Roger Allen Morgan

April 10, 2008

Roger Allen Morgan, 68, of Eagle Grove, passed away on Wednesday, April 2, 2008, at the Saint Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, April 5, at the Ullensvang Lutheran Church near Thor. Pastors Chris Lang and Paul Stone officiated at the 1:30 p.m. service. Burial was in the East Ullensvang Cemetery near Thor.

Roger Allen Morgan, was born on September 12, 1939 in rural Wright County. He attended grade schools in Wright and Humboldt counties and graduated from the Eagle Grove High School with the class of 1958. During his high school years, he developed a keen interest in livestock and pursued such interest in raising purebred and crossbred hogs for breeding purposes, and showing hogs to championships at various venues. He also crop farmed for many years. In later years Roger worked as a hog buyer for Lynch Livestock.

On January 20, 1962, Roger was united in marriage to Diana Barbara Simons of Fort Dodge and they made their home in the Eagle Grove area, residing at their current home since 1977.

Roger was an avid sportsman, playing softball around the area on local teams. After playing for many years, he enjoyed coaching baseball and softball.

He is survived by his wife, Diana of Eagle Grove; a daughter, Sheri L. Morgan of McAllen, Texas; a son, Roger Allen Morgan, Jr. and wife, Julia of Durant, Oklahoma; three grandchildren; brothers, Ronald Morgan and wife, Shirley of Fort Dodge and John Morgan and wife, Gayle of Eagle Grove; a sister, Mary Middleton and husband, Harold of Clarion; two great-aunts, Thelma Ventling of Webster City and Delores Buhner of Eagle Grove; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Howard J. Groves

April 10, 2008

Howard J. Groves, 91, of Eagle Grove, passed away on Thursday, April 3, 2008, at the Rotary Ann Retirement Home, Eagle Grove.

A funeral service was held on Monday, April 7, at the United Church of Christ in Eagle Grove. Pastor James Cunningham officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery, Webster City.

Howard J. Groves, was born on April 27, 1916 in Eagle Grove, the son of Carl and Eva (Guthrie) Groves. He attended the Head Grove Country School and graduated from the Eagle Grove High School in 1934.

Howard was united in marriage to Iris Thompson on November 26, 1942 in Clarion. They lived and farmed south of Clarion in Wright County until retiring from farming in 1977. Howard continued to live on the farm, later moving to Eagle Grove. He enjoyed his time with a coffee group at the Twiins Shop in Eagle Grove.

Howard is survived by two sons, Kyle Groves of Lewisville, Texas and Greg Groves of Garden Grove, California; one daughter, Cindy Gatens and husband, Paul of Columbus, Ohio; three grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Gladys Groves and Marjorie Groves; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Iris; two brothers, Harry and Max; and one sister, Doris Groves.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Wayne Arthur Keller

April 10, 2008

Wayne Arthur Keller, 93, of Blairsburg, passed away on Friday, April 4, 2008, at the Wright Medical Center, Clarion.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday, April 9, at the Missionary Alliance Church at Blairsburg. Rev. John Berglund officiated at the 1:00 p.m. service. Burial was in the French Cemetery, east of Woolstock.

Wayne Arthur Keller, was born on March 1, 1915, on a farm west of Alden, the son of Robert and Clara Wehrle Keller. He attended rural schools and graduated from the Blairsburg Public School in 1936. On January 31, 1953, he married Esther Elnora Schnittjer at the Little Brown Church at Nashua. The couple farmed north of Blairsburg. He had farmed for 70 plus years and enjoyed hobbies of fishing, hunting and growing melons.

Wayne attended the Missionary Alliance Church in Blairsburg.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Esther; two sons, Mel Keller of Blairsburg and Gary Keller and wife, Debra of Clarion; three grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, he was preceded in death by five sisters, Lilly Gade, Goldie Keller, Ada Poland, Daisy Lindberg and Clara Clark; and four brothers, Oscar, Ernest, Lee and Joe Keller.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Phyllis Cain

May 1, 2008

Phyllis Cain, passed away on Sunday, April 6, 2008, after a long battle with cancer. She spent the last several months at her sister's home under the care of her loving sister, Hinds Hospice and other family members.

A memorial service was held on Saturday, April 12, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Clovis, California. Pastor Dale Leamon and Pastor Gordon Bullock officiated at the service.

Phyllis was born on May 22, 1938 in Clarion, the daughter of William and Alice White. She was educated in country schools and later attended the Clarion High School. Phyllis was married to Tom Sheffield and to this union six children were born. She later married Lee Cain of Terre Haute, Indiana.

