Arthur "Max" Andrews

November 13, 2003

Arthur “Max” Andrews, 78, of Clarion, died on November 2, 2003, after a long, valiant struggle with pancreatic cancer.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, November 6, at the Clarion Church of Christ. Rev. Tim Platt officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Interment was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion. The Willim Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Arthur “Max” Andrews, was born on January 15, 1925, the son of Wilbur Arthur and Flossie (Surber) Andrews on a farm in Dallas County near Minburn, Iowa. He graduated from high school at the Washington Township Consolidated School in 1942. He attended Simpson College, getting schooling and training at Northwest Sate Teachers in Maryville, Missouri and the U.S. Naval Academy at Notre Dame, Indiana.

He received his commission as Ensign in 1944. He served in the Pearl Harbor area during World War II. He returned to Simpson College in 1946 as a business major, graduating in 1948. Max taught high school business courses in Iowa for 40 years, teaching in Lacona, Neola, and Milford before coming to Clarion in 1952. He retired from teaching in 1986.

On January 24, 1945, Max was united in marriage to Doris Maxine Bever in Indianola. He has been a member of the Church of Christ most of his life, being baptized at the Washington Chapel Church of Christ near Minburn, Iowa in January 1938.

Max was a member of the Clarion Church of Christ, having served as elder, Sunday School Superintendent, financial secretary and missionary chairman. He also sang in the choir and the men’s quartet for many years. He was a member of the Iowa State Education Association, National Education Association, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Farm Bureau.

Max enjoyed fishing and spending summers in northern Minnesota, gardening, photography (taking and developing the snapshots of the Yearbook sponsor) and woodworking (making toys out of oak and taking them to craft shows). He also enjoyed traveling after his retirement and following the musical pursuits of his children.

He is survived by wife of 58 years, Doris; three sons, Victor and wife, Karen of Clarion, Bill and wife, Ruth of Garland, Texas and Bob Andrews of Anchorage, Alaska; two daughters, Beverly Easler of Ossco, Minnesota and Joyce Andrews of Ankeny and her fiancée, Brad Moeckly; four sisters, Ruth McLaughlin of Dallas Center, Elsie Crane of Burley, Idaho, Lois West and husband, Bob of Peoria, Arizona and Jane Schultz and husband, Jack of Van Meter; one brother, Gene Andrews and wife, LaDonna of Anita, Iowa; brothers-in-law, Dwain Patty of Williamsburg, New Mexico, Don Wicks of Jamaica and Darrell Bever and wife, Ernestine of Minburn, Iowa; and many other family members and friends.
© Wright County Monitor 2003

Joseph "Joe" David Keller

November 13, 2003

Joseph “Joe” David Keller, 92, of Blairsburg, died on Sunday, November 9, 2003, at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 15, at the Missionary Alliance Church, Blairsburg. Rev. Bill Keller will officiate at the 1:00 p.m. service. Visitation will be at the Foster Funeral Home from 5-8:00 p.m., on Friday and at the church after 11:00 a.m., on Saturday.

Joseph David Keller, was born on July 20, 1911, the son of Robert and Clara Wehrle Keller on a farm west of Alden. The family moved to a farm north of Blairsburg in Wright County. He attended rural school in the area and started farming at an early age.

On February 14, 1937, he and Catherine Hester Denton were united in marriage at Blairsburg. The couple farmed north of Blairsburg. Mrs. Keller died on October 24, 1990. Mr. Keller has farmed for 80 years. He had been in failing health for the past year.

He was a member of the Missionary Alliance Church of Blairsburg and a former church board member.

