Lola Mary (Bowers) Murphy, 92, of Cherry Valley, Illinois, died on Monday, July 3, 2006, in her daughter's home in Cherry Valley with her family by her side.

A funeral service was held at 9:30 a.m., on Saturday, July 8, 2006, in the Cherry Valley United Methodist Church, Cherry Valley, Illinois, with Rev. Nancy Retford and Rev. Dr. Richard Wang officiating. Burial was in the Cherry Valley Cemetery. The Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, Mulford Chapel, was in charge of the arrangements.

She was born on January 5, 1914, to Archie and Hazel Theresa (Ford) Bowers in Concord Township, Hancock County. Lola graduated from the Garner High School in the class of 1932.

Lola married Robert Dale Murphy on February 6, 1934 in Rockford. She has been a Cherry Valley resident for 56 years. She was employed by the U.S. Government in Cherry Valley for 21 years, retiring in 1974 as a postmistress.

Lola was a member of Cherry Valley United Methodist Church for over 50 years, a member of the Busy Bee Circle, former member of the Cherry Valley School Board and a life time member of the American Legion Auxiliary, post 77 Belvidere.

She and Bob were awarded Cherry Valley "Citizens of the Year" in 1995.

She is survived by four daughters, Patricia (Willard) Gorsuch and Kathleen (Vance) Sundberg, both of Belvidere, Sally (Ronald) Hollembeak and Mary Erickson, both of Cherry Valley; sons, Robert "Terry" (Sherry) Murphy of Cherry Valley and Timothy (Connie) Murphy of Kirkland; sisters, Mildred Tice of Freeport and Elnore Larkin of Garner.

She is also survived by 18 grandchildren, Bonnie (Bob) Young, Debbie (Mike) Hecht, Andy (Sandy) Gorsuch, Martin Gorsuch, Russ (Kim) Gorsuch, Jennifer (David) Dienberg, Jeff (Marybeth) Sundberg, Chad (Cheryl) Hollembeak, Jill Hollembeak, Dawn Hollembeak, Marc (Jodi) Erickson, Jon Erickson, Lisa Murphy, Theresa Murphy, Tim Murphy, Kim Murphy, Brian Murphy and Amy Murphy; 27 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandsons; and by many nieces and nephews.

Predeceased by her husband, Bob on July 27, 2003; her parents; brothers, Herbert Bowers and Raymond Bowers; and great-granddaughter, Amelia Gorsuch.

Charlotte Finnerty, 72, of Des Moines, passed away on Wednesday, July 5, 2006, at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines from complications of polycystic kidney disease.

Services were held at the Iles Funeral Home in Des Moines on Saturday, July 8.

She is survived by four children; seven grandchildren; three brothers; and three sisters, including Elizabeth Schrader of Garner.

Elsie M. Renner, 83, of Clear Lake, died on Tuesday, July 11, 2006, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Friday, July 14, at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Clear Lake, with Rev. John Tilp officiating. Interment followed lunch in the St. Boniface Cemetery, Garner. The Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel was in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hospice of North Iowa.

Elsie was born on April 4, 1923 on the family farm, rural Klemme, the daughter of George and Erma (Born) Thiemann. She graduated from the Klemme High School in 1941. Elsie married Maurice (Bud) Murray, November 17, 1943. They lived on the family farm where they raised their family. She was always involved and active in the community.

Elsie married Chet Renner on July 9, 1984 at the St. Boniface Catholic Church, Garner. They lived in Clear Lake. She loved traveling the United States. Elsie was a member of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Clear Lake, the Crescent Club and the O.D.O. Club.

Elsie is survived by her husband, Chet Renner of Clear Lake; four children, Janet Murray Blasingame of Cedar Rapids, Jerry Murray and his wife, Dori of Port Byron, Illinois, Tom Murray and his wife, Kathy of Iowa City and Mary Jo Hamrick and her husband, Brian of Springville; two step-children, Bill Renner and his wife, Julie of Garner and Tom Renner and his wife, Janelle of Ventura; step-son-in-law, Lowell Greimann of Ames; seven grandchildren, Debbie Finger and her husband, Scott, Angela Murray, Adam Murray, Wade Murray, Kim Appleberg and her husband, Brett, Michelle Grover and her husband, Judd and Deana Trotter and her husband, Ryan; 40 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Stella Beiber of Cedar Rapids.

Merle W. Bilyeu, 85, of Woden, died on Thursday, July 13, 2006, at the Westview Care Center in Britt.

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 17, at 10:30 a.m., at the St. John's Lutheran Church in Woden with Rev. Arlen Lloyd officiating. Burial was in the Grant Township Cemetery, with military rites by the Woden Veterans Ceremonial Unit. The Cataldo Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Merle Wilbur Bilyeu, the son of Josiah and Karen (Hanna) Bilyeu, was born on May 19, 1921 at Woden. He attended country school near his home and graduated from the Buffalo Center High School in 1939. Merle worked at a consolidated air plane factory in California until enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps in October of 1942. He received his basic training at Midland, Texas and then attended airplane maintenance school. Merle was sent to the 364th Group and the 384th Squadron at Van Nys, California and then sailed on the Queen Elizabeth arriving in England on February 6, 1944. He served as a crew chief for P-38 “Lightnings” and P-51 “Mustang” airplanes. Merle was awarded 6 Bronze Stars for his contribution during the European Campaigns of WW II and was honorably discharged. He returned home and worked as an automobile mechanic for Whites Motors in Forest City.

