Lenox, Taylor County, Iowa obituaries
transcribed by: Lorelei Rusco - lorerus@iowatelecom.net
 
 

Boltinghouse, Mabel Belding -

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Lenox Methodist Church for Mabel Boltinghouse, 90, who died Feb. 19 at

Clearview Nursing Home in Clearfield.

The Rev. Duane Ferguson of Clearfield and the Rev. Lester Hessletine of Lenox officiated and burial was in West Fairview

Cemetery, Lenox.

Pallbearers were Bill and Jerry Reed, Ivan Bennett, Randall Riley, Carral Matthews and Roland Boltinghouse.

Mrs. Boltinghouse was born Sept. 10, 1895, daughter of Charley and Minnie Putnam Belding, who resided in Adams County.

Jan. 1, 1914, she and Walter Boltinghouse were married.

Mrs. Boltinghouse loved the outdoors and her flower gardens. She was a regular churchgoer until her health [failed], and formerly

played piano for Sunday school.

She is survived by two daughters, Treva Pierce and Bernadine Routh of the Lenox community; a brother, Oval Belding of Lexington,

Ky., five grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

In addition to her parents and her husband, she was preceded in death by three sisters, Erma Reed, Delia Beadel and Opan

Howard; a brother, Floyd Belding, and a grandson, Richard Pierce.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday March 12, 1986

 

Boyer, Audrey Nickle Nickel -

Audrey Boyer of Clearfield died there March 30 at the age of 71. A daughter of Reed Elmer and Cora Jane Nickle, she was born

March 29, 1915, on a farm south of Clearfield. She attended Clearfield Elementary School and was graduated from high school there.

She and Orville Nickel were married in December of 1936 and enjoyed living on a farm until he became ill and they moved into

Clearfield.

She was employed at the Clearfield school and also worked at the MFA office there.

Following the death of Mr. Nickel in 1962, she moved to Glenwood, Colo., where she was employed and was active in many

community affairs, including a "kitchen band" which did extensive traveling.

She returned to this area and on Aug. 1, 1971, she and Teddy Boyer were married. They farmed north of Sharpsburg until 1973,

when they moved to Clearfield.

She leaves a sister, Maurine Kerns of Lenox, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, J. D., and a sister, Violet.

She was also preceded in death by Mr. Boyer.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 9, 1986

 

Brady, Glenn Allen -

Services were held at. 10:30 a.m. March 1 at Gauthier Funeral Home in Lenox for Glenn Allen Brady, 84. Mr. Brady died

Feb. 26 at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines.

Dr. Jack Cutbirth of Lenox Christian Church officiated and interment was in West Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Pallbearers

were Ed Young, Mike Trost, Keith Lindell, Jerry, Willis and Howard Wurster.

Born Dec. 30, 1901 at Osceola, Mr. Brady was a son of Allen and Grace Stoneburner Brady. He moved with his family to Des

Moines at the age of 3, and had resided there since.

He and Anna Wurster were married at Indianola Oct. 2, 1929.

He worked for the American Surety Co. of New York 35 years, retiring in 1962.

Mr. Brady was a 50-year member of the Westminster United Presbyterian Church and of the Masonic Lodge, Acanthus Lodge

#632.

He leaves his wife, Anna, of Des Moines. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Ross, and a sister, Zelda Jennings.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday March 5, 1986

 

Brannon, Wilma Mae Woods -

Funeral services were held Saturday, April 5, 2 p.m. at the Lenox United Methodist Church for Wilma Mae Brannon, 79. Mrs.

Brannon died April 2 at the Lenox Care Center.

Dr. Jack Cutbirth officiated and burial was in the Diagonal Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Ed Woods, Todd Barker, Rod Maharry, Clyde Woods, Fred Haynes and Pat Robinson.

Born May 9, 1906, near Diagonal, Mrs. Brannon was the youngest daughter of Adam and Martha Louise Harris Woods. She

was reared in the Diagonal community, attending rural schools, then being graduated from Diagonal High School in 1924.

