Flora Braaks, 81, of Hawarden, Iowa, died Feb. 19, 2003. Funeral services were held Saturday, Feb. 22 at the Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden. Interment was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Ireon, Iowa.

Flora was born Dec. 23, 1921, a Ricketts, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Clara (Baak) Dethlefs. She married Louis Braaks on Oct. 25, 1943 at Johnston, Minn. They made their home in Ireton, and later moved to Hawarden

in 1982. Flora worked as a waitress in various cafe¹s.

Flora moved into the Hillcrest Health Care Center in Hawarden in April of 1989. Louis died July 2, 1990.

Survivors include nephews and nieces. Flora was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Donald; and an infant child.

Kevin Scott Whipple

Kevin Scott Whipple, 42, of 2400 South Shore Dr, Clear Lake, died Thursday, Feb. 27, 2003 at Mercy Medical Center of North Iowa. Funeral Services were held Monday, March 3, at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel with the Rev. Kermit Roisen officiating.

Interment will be at Olena Mound Cemetery in Buffalo Center, Iowa. Memorials may be made to the Kevin Scott Whipple Memorial Fund.

Kevin Scott Wipple, was born Oct. 8, 1960, the son of Raymond and Gladys (Albers) Whipple. He spent most of his life in Forest City, Iowa City, and Clear Lake. He was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City and graduated from Forest City High School. He went to Iowa Central College and received an AA degree in radio broadcasting. He later went to North Iowa Community College, University of Northern Iowa, and University of Iowa where he received his master¹s degree in social work. During his spare time Kevin was an avid Hawkeye fan and loved going to Iowa City for football and basketball games. He enjoyed spending time with his nephew, turning Devlynn into the perfect Hawkeye fan clone. He enjoyed working with wood and tinkering with motors. Kevin loved giving all of himself to other people and rarely thought of himself before others. With this attitude and due to his health and disabilities he found a true sense of fulfillment through his work as a social worker, volunteering for the Red Cross, CASA, and finally through employment as Director of the North Iowa Aids Project where he was employed at the time of his death.

Kevin is sadly missed by his mother, Gladys Sheldon, Clear Lake; two step-sisters, Betty Sheldon, Clear Lake, and LaBeth Sasse and her husband, Joel, Thornton; and a very special nephew, Devlynn Sasse.

Kevin was preceded in death by his grandparents; stepfather; several aunts and uncles, and a very special kitty, Skootles T. Kat.

Irma E. Daves

Irma E. Daves, 82, San Bernardino, Calif., died Saturday, March 1, 2003 at her son¹s home in Lakeland, Minn. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 5, 10:30 a.m. at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake, with her son, the Rev. Harvey Seidel officiating. Interment will be at the Clear Lake Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Irma E. Daves Memorial Fund.

Irma was born Jan. 18, 1921 in Boone Township, Hancock County, Iowa, the daughter of Paul M. and Mildred (Clark) Palmer. She grew up in Clear Lake, graduating from Clear Lake High School. She played the violin in the school orchestra. Irma married Marcus Seidel on June 26, 1942 and later they were divorced. She then married Alfred Davis on March 31, 1944 and they moved to San Bernardino, Calif. in 1963. Alfred passed away in 1975. Irma then married Jack Daves on Jan. 18, 1986 in Las Vegas, Nev. She continued to live in San Bernardino until January 2003 when she moved to Lakeland, Minn. to live with her son.

Irma was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the Elks Club.

Irma is survived by her husband, Jack Daves, San Bernardino; three sons, the Rev. Harvey Seidel, Thermopolis, Wyo., Jerry Davis, Lakeland, Minn. and Richard Davis, Placerville, Calif.; one daughter, Barbra Cove, Houston, Texas; nine grandchildren, Gerri Ann Argir, Woodbury, Minn., Jeff Davis, Maple Grove, Minn., John Davis, Eagan, Minn., Keith Seidel, Cody, Wyo., Ken Seidel, Worland, Wyo., Joe Seidel, Placerville, Calif., Jon Seidel, Sheridan, Wyo., Michael Dreyer, Nevada and Teresa Lott, U.S. Army in Kuwait; thirteen great-grandchildren; three brothers, Willard Palmer, Holland, Iowa, Paul Palmer, Jr., Web City, Mo. and James Palmer, Mason City; five sisters, Bernice Hamand, LaGrange, Ky., Evelyn Coyier, Clear Lake, Pauline Zielie, Mason City, Ruth Nichols, Clear Lake, and Jan Welton, Downey, Calif.