She lived in many different places in her life, including Iowa, California, Georgia and Indiana. She took pride in being an immaculate homemaker and was able to make even a small apartment homey and comfortable. She enjoyed crocheting and made many beautiful afghans and doilies for her family and friends.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, Lee Cain; five children, Susan Sheets and husband, Gary of Clovis, California, Elizabeth Simental of Peru, Indiana, John Sheffield of Fresno, California, David Sheffield and wife, Pam of Rock Valley, Iowa and Rebecca Hudson of Peru, Indiana; six sisters, Molly Norton and husband, Wil of San Diego, California, Karen Flowers and husband, Dean of Clovis. California, Millie Jacobs and husband, Roy of Corona, California, Diane Anderson of Clovis, California, Peg Olsen and husband, Stan of Rowan and Brenda Riordan and husband, Andy of Torrance, California; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Joseph Sheffield; and one grandson, Levi Sheets.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Mary M. Watts

April 24, 2008

Mary M. Watts, 91, of Clarion, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2008, at Careage of Clarion.

Memorial services were held on Monday, April 21, at the Clarion Church of Christ. Pastor Tim Platt officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service.

Mary Goodman, was born on December 27, 1916 in Dallas County, the daughter of Jarret and Mabel (Michael) Goodman. She graduated from the Johnston High School in 1935. Mary was united in marriage with Alre Watts in February, 1945. The couple made their home at Lake Cornelia, where they were longtime residents. Mary was a homemaker and an avid gardener.

She was a member of the Church of Christ in Clarion where she was a Sunday School teacher for many years. Mary also served as financial secretary for 26 years at the Church of Christ. She was also Past Chairman for the Wright County Republicans and Past Matron of the Order of Easter Star.

Mary is survived by one son, Robert Watts of Belmond; two brothers, Major Goodman and wife, Sheila of Raleigh, North Carolina and Jarret Goodman and wife, Barbara of Wisconsin; one sister, Margaret Klobnac and husband, Howard of Norwalk; and numerous nieces and nephews, along with other family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Alre; one brother, Bob Goodman; and two sisters, Hazel Langness and Dorthea Hurd.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Joseph La Verne "Joe" Campbell

April 17, 2008

Joseph La Verne "Joe" Campbell, 87, of Clarion, passed away on Friday, April 11, 2008, at the Belmond Healthcare Center in the comfort of his family.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 15, at the United Church of Christ Congregational in Clarion. Mr. Stan Watne and Pastor Dennis Secrease officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion, with full military honors.

Joseph La Verne Campbell, was born on September 1, 1920, on a farm five miles east of Clarion, the son of John and Mary Campbell. He graduated from the Clarion High School in 1940. He joined the United States Navy and served for six years aboard the USS New Mexico. As Turret Captain, First Class, he saw action in the major battles of the Pacific Theatre. Joe participated in the liberation of the Philippines and witnessed the signing of the peace treaty at Tokyo Bay.

After the war, Joe came home to Clarion where he married Doris Harris on June 16, 1947. He started his own plumbing business by working from the trunk of his car. He later bought property on Main Street in Clarion and established Campbell's Plumbing & Heating with his wife, Doris. The business flourished for over 36 years. Joe and Doris retired in 1985.

In an active retirement, Joe became a skilled and avid golfer. He served on several committees and boards of the United Church of Christ Congregational in Clarion, including the Board of Trustees. Joe also served on the Board of Directors of the Southtown Public Housing. On July 10, 1993, his wife, Doris passed away. Joe married Shirley Sorensen on July 17, 1996. Joe continued to enjoy the many hours spent woodworking and completing projects around his home and yard. Joe and Shirley spent winters at their "second home" in Weslaco, Texas. Joe relished the many visits to Madison to visit his grandchildren, and the hours over coffee with his friends.

Joe is survived by his wife, Shirley Campbell of Clarion; two sons, Brian of Clive and Craig of Madison, Wisconsin; two grandchildren; a stepson, Dan Sorensen of Goldfield; a stepdaughter, Penny Sorensen of Altoona; and one brother, Frank Campbell of Clarion.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Doris; three brothers, Gerald, Edward and Richard; and two sisters, Amy Seal and Florence Hahn.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Dr. Don Holmstrom

July 3, 2008

Dr. Don Holmstrom, 77, of West Union, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, April 12, 2008, at his home.