May 9, 1926, she and Evan L. Brannon were married in Creston and began farming in the Diagonal area. The family resided in

or near Lenox except for 10 years farming near Butler, Mo. Mrs. Brannon had lived in this area continuously since 1955.

She had been a member of the Methodist Church many years, and was a member of the Lenox church at the time of her death.

A kind and loving wife, mother and grandmother, Mrs. Brannon was very proud to have three great grandchildren. She enjoyed

her work as head cook at the Diagonal school several years. She was a member of Harmony Reading Circle of Lenox

and enjoyed quilting, gardening and taking care of her home. She was also a caring neighbor.

She leaves two daughters, Wilma (Billie) Jean Barker of Lenox, and Beverly Hanes of Peabody, Kan.; a son, Donn Woods Brannon of

Castella, Calif.; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband and parents; five brothers, Gene, Harold, Clyde, Ralph and one infant brother; and

two sisters, Eunice Butcher and Jessie Ethington, and two grandchildren, Donita Evans and Tony Hanes.

[Poem]

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 9, 1986

 

Dougherty, Ruby Longfellow Tucker Safely -

Graveside services were held April 25, 1986 for Ruby Dougherty at the Conway Cemetery, Conway, Iowa.

Rev. Carl Cummings officiated.

Ruby Dougherty, daughter of Lemual A. Longfellow and Fonta Lee Smith Longfellow, was born at Conway, Taylor County Iowa on

January 20, 1909 and departed this life April 24, 1986 at the Nebraska Lutheran Home in Omaha, Ne. at the age of 77 years 3

months and 4 days.

She grew to maturity in the Conway area where she attended the public school and the Methodist Church.

She was united in marriage to Curtis Tucker and they lived in Omaha, Nebraska before moving to Bedford in the 1950's. Mr.

Tucker passed away in 1959. She was united in marriage to Alfred C. Safely and they lived in Bedford, Iowa. He passed away in 1964.

Later she was united in marriage to Pete Dougherty and he passed away in 1980. Her parents also preceded her in death.

During the war she was employed by the Bomer Plant in Omaha, and later by the Omaha Steel and various other places of employment.

Left to cherish her memory are an uncle Frank T. Longfellow and his wife Aileen of Bedford; cousins, Harry Longfellow, Jean Stewart,

Chloris Sharp, Wanada Moore and Dorla Jeanne Wiese; other cousins and relatives and friends.

She was a member of the Methodist Church.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 30, 1986

 

Gordon, Bertha Lulu Preston -

Funeral services were held April 24, 11 a.m., for Bertha Lula Gordon 90, who died April 21 at Lenox Care Center. Dr. Jack Cutbirth officiated at the services at Lenox Christian Church. Interment was in West Fairview Cemetery, Lenox.

Pallbearers were Ted, Tod and Dale Gordon, Dean Eckels, Jerry Adams, Duane and Douglas Spicer and Jeffrey Sogard.

Born Sept. 24, 1895 in Adams County, Mrs. Gordon was a daughter of Charles and Agnes Coulter Preston.

She and Earl Gordon were married at Lenox Dec, 25, 1914.

Mrs. Gordon enjoyed being a homemaker, gardening, handwork and cooking, especially baking pies.

She was a long-time member of the Christian Church and spent many hours doing church work.

She leaves a daughter, Verlee Eckels of Lenox; two sons, Darold of Creston and Russell of Sharpsburg; eight grandchildren, 12

great grandchildren.

Her parents, her husband, two sisters, three brothers and a granddaughter died previously.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 30, 1986

 

House, Fred Paul -

Last rites for Fred Paul House, 87, were held March 10, 10 a.m., at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Lenox. The Rev. James

Chiaro and the Rev. Dennis Trausch celebrated the mass.

Pallbearers were Raymond Miller, George Sweeney, George Wurster, Norbert Bradley, Gerald Rainforth and James Rychnovsky.

Burial was in East Fairview Cemetery, Lenox.

Mr. House, who died March 7 at Lenox Care Center, was born Aug. 3, 1898, on a farm near Clearfield. His parents were Samuel

and Mary Ryan House.