Irma was preceded in death by her first husband, Marcus Seidel, second husband, Alfred Davis and one son, Larry Davis.

Jeff Boeshart

Jeff Boeshart, 31, 312 12th Ave. S., Clear Lake, died Sunday, March 2, 2003, the result of an automobile accident. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 6, 1:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 205 W. 10th Ave N., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Thomas Healey and the Rev. Barbara Stewart officiating. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 5 - 7:30 p.m. at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel. Inurnment will be held at a later date at the Clear Lake Cemetery, Clear Lake. Memorials may be given to the Jeff Boeshart Memorial Fund.

Jeff was born Nov. 20, 1971, the son of Fletcher and Kathy (Ellefson) Boeshart. He graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1990. While in high school he was involved in football and wrestling. He had been working at the I-35 Standard Station since his junior year of high school until the time of his death. Jeff married Tammy Westover on May 22, 1993 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. He lived his whole life in Clear Lake.

Jeff enjoyed traveling to Colorado to see his aunt and uncle and traveling to California to visit his father. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, participating in tournaments, and he enjoyed bowling. He was a great story and joke teller.

Jeff is survived by his wife, Tammy Boeshart, Clear Lake; his mother, Kathy Boeshart-Treanor, Clear Lake; his father, Fletcher Boeshart and his wife, Carol, Clear Lake; two brothers, Kevin Boeshart and his wife, Tonya, Clear Lake, and Shane Boeshart, Clear Lake; two step-sisters; one step-brother; his father-in-law, Roger Westover, Clear Lake; grandparents, Lucile Westover, Clear Lake, Jo Ellefson, Clear Lake, and Bill and Bonnie Boeshart, Garner, Iowa; several aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews and many friends. Jeff is also survived by his special pets, Lexy, Max, Tyfa and Nakita.

Jeff was preceded in death by his brother, Ryan, and grandpa, Vern Ellefson.

Alvina L. Rusley

Funeral service for Alvina L. Rusley, 72, were held Saturday, March 8, at Winnebago Lutheran Church, rural Lake Mills, with the Rev. Bill Peters officiating. Burial was at Winnebago Lutheran Cemetery.

Alvina Louise Rusley was born July 24, 1930, in Clear Lake, Iowa, the daughter of Paul and Adeline (Johnson) Beck. She was raised by her grandmother, Amanda Johnson, and uncle, Kenneth Johnson. She graduated from Clear Lake High School and Mason City Junior College, Mason City, Iowa.

Alvina was united in marriage to Stanley Rusley on July 1, 1956, in Clear Lake. They lived and farmed on the family farm south of Lake Mills. She taught at Hampton, Clear Lake, Forest City, and Lake Mills school districts. At the time of the birth of their children she decided to stay at home. Later, in 1989, she returned to the Lake Mills Community School as an aide in the elementary school.

Alvina served numerous officer positions of Ladies Aid and the Lydia Circle as well as Church Council. She made many beautiful banners for the church sanctuary. She taught Sunday School and assisted with first year WOW after school program. For many years she was a 4-H leader for the Mount Valley Merrymaids. Alvina had an artistic creative ability to her that was obvious in all her sewing, craft projects and later in years all the pieces of hardanger that she handmade. She was an excellent cook and made the best lefse. She always had a big garden, which she canned and froze from as well as many garden and landscape flowers. She enjoyed shopping and going to craft shows. In the summer she enjoyed Tuesday golfing with friends. Alvina was a true farm wife, helping in any way she could. Every fall, and even this last fall, Alvina was sure to be in the field helping with the fieldwork. She enjoyed her John Deere 4640 tractor with the power shift. In years prior, when plowing was the preferred method, her thinking was the ³blacker the better.² Her grandson, Jace, referred to her an his ³M&M Gamma.²

Alvina passed away Wednesday, March 5, 2003, at her home after a ³never give up² courageous seven-year battle with cancer.

Left to cherish her memory is her husband of 46 years, Stanley; son Steven of Lake Mills; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Alan Johnson, of Lake Mills; grandson, Jace Johnson; aunt-in-law, Rachel Johnson of Manly; brother-in-law, Kermit Rusley of Leland; sisters-in-law Thelma Bannon of Ballwin, Mo., Helen and Jesse Chase of Mason City, and many cousins, nieces,

nephews, and friends. She is gone from our sight, but not from our

hearts.

