OBITUARIES

Gordon “Gordy” Benit, 88, of Okoboji, passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the Accura Healthcare of Milford.

Duane Marlen Heerdt passed away on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at the age of 90 in Apache Junction, Arizona.

Robert Jon Dickinson passed away Saturday, May 13, 2023, at his home in Daleville, AL, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Hope Rimmer, 95, of Milford passed away on Friday, May 12, 2023, at Lakes Regional Health Care surrounded by family.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Barbara Tagami at the Maser Monarch Lodge, in Spirit Lake, Iowa, on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 2 pm.

Pat Baumgarn, wife of Lowell Baumgarn, of rural Round Lake, Minnesota, passed away on May 8, 2023, at the age of 75.
Private family services were held.

Cleone Rose Ellingson, “Tootie”, was born September 9, 1934, in May City, Iowa, the daughter of Clarence and Rose (Bock) Newkirk.

A Memorial Service for Max Sheley, age 75, of Milford ,will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 2:30pm,Visitation will take place prior to the service from 1:30-2:30pm at the church.

A Funeral Service for Russell “Russ” Thomson, age 77, of Spirit Lake, formerly of Everly and Harris, will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 10:30am, at First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake

Michael “Mike” Fisher, 73, of Spirit Lake, passed away on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake,surrounded by family & friends,after a lengthy battle with melanoma.

Joel E. Schoning, 70, of Bemidji, Minnesota, died Sunday, April 9, 2023, at his home.

James “Jim” William Higgins, 71, of Milford, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, in his home surrounded by loved ones and supported by Hospice, after almost two years of battling lung cancer. 

Wayne R. Trigger, 89, of Spencer, passed away on Sunday, April 16, 2023, at St. Lukes Lutheran Home in Spencer.

A Funeral Mass for Dennis Giles was held on January 25, 2023, in Los Gatos, California. Per Dennis’ wishes, he will be laid to rest at St. Margaret’s Catholic Cemetery in Spirit Lake on Friday, April 14, 2023, at 2:00pm.

Shelby Lee Jones was born December 18, 1936, in his family’s farmhouse in rural Dickinson County, Iowa, the fourth of five children born to Glen and Flora (Kindlespire) Jones.

Vonice McDougall, 86, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by family, on Thursday, April 13, 2023, two days prior to her 87th birthday.

Duane Serck, 77, of Spirit Lake, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Spencer, Iowa.

Carolyn Sue Mitchell, age 78, of Sun City, Arizona, passed away peacefully at home on April 6, 2023. Carolyn was born April 15, 1944, in Martinez, California, to William Krueger and Loretta (Schiferl) Krueger.

Ben J. Gerdes, Jr., 83, of Milford, passed away on Monday, April 3, 2023, at Lakes Regional Healthcare, in Spirit Lake, surrounded by his family after a brief battle with esophageal cancer.

Roland Dean Taylor was born September 4, 1945, in Estherville, Iowa. He passed away at 77 years old on April 2, 2023.

A celebration of life will be held Thursday, May 25, 2023, at the Majestic Pavilion at Historic Arnolds Park, from 4:00-7:00pm.

Kenneth “Ken” D. Rimmer, 99, of Milford, passed away on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at his home in Milford.

Susan Sundlin passed away at home on Wednesday,March 22, 2023, at the age of 80. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Mildred (Percival) Bibow, her sister, Mary Ellen McDonald, and four brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law.

A Funeral Service for Roger Jones, age 89, of Okoboji, Iowa, will be held at 11:30 am, Saturday, April 1, 2023, at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake.

Arnold William “Arnie” Pahl was born at home on a farm in rural Sutherland, Iowa, to William Henry and Anna (Giebel) Pahl on November 28, 1937.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Durick “Dirk” Hansen, 81, of West Okoboji, Iowa, was held at 10:30am, Saturday, March 18, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford.

Roger D. Swalve, 85, of Arnolds Park, passed away on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake.

Robert “Bob” Peters, 77, of Spirit Lake, passed away on Saturday, February 25, 2023, at his home, surrounded by his family.

Lois Hurd Eckman, age 94, of rural Lake Park, Iowa, died on February 24, 2023, at Accura Healthcare in Milford.

Mass of Christian Burial for Patrick “Pat” Kennedy, age 84, of Spirit Lake, will be held on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at 10:30am, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Milford.

Elizabeth “Betty” Joyce Nicolai, 95, of Milford, Iowa, passed away on Friday, February 17, 2023, at Accura Healthcare of Milford.

A Memorial Service for Lorraine Little, age 97, of Milford, was held on Monday, February 20, 2023, at Calvary United Methodist Church, in Arnolds Park.