He and Ruth G. Woodard were married in Creston July 23, 1924. They farmed in Taylor County until 1945, when they moved into

Lenox.

He was baptized at, and a communicant of, St. Patrick's Church and a charter member of the Knights of Columbus.

He was a good husband, father and grandfather and respected by all who knew him.

He leaves his wife, Ruth, of Lenox; a sister, Ellen Cameron of Lenox; two grandchildren, five great grandchildren and two

step-great grandchildren.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Harry; a sister, Pearl Scarpino; his son, Francis, and a great

granddaughter Kori Ann Deacon.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday March 19, 1986

 

Nelson, Margaret Ferren Davis -

Graveside services were conducted by the Rev. Don. Fisher March 8, 1:30 p.m., at West Fairview Cemetery in Lenox for Margaret

Ferren Nelson, 82.

Mrs. Nelson died March 6 at Greater Community Hospital in Creston.

She was born June 14, 1903, in Adams County, daughter of Lloyd and Pearl Bowman Davis. She and Robert Nelson were married in

1934 while both were employed in the Chicago area. They moved from there to Indianapolis, Ind., later retiring to Florida. She

moved to Lenox after his death in 1964.

Mrs. Nelson was a member of the Presbyterian Church and a 5-year member of P.E.O.

She leaves a brother, Paul Davis of Lenox. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa March 12, 1986

 

Preston, Lennie Mearl Sturm -

Funeral services for Lennie Mearl Preston, 94, were held March 11, 1:30 p.m., at the United Methodist Church in Lenox. The

Rev. Lester Hesseltine officiated and burial was in West Fairview Cemetery here.

Pallbearers were Lew Eckels, Cleo Sturm, Louis Brown, Duane Boyer, Darold Gordon and Russell Gordon.

Mrs. Preston died at Lenox Care Center March 9.

She was born near Imperial, Ill., Aug. 19, 1891, daughter of Charles and Mary Clarissa Hegwood Sturm.

The family moved to Iowa when she was about 2 years of age, and she has resided in the Lenox community since.

On Jan. 22, 1913, she and William John Preston were married. They moved to a farm north of Lenox, where they resided 38

years. In 1950, they retired and moved into Lenox, going to the Care Center in 1978.

She was a member of the Methodist Church. A kind, gentle person full of love for family and friends, she took great joy in

gardening and growing flowers.

She leaves a son, Clifford Preston, and two daughters, Dorothy Routh and Velda Wilson, all of Lenox; six grandchildren and 11

great grandchildren.

Her parents, her husband, a sister, Mabel Zieke, and a brother, Martin Sturm, died previously.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday March 19, 1986

 

Soma, Ruby Kathryn Scott -

Funeral services were held April 11 at 1 p.m. at Gauthier Funeral Home in Lenox for Ruby Kathryn Soma, 91. Mrs. Soma died at the

Lenox Care Center April 8. Dr. Jack Cutbirth officiated and burial was in Washington Cemetery at Gravity. Pallbearers were Don

Jensen, Keith James, Bill Campbell, Robert Norton, Mike Halligan and George Reynolds.

Born Jan. 9, 1895, at Maloy, Mrs. Soma was a daughter of John and Sarah Ann Brown Scott. She was baptized in the Christian Church at Bedford, later transferring membership to the Lenox Christian Church.

She and Fred Soma were married Nov. 2, 1914, at Bedford.

She loved to travel, and enjoyed fishing and all sports. She was especially fond of her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She leaves four daughters, Mildred Helm of Lenox, Vernelle French of Irondale, Mo., Harriet Towe of Hawthorne, Nev., and

Edythe Hall of Mariposa, Calif.; a son, Robert Soma of Reno, Nev.; 26 grandchildren, 65 great grandchildren and 17 great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, a son, John, a daughter, Helen Patty, two sisters, a brother and two grandsons.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 16, 1986

 

Spicer, Marion John -

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. April 22 for Marion John Spicer, 75, who died April 19 at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.