She was preceded in death by her parents; grandparents; and special uncle, Kenneth Johnson.

Nicholas J. ³Nick² Gerhardt

Nicholas J. ³Nick² Gerhardt, 78, 804 N. Minnesota St., Algona, Iowa, formerly of Clear Lake, died Tuesday, March 4, 2003, at the Good Samaritan Care Center, Algona. Funeral services were held Saturday, March 8, at St. Patrick¹s Catholic Church, Clear Lake, with Msgr. Robert Hogan officiating. Interment was at the Clear Lake Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Rose For Life sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.

Nicholas John Gerhardt was born July 2, 1924 in St. Joseph, Mo., the son of Nicholas Frank and Anna Julia (Hoffman) Gerhardt. He attended St. Joseph Cathedral School and was a 1942 graduate of St. Joseph Christian Brothers High School. Nick received a B.A. degree from Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri and received his Masters in Education from Colorado State College, Greeley, Colo.

Nick was united in marriage to Shirley Mae Watson on Dec. 28, 1953 in Bethany, Mo. To this union were born five children.

Nick was a teacher and coach for 36 years and was an avid sports enthusiast and participant. As a youth, he was an All-City tackle in football for CBHS. He played American Legion baseball against major leaguers-to-be Yogi Berra and Joe Garogiola and he was a pitcher for several Missouri state fast-pitch softball tournament teams. He lettered in football and baseball while attending Tarkio College.

Nick coached several sports (cross country, football, boys and girls basketball, track, and baseball) during his career. His greatest accomplishments as a coach were probably during track season as he coached many individual state champions in both Missouri and Iowa.

Nick served his country as a proud member of the United States Marine Corps and fought in several campaigns in the Pacific during World War II. He also served again during the Korean War. In recent years he enthusiastically attended Marine Corps reunions with his wife, Shirley, and renewed old friendships with his long-ago buddies.

Nick was a member of St. Cecelia Church in Algona and a former member of St. Patrick¹s Church in Clear Lake. He was a 50+ year member of the Knights of Columbus and was instrumental in forming a new council in Clear Lake in 1981. He served as Grand Knight for Clear Lake Council #7898 for its first two years of existence. He was a fourth degree member and was honored in 1984 by the Iowa Knights of Columbus when he was named ³Knight of the Year².

An ever-growing family was always Nick¹s focus in life. Family and work sometimes went together as his children were able to be ³assistant helpers² on many of the sport teams he coached. Eighteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild always kept him busy at family gatherings and he enjoyed going to their activities. Nick will always be remembered for his many interesting life experiences that he shared with family and friends.

Nick¹s surviving family members include his loving wife, Shirley, Algona; son, Ronald and his wife, Paula, of Mason City, Iowa and their family, Matthew (Megan), Scott (Carrie and their son Hunter), Benjamin (Candace), Jennifer, and Katie; son, Stephen and his wife, Janese, of Omaha, Neb. and their family, Emily, Hannah, Rebecca, Joseph, and Sophie; son, Christopher and his wife, Anita, of Algona, and their family Patrick, Megan, and Kelly; daughter, Julia and her husband, Chris Richter, of Kansas City, Mo. and their daughter, Olivia; son, William and his wife, Amy, of Ankeny, Iowa and their family, Chelsea, Nicholas, Abagail and Michael; his brother, Jacob, of St. Joseph, Mo., and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Nicholas and Anna; two infant brothers, Joseph and Matthew; and two sisters, Barbara and Annie.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.

Raymond Charles Mix

Raymond Charles Mix, 81, 817 9th Ave S., Clear Lake, died Monday, March 10, 2003 at his home. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, March 12, 11 a.m., at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Kermit Roisen officiating. The family will greet friends one hour preceding the service. Inurnment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. Memorials may be given to the Raymond C. Mix Memorial Fund.

Raymond was born March 31, 1921, in Middleton, Minn., the son of Richard and Martha (Kinnan) Mix. He attended schools in Mason City. Ray married Clara Larson, on May 3, 1941 in Waterloo, Iowa. He served in the United States Navy during WWII, 1944-1945, in the Pacific as a motor machinist mate third class. After the war he worked at Armour for 32 years in the box room.

