Bette Helen Teall

June 12, 2001

Bette Helen Teall, 78, died on Sunday, June 3, 2001, from heart failure in the Vencor Hospital, Ontario, California.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 9, at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage, with the Rev. Roy Ott officiating. Interment was in the St. Ansgar Cemetery in St. Ansgar. A scholarship has been established in Bette Teall's name at the University of Iowa. Memorials may be sent to the University of Iowa Foundation, Iowa City, Iowa.

Bette was born in Northwood, the daughter of Thomas and Ida (Beyer) Teall. She attended high school in Northwood and graduated from the University of Iowa. She taught in Iowa and Florida before moving to California. She was employed by the San Bernardino City Unified School District as a teacher and counselor for 32 years.

Bette was a member of the Lutheran Church of Our Savior in San Bernardino, the University of Iowa Alumni Association, the California Retired Teachers' Association and the San Bernardino-Riverside County Counselor's Association. She was very active in environmental and animal issues and was a member of several related organizations.

She is survived by a sister, Mary Goad of Cloquet, Minnesota; nieces, Martha Briggs Curcio of Sugar Grove, Illinois, Mary McWilliams of Cedar Rapids, Vicki Olson of Indianola, Iowa, Spring Rosen of Sanibel Island, Florida and Leslie Hill of Ocala, Florida; nephew, Paul McWilliams of Loveland, Colorado; brother-in-law, Harold McWilliams of Osage; and many loving friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Robert Teall; and sister, Helen McWilliams.
© Northwood Anchor 2001

Charles Stilfield

June 12, 2001

Charles McLean Stilfield, 81, of Port Charlotte, Florida, died of a respiratory ailment on Sunday, June 3, 2001.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Saturday, June 23, at the Faith Baptist Church in Hampton, Iowa.

Charles graduated from high school in Eldon, Iowa. He served during World War II in the U.S. Navy Submarine Service as a Motor Machinist Mate Second Class. He was married on November 29, 1958 to his wife, Patricia. He moved to Clear Lake in 1958 and was employed by the City of Clear Lake for several years and was later employed by Beck Construction. He moved to Florida in 1978. He enjoyed collecting coins and antiques.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia; son, Richard and wife, Lien of Des Plaines, Illinois; three daughters, Sharon May and husband, Dennis of Kensett, Chrystina Dahm and husband, Randy of Oceanside, California and Cherie O'Donnell and husband, Paul of Hampton; brother, Edward Eugene Stilfield and wife, Mildred of Saxe, Virginia.
© Northwood Anchor 2001

Dennis Kruse

June 26, 2001

Dennis Kruse, 60, of Carpenter, died on Sunday, June 10, 2001, at his home.

Funeral services were held at the Otranto Church in Otranto, Iowa, on Saturday, June 16, officiated by Rev. Gary Gonnerman.

Dennis was born on April 1, 1941 in Dubuque, Iowa, to Fred and Esther (Hulshizer) Kruse. He attended school in Carpenter and graduated from the St. Ansgar High School in 1959. He entered the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, part of the time serving in Okinawa. After his discharge from the Marines, Dennis worked in Charles City at Oliver for two years before going to California where he was employed by Hunt Foods and the Xerox Corporation. While in California, he attended California State at Fullerton and studied art, graphics and photography.

Dennis enjoyed acrylic painting, photography, spending time with his pets and trap shooting. In 1967, Dennis won the Iowa State Handicap Championship Shoot and later placed third in the National Shoot in Reno, Nvada.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include one sister, Kathryn Powers of West Des Moines; one adopted daughter, Angie Heuck-Diekroeger of Stevens Point, Wisconsin and grandson, McKenon; two step-daughters, Jennifer Coronado of Mason City and Amber Stevens of Northwood; and five step-grandchildren from his marriage to Deborah DeMuth.
© Northwood Anchor 2001

Harlan Knudtson

June 26, 2001

Harlan Knudtson, 71, of Northwood, died on Tuesday, June 19, 2001, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Friday, June 22, at the Sion Lutheran church, rural Northwood, with Pastor Selmer G. Hernes officiating. Burial was in the Lutheran Union/Hanna Cemetery, rural Lake Mills.