Services were held at the Lenox United Methodist Church, and burial was in North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox.

A former owner of the Lenox National bank, Spicer had also been in pharmacy and was employed at the Bob Reynolds Agency in Lenox,

where he worked in real estate and insurance.

Born April 28, 1910 in Montgomery County, he was a son of Charles Way and Carrie Milledge Spicer. He was reared in the Pilot

Grove and Red Oak communities. He was graduated from Red Oak High School and the College of Pharmacy at University of Iowa.

He and Lauretta Bates were married Sept. 1, 1935 in Red Oak and resided in Sioux City and Council Bluffs prior to purchasing a store

in Neola. He bought the Lenox National Bank in 1948, and had been in pharmacy, insurance and real estate since leaving the bank some years ago.

He was a member of the Lenox Methodist Church and of the Masonic Lodge, Rotary and Eastern Star.

He leaves his wife, Lauretta, of the home in Lenox; two sons, Duane of Ankeny and Doug of Atlantic; two daughters, Marjean Moyle

of Des Moines and Genelle Thompson of Winterset, and 11 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Harold and Clayton Spicer, and two sisters, Nellie Lathrop and Mabel Foster.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 23, 1986

 

Sturm, Alfreda Reynolds -

Alfreda Sturm, 66, owner of Sturm's Dry Goods Store in Lenox, died Monday, April 28, at Bergen-Mercy Hospital in Omaha.

She had been a patient there a week after reportedly suffering a stroke. She and her husband, Cleo, were en route to Lenox from Omaha by automobile when she was stricken. She was returned to Omaha by ambulance.

Funeral services were scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at the Lenox Christian Church. Dr. Jack Cutbirth will officiate and

burial will be in East Fairview Cemetery, Lenox.

Mrs. Sturm was born Aug. 8, 1919, in Eric, Okla., daughter of Ralph and Amanda Mayfield Reynolds.

She and Cleo Sturm were married April 5, 1941, in Albany, Mo.

Mrs. Sturm had operated the dry goods store a number of years, and was a respected and well-liked member of the business community.

She was always a community booster and was active in the Lenox Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to her husband, Lenox postal employee, she leaves three sons, David and wife, Joella, Greene, Iowa, Dale and wife Karen,

Houston, Texas, and Duane and wife Reasa, Oakland, Iowa; a sister, Mrs. William (Cora Lou) King of Indianapolis, Ind.; a brother, Bob

Reynolds and wife Alice, Crown Point, Ind.; a daughter-in-law, Wanda Sturm, four grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Dennis Sturm.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 30, 1986

 

Sturm, Alfreda Reynolds -

Alfreda R. Sturm, who died April 28 at an Omaha Hospital, was born in Eric, Okla., in 1919 and was reared in the Lenox community. She

was graduated from Lenox High School in 1936, was baptized at the Lenox Christian Church in 1937 and was active at both the Lenox and Clearfield churches, having been a teacher several years.

Following their marriage in 1941, she and her husband, Cleo L. Sturm, farmed near Sharpsburg, and lived in or near Lenox until 1949,

when they moved to a farm northwest of Clearfield where they resided 32 years. They moved into Lenox in 1981.

Her happiest times were spent with her four sons on the farm. She was always active in community projects and social events, and was a

former president of the Commercial Club, now Chamber of Commerce.

She enjoyed the challenge of operating her clothing business, Sturm's Dry Goods Store in Lenox, and cherished the many personal and

professional friends she met in the endeavor. She will be remembered as a community leader and the center of a loving family. She always enjoyed having her children around her.

She leaves her husband, Cleo, of the home in Lenox; three sons, David and wife, JoElla, Greenfield, Dale and wife, Karen, Houston, Texas, Duane and wife, Reasa, Oakland, Iowa; a daughter-in-law, Wanda Sturm of Tarkio, Mo.; four grandchildren, Kim Jones and

Robert, Brian and Jessica Sturm; three great grandchildren, Nicole, Lindsay and Stuart Jones; a brother, Robert Reynolds, and sister, Cora Lou King, both of Indiana.