Raymond loved gardening, fishing, especially ice fishing, and hunting. He enjoyed building his house, which was always a gathering place. He enjoyed cooking and baking cookies. He loved his family. Raymond was a very hard worker. He was a member of the Armour Union. His special love was his dog, Suzie.

Raymond is survived by three children, Nancey Jean Guhl and her husband, John, Clear Lake, Mary Lou Hoffman and her husband, Louis, Mason City, and Larry Raymond Mix and his wife Claudette, Clear Lake; eight grandchildren, Alan Patro, Joleen Jensen, Mark Hoffman, Todd Hoffman, Laurie Richards, Adam Mix, Amos Mix and Marc Gregerson; thirteen great-grandchildren; and one brother, Donald Mix and his wife, Beverly, Waterloo, Iowa.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Clara, on April 30, 1988; one brother, Harold; and two sisters, Leona and Dorothy.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.

Jerry G. Higgins

Jerry G. Higgins, 67, of 1213 Main Ave., Clear Lake, died Friday, Dec. 20, 2002 at Iowa Methodist Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa. According to the family¹s wishes he was cremated. Memorial services will be Saturday, March 15, 11 a.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Dennis Ganz officiating. Inurnment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa with military honors by the Clear Lake V.F.W. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Family suggests memorials to Jerry G. Higgins Memorial Fund.

Jerry was born Nov. 29, 1935 in Granville, Iowa, the son of Laverne and Margaret (Adams) Higgins. He grew up in Smithland, Iowa. He moved to Des Moines his senior year and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1954.

He joined the Air Force and did duty in Japan and stateside and was honorably discharged in 1959.

Jerry married Sylvia Rohde on June 6, 1959 in Des Moines. He worked at Frye Mfg. before moving to Clear Lake in 1967. He worked for the Rock Island Railroad, then for the Chicago Northwestern. Due to the railroads merging and laying off, he then moved to Waseca, Minn. where he was an engineer for the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad for several years. He retired in July 2000 and spent the winters in South Carolina and the summers in Ottumwa, Iowa.

Jerry enjoyed the Casino's and stopped in each one as he traveled. He also enjoyed remodeling his homes and working in the yard, but working for the railroad was what he enjoyed most, next to his family.

Jerry is survived by his wife Sylvia, Clear Lake; two sons, Jeff Higgins and his wife Debbie, Clear Lake, and Brad Higgins and his wife, June, Ottumwa, Iowa; four grandchildren, Curtis Higgins, Clear Lake, Kathy Higgins, Anderson, S.C., Kim Higgins, Crescent, Iowa and Alexander Higgins, Ottumwa; two brothers, Duane Higgins and his wife, Kathy, Corning, Iowa and Bill Higgins, Arvada, Colo. and several close nieces and nephews.

His parents preceded him in death.

Doris I. Conibear Pitkin

Doris I. Conibear Pitkin, 85, 1418 N. 23rd St., Clear Lake, died Tuesday, March 11, 2003, at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa. Funeral services were held Friday, March 14, 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Jan Burnett officiating. Interment was at the Clear Lake Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Mrs. Doris Pitkin Memorial Fund.

Doris was born Feb. 21, 1918 in Paynesville, Minn., the daughter of James Arthur and Elsie Elizabeth (Bokelman) Conibear. Her family moved to a farm near Clear Lake when she was six years old. Doris graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1936. Doris married Norval Austin Pitkin August 20, 1936 in Albert Lea, Minn. They lived in Clear Lake until 1942 when they moved to Rudd, Iowa to begin farming. They moved back to the Clear Lake area in 1945 to farm north of town. In 1995 they moved to their present home in Clear Lake.

Doris loved baking, raising roses and gardening. She enjoyed embroidering, listening to country music and she liked to stay busy. Norval and Doris enjoyed fishing together. Doris was a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, Colonial Club and the D.D.D. Club.