Harlan Kenneth Knudtson, son of Selmer and Ingeborg (Hanna) Knudtson, was born on August 22, 1929 at Forest City, Iowa. He was baptized at the Winnebago Lutheran Church and confirmed at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City.

He worked several years at the Forest City Hardware. Harlan attended Business College in Des Moines. He then moved to a farm in Worth County in 1956, where he still resided. He also delivered motor homes. Harlan enjoyed woodworking.

On September 1, 1949, he married Arlene Gunderson at the Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Leland, Iowa. Their union was blessed with one son and two daughters, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Harlan is survived by his wife, Arlene of Northwood; one son, Gary and his wife, Vicki Knudtson of Kensett; two daughters, Sherry and her husband, Neil Christ of Lake Mills and Sandy and her husband, Randy Sime of Northwood; nine grandchildren, Kirby and special friend, Dawn, Heather and Heidi Knudtson, Jason and his fiancée, Meredith, Nicholas and Craig Christ, Katie, Angie and Bryan Sime; two great-granddaughters, Teyannah and Raevyn Knudtson; one sister, Nelline Simmonds of Clear Lake, Iowa; mother-in-law, Anna Gunderson of the Lake Mills Care Center; brothers-in-law, Gerry Gunderson and his wife, Marlene of Dubuque, Iowa, Robert Haugen of Clear Lake and Ted Richardson of Cslifornia; along with several nieces, nephews and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents; three sisters, Mabel Haugen, Sylvern Richardson and Helen Knudtson; and father-in-law, Arthur Gunderson.
© Northwood Anchor 2001

Adrian Foss

June 26, 2001

Adrian E. Foss, 75, of rural Kensett, Iowa, died on Friday, June 22, 2001, at his home in rural Kensett.

Funeral services were held on Monday, June 25, at the Elk Creek Lutheran Church, rural Kensett, with Rev. Selmer G. Hernes officiating. Burial was in the Elk Creek Cemetery, rural Kensett.

Adrian was born on August 30, 1925, to Andrew and Emma (Dahl) Foss in rural Worth County, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at the Elk Creek Lutheran Church by Rev. Thor Segmond. He attended school at Brookfield #8 and the Kensett High School. He served his country in the Army in Korea with the 378th Combat Engineers. He was a life member of the VFW Post No. 6779 in Northwood.

He married Doris Jenkins of Lyle, Minnesota. To them three daughters were born. He enjoyed farming with livestock and also going to consignment auctions. He was a trucker of livestock for many years. In his younger years he was a hunter and trapper.

Survivors in include his wife, Doris of rural Kensett; three daughters, Ada Asplund of Marshalltown, Iowa, Eva Stratton and husband, Wayne of Davenport, Iowa and Gloria Cooper of Hanlontown; granddaughter, Bobbi Cooper that was raised and lived with them since she was seven years old; grandchildren, Matt and Joshua Asplund of Marshalltown and Ronnie and Kristen Cooper of Hanlontown; and step-granddaughter, Alex Stratton of Davenport.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and son-in-law, Ronnie Cooper.

The Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Northwood, was in charge of the arrangements.
© Northwood Anchor 2001

Mary Lou Davidson

July 3, 2001

Mary Lou Davidson, 65, of Northwood, died on Tuesday, June 26, 2001, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City.

Funeral services were held on Friday, June 29, at the First Lutheran Church, Northwood, with Rev. Dan Baker of the Deer Creek Valley Lutheran Church, rural Glenville, Minnesota and Rev. Allan Stoa of First Lutheran Church in Northwood officiating. Burial was in the London Deer Creek Cemetery, rural Northwood.