Don Holmstrom, was born on July 27, 1930. He was the Superintendent at the Clarion Community Schools from 1970-73.

Don is survived by his wife, Phyllis; one son, Darrell and wife of Chugiak, Arkansas; and one daughter, Ann Holmstrom of Wheaton, Illinois.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Lois Lester

April 24, 2008

Lois Lester, 80, of Clarion, passed away on Monday, April 14, 2008, at Careage of Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Friday, April 18, at the United Methodist Church in Clarion. Pastor Don Morrison and Mr. Stan Watne officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion.

Lois Quintus, was born on May 2, 1927 in Garner, the daughter of Floyd and Mildred (Scott) Quintus. She was raised in Eagle Grove. She lived in Eagle Grove until her marriage to Vernon Lester in 1947. Lois and Vern lived in Clarion for several years before moving to Galt. In 1974, they moved to Clarion.

Lois was the Galt Postmistress for several years. She then worked in banking for over 25 years until her retirement.

In 1993, she moved to Bellingham, Washington, to be near her son, Tom and his family. She returned to Wright County in 1995 and spent the remainder of her life in Clarion.

When not busy with home, family and work, Lois liked to travel, camp, fish, sew, embroider, knit, crochet and paint-by-number oil paintings. She crocheted countless afghans as gifts for weddings, graduations, new babies and the Holmes Christmas Auction.

Lois is survived by her children, Paulette Seal and husband, Jerry of Waterloo, Roxane Nowling and husband, David of Bennett, Colorado and Thomas Lester and wife, Sheri of Bellingham, Washington; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three sisters, Betty Bowles, Beverly Nelsen and husband, John and Charlotte Steffenson and husband, Orville, all of Goldfield; and one brother, Bill Quintus and wife, Dot of Eagle Grove.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Vern; one daughter, Rebecca; one grandson, Ethan; and one son-in-law, LeRoy.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Fern I. McKinley

May 8, 2008

Fern I. McKinley, 104, of Rowan, passed away on Monday, April 14, 2008, at the Wright Medical Center, Clarion.

A funeral service was held on Thursday, April 17, at the Rowan United Church. Pastor Nancy Hofmeister officiated at the 1:30 p.m. service. Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery, Rowan.

Fern I. McKinley, was born on December 21, 1903 in Kilduff, the daughter of Wilbur and Anna (Swearingen) Watts. At the age of six, the family moved to Parker, South Dakota. She attended rural school until the age of 10 and then moved with her family to a farm south of Clarion.

On November 7, 1929, Fern was united in marriage to Joseph McKinley at Rolfe. The couple moved to the family farm near Rowan where she resided until three weeks before her death. Fern was an equal partner in their farming operation of milking shorthorns and raising beef cattle. She loved flowers and made floral arrangements for many church occasions. Her hobbies were reading and making quilts, which she was still actively creating for her family and church bazaars. She was a member of the United Methodist Women.

Fern is survived by two daughters, Esther Long of Gowrie and Marjorie Groom and husband, Dwight of Rowan; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Lory Watts and wife, Wilma of Plaentia, California; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Joseph; a son, Lewis; two grandchildren; three brothers, Ralph, Wilbur and Eldon Watts; and four sisters, Mabel, Bessie and Alma Watts and Bernice Miller.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Veronica O'Neill

April 24, 2008

Veronica O'Neill, 98, a longtime Clarion resident, died on Wednesday, April 16, 2008, at Careage of Clarion.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, April 19, at the St. John's Catholic Church in Clarion. Rev. Paul Lippstock and Rev. Thomas O'Neill officiated at the 1:00 p.m. service. Burial was in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery, Clarion.

Veronica Anstey, was born on July 12, 1909, the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. John Anstey of Massena.

After completing a B.A. degree at the University of Iowa and, at a time when jobs were difficult to find, Veronica worked at Marshall Fields in Chicago, Illinois before accepting a teaching position in Massena. Soon after, Veronica accepted a teaching position in the Clarion Public Schools and moved to Clarion in the 1930's where she met and married Francis O'Neill in 1940. The couple had two children, Peggy and John.

Veronica was an involved member of the Delta Zeta Sorority while at the University of Iowa. In Clarion, Veronica was a charter member of the American Association of University Women in Clarion, was active in church work with St. John's Catholic Church, and taught in the Clarion Public Schools when her children were enrolled in college. In later years, Veronica and Francis enjoyed spending several months a year in their mobile home at the Fountain East Mobile Home Park in Mesa, Arizona.