On July 5, 1947, he married Adeila Fay Anderson at Forest City. They farmed near Thompson and later moved to a farm near Buffalo Center. In 1965 they moved to their present farm north of Woden, where Merle retired from farming in 1989. For the past 15 years he enjoyed attending reunions of the 364th fighter group. Merle was an avid reader and centered his life around his family.

He was a member of the Grant Lutheran Church serving on the church board, was a past commander and life time member of the Woden American Legion, served on the Woden-Crystal Lake School Board, was a 4-H leader, Grant Township ASC committee member and belonged to the North Iowa Wood Carvers.

He is survived by his wife, Adeila of Woden; 5 children, Steven Bilyeu of San Antonio, Texas, Keith (Libby) Bilyeu of Ames, Jeff (Renee) Bilyeu of Fort Smith, Arkansas, Joel Bilyeu of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Angela (Timothy) Bennett of Monterey, California; 11 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Lucy Bilyeu of Mason City, Norma Bilyeu of Mason City, Carol (Al) Cordes of Britt and Kathryn Bilyeu of Omaha, Nebraska.

Cecil Kenneth Bridges, 89, of Thornton, died on Thursday, July 13, 2006, at the Hospice of North Iowa, Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 17, at the Thornton First United Methodist Church with Pastor Dave Teixeira, of the Ventura Missionary Church in Ventura, California, presiding. Interment followed in the Ell Township Cemetery in Klemme. The Retz-Grarup Funeral Home, Thornton, was in charge of the arrangements.

Cecil, the youngest of seven children, was born on August 29, 1916, on a farm northwest of Klemme, the son of Herman and Elizabeth (Fanslow) Bridges. He attended rural schools in Hancock County and graduated from the Klemme High School.

Cecil married Lucille Stille on May 21, 1938, in Northwood. He then worked for several years in the Jacobs Hardware Store in Klemme. During WW II, Cecil was a welder in the shipyards in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.

In 1949, Cecil and Lucille started farming in the Thornton area and in 1954 they moved onto their own farm. During this time, Cecil clerked many farm sales. He also worked for the Cerro Gordo ASCS office as a field representative, sealing corn, measuring fields, and at many local elevators sampling government corn during harvest. In 1980, Cecil and Lucille retired from farming and moved into Thornton.

He was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church in Thornton and was a member of the Thornton Lions Club for many years. Over the years, he served on the Thornton Co-op Elevator Board and also on various boards of the Thornton Methodist Church. Cecil enjoyed fishing, golfing, hunting, and playing cards.

Cecil will be remembered mowing his lawn, for his sense of humor, his love of life, and his caring for family and friends.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Lucille; three sons, Stan and wife, Marie of Hampton, Rock and wife, Suzanne of Lake Mills and Chad and wife, Sherry of Plattsmouth, Nebraska; and sister, Irene (Toots) Davis of DeRidder, Louisiana; seven grandchildren, LeeAnn Wickwire, Sally Stanbrough, Barry Bridges, Brian Bridges, Gail Bridges, Laurie Bridges and Amy Teixeira; two step-grandchildren, Michele Holt and Clint Fielding; 12 great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Everett I. Guth, 85, a long time farmer and Klemme resident, died on Sunday, July 16, 2006, at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, July 19, at the Klemme United Methodist Church. The Reverend Paddy Druhl officiated at the service. Burial was in the Ell Township Cemetery. The Andrews Funeral Home in Klemme was in charge of the arrangements.

Everett Ivan Guth, the son of Frank and Clara (Bier) Guth, was born on September 22, 1920, on his parents' farm at Meservey. He was raised and educated in Meservey and graduated from the Meservey High School with the class of 1938.

Everett was united in marriage to Lucille Jane Hatch on May 24, 1944, at the Methodist Church in Nemaha. Following their marriage they lived on a farm near Meservey until 1946. In 1946, they moved to a farm north of Klemme. Everett and Lucille owned and operated the farm for the next 33 years until 1979.

After retiring from active farming in 1979 they moved into their present home in Klemme. Though he had retired from the farm many years ago, he continued to be keenly interested in the happenings of his son's farming operation, assisting at times and always keeping up with what was going on. Even as recent as a few days before his passing, he was inquiring about an upcoming construction project that was in the works.

In addition to his love of family and farming and working the land, Everett was very dedicated to the community of Klemme and surrounding area. He had been a long time member of the Klemme United Methodist Church and served as church treasurer for a number of years. Everett had also been active in the Iowa Farm Bureau and Cattle Producers Association during his years of active farming.