Joe is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Kay and John Sims of Naperville, Illinois, Karen and Rodney Huisman of Naples, Florida, Jolene Keller of Dallas, Texas and Gene and Margo Keller of Blairsburg; eight grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; one sister, Ada Poland of Iowa Falls; one brother, Wayne Keller of Blairsburg; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Joyce Keller, in infancy; four sisters, Lilly Gade, Daisy Lindberg, Clara Clark and Goldie Keller; and three brothers, Oscar, Lee and Ernest Keller.
© Wright County Monitor 2003

Frances Kay Engstrom

November 27, 2003

Frances Kay Engstrom, 63, died on Tuesday, November 18, 2003, at the St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 22, 2003, at 10:00 a.m., at the Samuel Lutheran Church in Eagle Grove. Pastor Stan Peterson officiated at the service. Burial was in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Eagle Grove.

Frances Kay Gunderson, was born on December 5, 1939 in Belmond, the daughter of Donald H. and Isabelle M. (Mason) Gunderson. She attended school in Clarion where she graduated from the Clarion High School in 1959.

Kay was united in marriage to Fred Steig on February 14,1960 at Eagle Grove. They were the parents of four children, Leonard, Shelley, Rodney and Terry Joe. Fred died on September 13, 1980. Kay was united in marriage to Michael Engstrom on December 7, 1985 at the St. John’s Lutheran Church near Kanawha.

Kay and Fred operated their own business and she also worked for Dodger Industries, Robin Meinders and most recently, Dr. James Snively.

Survivors include her four children, Leonard Steig and wife, Cheryl of Goldfield, Shelley Steig of Eagle Grove, Rodney Steig and wife, Terri of Dows and Terry Joe Steig and wife, Lisa of Eagle Grove; 7 grandchildren; one sister, Dawn Malaise and husband, Larry; six nieces and nephews; mother-in-law, Shirley Engstrom; sisters-in-law, Bonita Harle and husband, Robert and Betty Hughes and husband, Howard; six step nieces and nephews.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Fred in 1980 and Michael in 2002; and one brother, Roger Gunderson.
© Wright County Monitor 2003

Ken Skrovig

December 4, 2003

Ken Skrovig, 58, died on Friday, November 28, 2003, at the Wright Medical Center, after a long battle with melanoma cancer.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, December 2, 2003, at the First Lutheran Church in Clarion. Pastor Gary Boen officiated at the 10:00 a.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Ken Skrovig, was born on April 19, 1945 in Iowa Falls, the son of Truman and Doris (Rhodes) Skrovig. Ken grew up on a farm north of Dows. At the age of 14 he and his family moved to Dows. He was confirmed in 1958 at the First Lutheran Church in Dows. He graduated from the Dows High School in 1963. After graduation he worked for White Hardware in Dows.

In 1965, he enlisted in the U.S. Army for a two year tour, serving one year in Bomberg, Germany. After his discharge from the Army he began employment at the Wright County REC, now Prairie Energy Co-op, as a grounds man. He retired after 34 years as Operations Engineer.

In June of 1968, he married Sharon Cummings of Belmond. To this union three daughters were born, Cyndi, Myndi and Lyndi. After retirement Ken and Sharon spent two winters in Florida.

Ken was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Clarion, past Church Council member, Dows American Legion, past Third District Commander, Clarmond Country Club and past Lion’s member. He loved his Norwegian heritage, the Iowa Hawkeyes, camping, and was an avid golfer.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon of Clarion; three daughters, Cyndi Rector and husband, Eric of Clarion, Myndi Morgan and husband, Lincoln of Eagle Grove and Lyndi Gabrielson and husband, Dan of Chicago, Illinois; mother, Doris Skrovig of Dows; one sister, Sheri Harrington and husband, Paul of Eagle Grove; mother and father-in-law, Roy and Jo Cummings of Belmond; sister-in-law, Carolyn Skiye and husband, Gary of Belmond; special friends, Pete and Rosie; seven grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.

Ken was preceded in death by his father, Truman Skrovig; grandparents, Emma and Iver Skrovig and Ada and Wayne Rhodes; sister-in-law, Marilyn Dillon; an aunt and three cousins.
© Wright County Monitor 2003