September 12, 1909 at Greenup, Illinois, the daughter of Edward and Anna May Simmerl Fosnaugh. As a young girl, Myrtle moved with her family to the Stratford area. She received her education in the Glidden School.

On August 26, 1925, she and Henry N. Schaffer were married at Carroll. The couple moved to the LuVerne area where Henry was a farm laborer. The couple then moved to Algona in the late 1930’s, where Myrtle worked for the Swift’s Produce. Myrtle and Henry lived in several area towns including Bancroft and Wesley, where Myrtle worked in the produce and locker businesses. On October 6, 1957, Myrtle’s husband, Henry preceded her in death.

Myrtle and John Farrington, were married on February 3, 1958 at Blue Earth, Minnesota. They lived in several communities, including Wesley, Sheffield, Eagle Grove and Clarion. After John’s death in the early 1990’s Myrtle continued to live in Clarion.

Myrtle was an active member of the VFW Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary in Clarion. She won several awards for selling the most poppies at Memorial Day. Myrtle also belonged to the Rebekah Lodge and the Royal Neighbors.

Myrtle became a resident of the Park Hall Care Center in Emmetsburg in September 2001 and then moved to the USA Health Care Center in Clarion on April 23, 2002.

Myrtle is survived by her children, Fern Thompson and husband, Robert of Algona, Robert Schaffer and wife, Betty of Clarion, Alice Shipler and fiance, Richard Day of Algona, Richard (Jack) Schaffer of Clarion, Mildred Thorsbakken of Emmetsburg and Roxie Lou Matthews and husband, Robert of Loveland, Colorado; 15 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, James Fosnaugh and wife, Ruth of Klemme and Ernest Fosnaugh of Lynden, Texas; sisters, Velma Waltman of Ceylon, Minnesota, Stella Pratt of Estherville and Harriet Foster of Webster City.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; infant daughter, Helen Irene; and three brothers, Albert, Gilbert and Delbert Fosnaugh.
© Wright County Monitor 2002  

County Attorney Mike Houser passes away suddenly in Mexico

December 5, 2002

Wright County Attorney Mike Houser passed away suddenly while spending Thanksgiving vacation with his wife and children in Mexico. His death was due to an apparent heart attack, Wednesday, November 27, 2002. Houser was 42 years old.

Houser was known to many as a man of the highest caliber, always involved in community projects and working for the betterment of his community and those whose lives he touched. He served as a role model for others.

In his fifth year as Wright County Attorney, Houser ran for reelection in the November race, garnering over 3,000 votes. When asked why he chose to run for the office again, Mike said, "I really enjoy the work, I find it very rewarding."

Even as the case load increased, Mike enjoyed the people and agencies he worked with and was proud of the service he helped to provide the people of Wright County. Many days were long, but Mike continued to work diligently to provide safety and security for residents.

Wright County Board of Supervisor’s Chairman, Conrad Kleppe began the board meeting Monday, honoring Houser and paying tribute for the fine work he had done throughout the past five years. "He is a man we will all miss," said Kleppe.

A Belmond native, Houser graduated from the Belmond High School in 1978. He graduated from Marquette University in 1983 and received his law degree from Drake University in 1986. Following graduation, he returned to Belmond and joined his father, Jim Houser and Gary Berkland at the Houser and Berkland Law Firm.

Houser was serving his third term as a member of the Belmond-Klemme Board of Education and had been elected to serve as President several times. Houser had been active in the Belmond Fire Department, Jaycees, and Toastmasters. He was a long time emcee of the July 4 grandstand show and fireworks display.

He was a member of the St Francis Xavier Catholic Church where he taught youth education and served as a lector. He was an Eagle Scout and served as a leader of his son’s scout troop.

In 1991, Houser was named Jaycee of the Year and in 2000 was honored by the Jaycees with the Distinguished Service Award.

Houser is survived by his wife, Holly; son, Brendan a fourth grader; daughter, Megan a third grader; and parents, Jim and Betty Claire Houser.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church. Visitation will be held from 3-8:00 p.m., on Wednesday, at the Dugger Ewing Funeral Home, with a scriptural service at 8:00 p.m. and rosary to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be directed to the Belmond Public Library, Belmond-Klemme Scholarship Fund #2, Belmond Fire Department, or Holt Children’s Services.
© Wright County Monitor 2002