Everett was elected and served as mayor of Klemme in 1988, serving a total of two years. He had been on the North Iowa State Bank Board of Director's for a number of years and had served as President of the Klemme Co-op Grain. Everett was an assistant troop leader for the Boy Scouts and served on the Klemme School Board.

Everett enjoyed precious time spent with his family, and his grandchildren will cherish their memory of grandpa taking them for a ride on a tractor or in the combine. He enjoyed playing golf, square dancing, camping, having coffee with the guys at the Elevator, and the fellowship of senior meals at the 4 Point Center in Klemme.

Ev and Lucille spent many winters in Mission, Texas, where he enjoyed shuffleboard, golf, and the company of good friends.

Everett's legacy will be fondly cherished by his surviving family, including his wife and life partner of more than 62 years, Lucille Guth of Klemme; three children, Nancy Cartier and her husband, David of Vienna, Virginia, Dennis Guth and his wife, Margaret of Klemme and Peggy Talarico and her husband, Frank of Omaha, Nebraska; nine grandchildren, Scott Cartier of Mountain View, California, Kristina Cartier of Herndon, Virginia, Eric Guth of Forest City, Natalie, Anna, Peter and Lilly Guth of Klemme, Angela and Amy Talarico of Omaha, Nebraska; two step-grandsons, John Talarico of Mollah, Oregon and Steven Talarico of Canby, Oregon; two great-grandsons, Gavin and Gareth Cartier of Mountain View, California; a sister, Marvly Frink of New Hampton; sisters-in-law, Amelia Guth of Meservey and Evelyn Rockufeler of Storm Lake.

Ruth A. Goll, 75, of Garner, died on Friday, July 28, 2006, at her home.

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 31, at 10:30 a.m., at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner with the Rev. Timothy Diehl officiating. Music was provided by organist, Margaret Jass who accompanied congregational hymns. Ushers were Alan Jass and Allan DeWitt.

Casket bearers were Steven Goll, Joel Goll, Lee Stadtlander, John Whitney, John C. Jackson, Mike Goll, Travis Goll, Ben Goll and Dallas Goll. Burial was in the Peace Reformed Cemetery, south of Garner. The Cataldo Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Ruth Ann Goll, the daughter of Mike and Helena (Terhark) Kurtz, was born on June 12, 1931, on a farm near Belmond. She graduated from the Klemme High School in 1948 and then worked at the telephone company office in Garner for a few years.

On September 9, 1950, she was married to Calvin "Johnnye" Goll at the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme. They lived in Garner until 1958 when they moved to a farm southwest of Garner. In 1993 they retired from farming and moved into town. Ruth enjoyed spending time with her family, gardening, sewing and baking.

She was a member of the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in Garner and the Zion Women's Fellowship. Ruth was very strong in her faith and always looked forward to attending Bible Study at church.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Calvin "Johnnye" Goll of Garner; five children, Kristie Jackson of Ankeny, Wendy (John) Whitney of Rockland, Wisconsin, Cathy (Lee) Stadtlander of Ankeny, Steven (Janet) Goll of Garner and Joel (Julie) Goll of Garner; nine grandchildren, Sarah Jackson, John C. Jackson, Lora Goll, Michael Goll, Aleigha Goll, Dallas Goll, Travis Goll, Courtney Goll and Benjamin Goll; two sisters, Jean O'Donnell of Deer Park, Wisconsin and Carole (Sanford) Morton of Coulter; and a brother, Robert (Irma) Kurtz of Rancho Cordova, California.

Carol Stacy Peterson, 64, of Muscatine, died on Monday, July 31, 2006, at the Unity Hospital in Muscatine, surrounded by her family.

A Funeral Mass was held on Thursday, August 3, at 11:00 a.m., at the St. Mathias Church. The Reverend Jason Crossen of the St. Mary and Mathias Parish officiated. Honorary casket bearers were her grandchildren, Megan McGowan, Katie McGowan, Patrick McGowan, Emily Juszczyk, John Philip Juszczyk, Nicolas Juszczyk and Alina Juszczyk, and her nephew, Andrew Dura.

Casket Bearers were J.R. Francomano, Jamie Francomano, John Francomano, John Dura, Glenn McGowan, Don Juszczyk and Kyle Juszczyk. Burial was in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Kewanee, Illinois.

Carol was born on January 24, 1942, in Kewanee, Illinois, the daughter of Emmett and Mildred Block Stacy. She married Phillip J. Peterson on December 28, 1963, in Kewanee, Illinois.

Carol graduated from the Kewanee High School in 1960, and later graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a bachelors degree in education. She worked as a teacher in Weathersfield, Illinois, Middletown, New Jersey, Mason City, and later retired from the Central Middle School in Muscatine.

She loved to spend time with her family and grandchildren. She also enjoyed playing bunco, golfing at Geneva and going to the pool.

Survivors include three daughters, Stacy McGowan and husband, Glenn of Poplar Grove, Illinois, Laura Juszczyk and husband, Don of Muscatine and Sarah Peterson of Cherry Valley, Illinois; eight grandchildren, and two sisters, Rita Francomano and husband, John of Baltimore, Maryland and Sharon Dura and husband, John of Stevensville, Michigan.