Doris is survived by her three children, Judy Ytzen and her husband, Donald, Clear Lake, Galen Pitkin and his wife, Cecelia, Clear Lake, and David Pitkin and his wife, Sandra, Rochester, Minn; nine grandchildren, DeAnn Robak and her husband, Jeff, Plymouth, Iowa, Debra Marson and her husband, David, Mason City, Robert Ytzen and his wife, Deborah, Clear Lake, Ron Pitkin and his wife, Pam, Clear Lake, Dennis Pitkin and his wife, Jolene, Clear Lake, Kevin Pitkin and his wife, Ruth, Harlan, Iowa, Ken Pitkin and his wife, Deanna, Sterling, Ill., Dan Pitkin and his fiancé, Carleen Rudicill, Parna Heights, Ohio, and Angela Pitkin and her husband, Rob Svetly, Ely, Iowa; fifteen great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; thirteen step-great-grandchildren and one step-great-great-grandson; one sister, Norma Grekoff, Nora Springs, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

Doris is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Norval on Nov, 30, 1995; one grandson; one daughter-in-law and one step-granddaughter.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.

Lillian B. Thada

Lillian B. Thada, 88, Fairfield, Iowa, died Friday, March 14, 2003 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa.

Lillian was born Dec. 11, 1915 in Garner, Iowa, the daughter of Frank F. and Minnie Pueggel Thada. She grew up in the Garner community and graduated from Garner High School. She attended Waldorf College in Forest City. She graduated from the Iowa State Teachers College at Cedar Falls and received her masters degree from the University of Denver. She first taught at Ventura schools before moving to Fairfield. She taught at Logan and Roosevelt schools before teaching and working up to becoming principal at Washington Elementary. She was the principal at Pence Junior High and Elementary School when it first opened. She later was part-time principal at Lockridge Elementary and served as elementary supervisor for the Fairfield Community School District before her retirement.

Lillian was a charter member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fairfield. She was a member of T.T.T., Retired School Personnel, B.P.W., Delta Kappa Gamma, Jefferson County Republican Women, Jefferson County Historical Society, Jefferson County Hospital Auxillary, Fairfield Women¹s Club, and she served in various offices as a member of the Jefferson County Cancer Board, Immanuel Lutheran Ladies Circle and was the Weekday Bible School Study leader for the fifth and sixth grade confirmation class. She was honored as Fairfield Citizen of the Year for the Fairfield Area Chamber of Commerce, and wrote the popular column ³Reminiscences² in the Town Crier locally.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Edna M. Thada; brother and sister-in-law, Warren and Veronica Liska Thada.

She is survived by one nephew, Glenn Thada, Garner; a niece, Marsha Doebel, Clear Lake; her companion since 1941, Mary McPherson of Fairfield; and several step- great-neices and nephews.

Funeral service was Tuesday at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Fairfield with pastor Mark Brase officiating.

Funeral service is also at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 19 at St. John Lutheran Church near Garner with Pastor Carl Hedberg officiating.

Memorials have been established in Lillian¹s name to the American Cancer Society, the Immanuel Lutheran Church or may be made to the charity of the donor¹s choice.

 Kenyon Verbeckmoes

Funeral service for Kenyon Verbeckmoes will be held Friday, March 21, 1 p.m. at St. Patrick¹s Catholic Church, Clear Lake. A reception will follow the service.

Kenyon Verbeckmoes, 95, of Mason City, Iowa, died on Jan. 24, 2003 in Phoenix, Az., where he spent the winter months with his children and grandchildren.

Born in Atkinson, Ill., he moved with his parents and two sisters to Clear Lake where he graduated from high school in 1926. Self employed most of his life, he had several gourmet and specialty foods businesses under the name ³Kenyon¹s² in Clear Lake and in Mason City. Kenyon served in the US Coast Guard during WWII and, while stationed in California, married Viola Bless of Clear Lake. Kenyon and Viola returned with their children to Mason City in 1961. Kenyon loved to travel, hunt, fish and play pinochle. He was a member of St. Joseph¹s Catholic Church and several civic organizations.

Kenyon was preceded in death by his mother, Gertrude; father, Art; sister, Loretta Marshal, and wife, Viola.

He is survived by his son, John Arthur and daughter-in-law, Peg, of Phoenix, Az.; his daughter, Kay Busch, and son-in-law, David; grandchildren, Andrew and Adriene Busch of Tempe, Az.; his sister, Maud Estelle Hayes, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and many nieces and nephews.

Laurence (Larry) L. Keith

Laurence (Larry) L. Keith, 85, passed away Monday, March 17, 2003 at the Oakwood Care Center, Clear Lake. Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 20, at the United Methodist Church, 508 2nd Ave S., Clear Lake, with the Rev. Jan Burnett officiating. Visitation will from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, 101 N. 4th St., Clear Lake. Interment will be at Clear Lake Cemetery, with Military Honors by the Clear Lake V.F.W.