The family of Mary Lou Davidson has requested that memorial contributions be made to the Deer Creek Valley Lutheran Church, rural Glenville, Minnesota, or to the First Lutheran Church in Northwood, in her memory. The Conner Colonial Chapel of Northwood, was in charge of the arrangements.

Mary Lou Davidson, was born on April 1, 1936 in St. Paul, Minnesota, the daughter of Charles and Florence (Peterson) Roessler. The family moved to South St. Paul in 1940, where she attended school. She graduated from the South St. Paul High School in 1954.

Mary Lou was a member of the Luther Memorial Church where she served as Sunday School accompanist, junior choir director, Vacation Bible School music director and substitute organist. She attended the St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minnesota, graduating in 1958 with a B.A. Degree in Music Education. She began her teaching career in Roseville, Minnesota, teaching elementary and junior high music.

She married Fred Davidson of Northwood, on June 2, 1963. She taught elementary music in Northwood for one year. In 1980, she resumed her teaching career until her retirement in 1997.

She was a member of the Deer Creek Valley Lutheran Church, rural Glenville, serving as junior and senior choir director, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School director, teacher, and music director, circle and WELCA member and officer. She belonged to Chapter ES, PEO Sisterhood and Entre Nous Study Club. She also sang in the First Lutheran Senior Choir and was a member of the Judith Circle. She was a member of the Worth County Chorus, serving as an accompanist for many years.

She dearly loved her family, friends, and students. She enjoyed reading, knitting, and sharing her music talent at various church, school, and community events.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Fred Davidson of Northwood; mother, Florence Roessler of Apple Valley, Minnesota; two sons, Douglas Davidson and his wife, Connie of Schaller, Iowa and Ronald and his wife, Michelle of Northwood; daughter, Ann Davidson of St. Paul, Minnesota; three grandchildren, Kelsey, Michael, and Katie Davidson of Schaller; sister, Barbara Roessler of South St. Paul, Minnesota; and many relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Charles Roessler; and an infant grandchild, Kyle Davidson.
© Northwood Anchor 2001

Donna Olson

July 3, 2001

Donna Kaye (Murphey) Olson, 57, died on Friday, June 29, 2001, at her home in Gordonsville, Minnesota.

Funeral services were held on Monday, July 2, at the Northwood United Methodist Church of Northwood, with the Rev. Richard Jensen officiating. Interment was in the State Line Cemetery, rural Gordonsville.

Donna was born in Windom, Minnesota, on February 19, 1944, the daughter of Donald Anson Murphey and Marjorie Gropper. She married David Ross Olson on May 28, 1966 at the Jeffers Methodist Church. Her children are Daniel Ross (Sharon) of Charleston, South Carolina and Dean Ryan (Crystal) of Northwood and grandchildren are Zachary Thomas and Jonathan Ross. She has three sisters, Sharon (Darris) Snelling of Windom, Minnesota, Joyce (Tom) Burns of Cleveland, Minnesota and Kim (Mark) Schmitz of Saint Peter, Minnesota. Donna was preceded in death by her father.

Donna attended public school and graduated as Valedictorian from the Jeffers High School. She attended Mankato State College and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Speech Therapy. She worked as a speech clinician in Hutchinson before their family relocated to Gordonsville in 1976.

They attended the Gordonsville Methodist Church until it closed. Donna held many offices and served on many committees during this period of time. They then joined the Northwood United Methodist Church. She served as Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School and Bible School teacher and was a member of the Seeker's Circle. She served two terms as a member of the Glenville School Board, was a member of P.E.O. Chapter ES, of Inter Se Study Club and of Eastern Star. She also served on the State Line Cemetery Board. Donna worked many years at the Trading Post in Gordonsville, the family's business. Donna taught in the Glenville-Emmons School District for five years. She retired in 2000.

The family requests memorials be made to the DKO Scholarship Fund.
© Northwood Anchor 2001