Veronica is survived by a daughter, Peggy of Las Vegas, Nevada; a brother, Dr. George Anstey and wife, Catherine of St. Louis, Missouri; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Maurice (Marie) O'Neill of Council Bluffs; a brother-in-law, John Hughes of Anchorage, Alaska; and numerous nieces and nephews and many cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Francis (Irish); a son, John; two sisters, Marjorie Hughes and Helen Van Antwerp; and one brother, John Eugene.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

William Ray "Willy" Covington, Jr.

May 8, 2008

William Ray "Willy" Covington, Jr., 46, of Franklin, Georgia, passed away on Saturday, April 19, 2008, at the Grady Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia, as the result of a motorcycle accident.

Memorial services were held on Saturday, April 26, at the home of Ray and Shirley Covington in Goodell.

William Ray "Willy" Covington, Jr., was born on January 5, 1962 in Linn County, Iowa, the son of William Ray Covington, Sr. and Shirley Jean Tate Covington.

He was a 1980 graduate of the Belmond High School. Willy was a pipe liner for the International Operators Union Local No. 926.

His family attended the Franklin United Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra Justine Lockwood Covington of Franklin, Georgia; two daughters, Jennifer Hammel of Latimer and Betty Jean Covington of Franklin, Georgia; four sons, Logan Hammel of Clarion, Brandon Manning of Franklin, Georgia, Brent Manning of Franklin. Georgia and William Ray "Brew" Covington III of Franklin Georgia; parents, William "Ray" Covington Sr. and Shirley Jean Covington of Goodell; two sisters, Laurie Winfrey of Ames and Rhonda Wenzel of Belmond; two brothers, Randy Covington of Eldon. Missouri and Larry Covington of Stone Ridge. Virginia; and one granddaughter, Amaya Hammel.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Miriam Peterson

May 8, 2008

Miriam Peterson, 92, of Lake Forest Park, Washington, passed away on Tuesday, April 22, 2008.

A memorial service was held on Thursday, May 1, at 2:00 p.m., at the Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church, Lake Forest Park, Washington. A reception was held immediately following the service at the church.

Miriam Morford, was born on May 10, 1915 in Clarion, the daughter of Fred J. and Clara Boyington Morford. Miriam attended Cornell College where she met Dale R. Peterson. They were married in 1934 and were the parents of seven children.

In 1950, Miriam and Dale moved to Lake Forest Park. Miriam was a Regent in the Lady Stirling Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She won the Golden Acorn Service Award from the Shorecrest H.S. PTA. She loved history and Genealogy. In 2006, her house was awarded the Trillium Heritage Award (an LFP community historic home).

Miriam is survived by her children, Laurel James of Seattle, Pat Peterson and wife, JoAnn of Seattle, Park Peterson and wife, Kay of Seattle, Miriamdale Doyle of Edmonds, Russ Peterson of Corvallis, Oregon, Cynthia Mathis Duvall and Constance Hampton and husband, Michael of Reno, Nevada; 17 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Dale in 1978.
© Wright County Monitor 2008

Roy L. Axtell

May 8, 2008

Roy L. Axtell, 87, of Eagle Grove, passed away on Tuesday, April 29, 2008, at the Trinity Regional Medical Center, Fort Dodge.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, May 3, at the Eagle Grove United Methodist Church. Rev. Mary Green officiated at the 2:00 p.m. service. Burial was in the Holmes Lutheran Cemetery.

Roy L. Axtell, was born on February 7, 1921 in Iowa Falls, the son of John and Bertha (Raska) Axtell. He was raised and educated in the area of his birth.

Roy served in the United States Army, serving in the 41st Division, 162nd Infantry in the Japan occupation. He was Honorably Discharged on August 29, 1946. He farmed and worked for Pre-Stress Concrete in Iowa Falls. Roy was a member of the United Methodist Church in Eagle Grove and the Teamsters of Mason City. He enjoyed gardening.

Roy was united in marriage to Helen (Sibrel) Heslop on April 17, 1986 in Clayton, New Mexico.

Roy is survived by his wife, Helen of Eagle Grove; one son, Denny Axtell and wife, Linda of Cross Hill, South Carolina; two daughters, Alice Guisenger and husband, Joe of Waukee and Marge Crawford and husband, Ron of Lawrence, Kansas; 11 grandchildren; 13 step-grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Joyce in February 1985; one brother, Darrel; one sister, Hattie; and a step-daughter, Sharon K. Toresdahl.
© Wright County Monitor 2008