Larry was born July 16, 1917 in Marble Rock, Iowa, the son of Ray and Wanda (Davis) Keith.

Larry¹s father found work in construction and farming before and during the depression. The family moved many times. His father (half jokingly) told the family it was cheaper to move than to pay rent. Larry attended 22 different schools before graduating from Marble Rock High School in 1936.

He planned to attend art school in the fall of 1936, but steady paychecks proved a greater lure. Larry learned the construction trade, often working with his dad on bridges and railroad roundhouses.

He married the love of his life Lorene (Lori) Merriss in Dubuque, Iowa, on June 8, 1940. Larry served his country in World War II in the 1332nd Engineers and was stationed in England. After his discharge in 1946, he returned to Marble Rock, his wife and construction.

On New Years Day 1948, he moved his family to Clear Lake and formed Davis and Keith General Contractors with his brother, James Davis. The firm built many homes, churches and schools in the area including the Methodist Church, Catholic Church, Post Office, Blue Horizon Motel, Clear Lake Bakery, the older portion of the Band shell, and the time capsule in City Park.

When the post-war construction boom ended in the mid 1960¹s, Larry became Clear Lake¹s first Superintendent of Public Works. He also worked part-time drawing plans for new homes. Larry and Lori, together, designed and built their family homes in Clear Lake.

In 1972, the couple bought the local trash hauling business and renamed it Keith¹s Sanitation Service Inc. For a short time in the late 1970¹s, they also had a greenhouse, Lori¹s Bloomers.

In retirement, the couple traveled ³the lower 48² states in their motor home. They were always home for birthdays, anniversaries and holidays.

His wife, Lori, passed away June 6, 1990, two days prior to their 50th anniversary. In 1999 he moved to Oakwood Care Center where he gained new friends among residents and caring staff. Larry was a good provider for his family. He enjoyed his work and took pride in a job well done. He liked gardening, sports and home fix-up projects. He treasured his family and enjoyed morning coffee with his friends.

Larry was a member of Clear Lake United Methodist Church and V.F.W. Post 4868. He was a past member of Rotary, Master Builders of Iowa, Associated General Contractors, Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce and Senior Chamber.

Larry is survived by his daughter, Kathy Bartelt and her husband, David, Clear Lake; a son, Dennis Keith and his wife, Lillie, of Clear Lake; three grandchildren, Jennifer Meyer and her husband, Eric, of St. Paul, Minn., Sid Bishop of Phoenix, Az.; and Dawn Bishop, of Ames, Iowa; three great-grandchildren, Lauren Meyer, Ethan Meyer, and Jessica Bishop

Larry was preceded in death by his loving wife, Lori, in 1990; a son, James, in 1971; and two infant children, Mary Margaret and Bobby Dean; his father, Ray; his mother, Wanda; his loving, caring, step-mother, Fern; his brother, Jim Davis and sister, Dorothy Gates.

Ruby R. Matson

Ruby R. Matson, 94, passed away Sunday, March 23, 2003 at Mercy Medical Center of North Iowa, Mason City, Iowa. A graveside service will be held Wednesday, March 26, 11 a.m., at the Clear Lake Cemetery, with the Rev. Dean Hess officiating. Memorials may be given to the Ruby R. Matson Memorial Fund.

Ruby Rose Shook was born on Jan. 18, 1909 in Clear Lake, the daughter of Hiram and Linnie (Harding) Shook. She was united in marriage to Ferd S. Matson on Nov. 18, 1937 at the Little Brown Church, Nashua, Iowa. They farmed north of Clear Lake their entire married life. She was a member of the Colonial Club. She enjoyed nature and being with her family. She continued to reside at the farm home until December 2002 when she entered the Good Shepherd Health Center in Mason City. She was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake.

Ruby is survived by her children, Jon and his wife, Linda, of Clear Lake, and Arvid and his wife, Dixie, of Clear Lake; grandchildren, Shelly Benton and her husband, Doug, Tammy Wageman, Mindy Zaruba and her husband, Tim, Becky Gray and her husband, Jacob and Marcy Bitner and her husband, David; 10 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Elsie Armfield and her husband, Russ, Clear Lake, Dorothy Newburg, Mason City, Mildred Matson, Mason City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ruby was preceded in death by her husband, Ferd, in 1992; her parents; a sister, Vira; and brothers, Roy and Robert.