Pallbearers at services held in Lenox April 30 were Doug Boyer, Bob Bailey, Doug Horton, Kirk Maharry, Doug England and Chuck Bowman.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday May 7, 1986

 

 

Turner, Anna Lucille -

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. April 18 for Anna Lucile Turner, 90, who died April 15 at her Lenox home. The Rev. Don Fisher officiated at the services at Lenox Presbyterian Church.

Burial was in East Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Pallbearers were Roy Martin, Bill Campbell, Kenneth McFee, Leland Hegwood, Bill

Henderson and Robert Lockhart.

Anna Turner was born Dec. 11 in Adams County, daughter of Archie and Mary Oliver Turner. She was reared in the Lenox area and

completed high school here. She was graduated from Tarkio College in Missouri, and taught in northern Iowa prior to becoming a teacher in the Lenox school system. She was principal in Lenox many years before retiring in 1955.

She was member of the United Presbyterian Church, having joined in 1906 and remained active in church work until her death. She

was a charter member of Chapter FW, P.E.O., and a member of MFC Club.

She was honored a queen of the Lenox Centennial in 1972.

A generous woman, she was respected by her students, many of whom visited her when in Lenox. She is survived by several nieces

and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Helen, and a brother, Oliver.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday April 23, 1986

 

Williams, Margaret Donna Carruthers -

The Rev. James Chiaro and the Rev. Dennis Trausch were celebrants of a funeral mass March 18 for Margaret Donna Williams,

67, who died March 16 at her Lenox home. The mass was at 2 p.m., and burial was in North Fairview Cemetery, Lenox.

Pallbearers were John Cade, Duane Beck, Herb DeBolt, Kenneth John, Lloyd Hamblin and Herman Schweers.

Honorary pallbearers were Leo Ryan, Ray Cheese, Leo O'Grady and Hubert Bradley.

Mrs. Williams was born Sept. 6, 1918, on a farm near Lenox, daughter of Francis and Dessa Robinson Carruthers. She was graduated from Lenox High School in 1936 and taught in rural schools seven years.

She and Glen Thomas Williams were married May 11, 1940, at St. Patrick's rectory in Lenox.

She had resided her entire life in the Lenox area except from 1976 until 1984, when she and her husband retired and moved to

Ozark, Mo.

Her main interests in life were her church, her family and her friends.

She leaves her husband, Glen of the home; a daughter, Janet Holben of Lenox, and four grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Randall, and two brothers, Gerald and Kenneth Carruthers.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday March 16, 1986

 

Wilson, Lowell Rush -

Funeral services for Lowell Rush Wilson, 72, were held March 7, 1:30 p.m., at the First Christian Church in Lenox. Dr. Jack

Cutbirth officiated and burial was in West Fairview Cemetery here.

Pallbearers for Mr. Wilson, who died March 3 at Rosary Hospital in Corning, were Doug and Scott Helm, Robert Watson, Peter and Patrick Osiecki and Perry Stevenson.

Born April 20, 1913 in Decatur County, Mr. Wilson was a son of Erastus and Mamie Hopkins Wilson.

On Dec. 21, 1913, he and Eva Margaret Spring were married at Mt. Zion Church north of Corning. They had recently observed

their 50th wedding anniversary. They farmed in rural Adams County many years, moving to Lenox in 1952 where he went into the

oil business.

He was associated with Tremont Lodge #343, AF&AM, having transferred from the Masonic Lodge in Corning, which he joined in

1947.

He leaves his wife, Margaret, of the home in Lenox; two daughters, Barbara Osiecki of Golden, Colo., and Lorraine Helm, of Lenox;

a son, Leland Wilson of Hamilton, Mont.; two sisters, Hazel Wilson of Alva, Okla., and Keithie Glazebrook of Garden Grove, Iowa;

several grandchildren and great grandchildren, and a number of other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a granddaughter, Rachel; and three brothers, Edward, Cecil and Roscoe Wilson.

Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday March 12, 1986