OBITUARIES

Nick Timmins Nordstrom died Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at his home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was 39.

A funeral service for Kathryn Hansen, age 95, mother of Nancy, Gary and Kenneth, was held Monday, December 30, 2019, at Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church in Milford. Burial was at Milford Cemetery.

Donald Bonstead, 65, of Milford, passed away suddenly at his home in Milford, Iowa, on December 11, 2019. His family and friends are deeply saddened by his loss but are also grateful to have had him in their lives. 

Jason John Farrell, the son of Carolin Carney and James Farrell, was born on March 12, 1971, in Springfield, Massachusetts. When Jason was three, the family moved to Iowa where he later graduated from Okoboji High School in 1989 and where he spent the rest of his life.

Berkley Warren Bedell, age 98, passed away on December 7, 2019, three days after suffering a massive stroke in Naples, Florida. A third generation of Spirit Lake, Iowa, he was born on March 5, 1921.

Joyce Sullivan, 90, of West Okoboji, passed away on Friday, November 15, 2019, at her home surrounded by her family.
Funeral services for Joyce will be held at 11:00am Thursday, November 21, 2019, at Calvary United Methodist Church in Arnolds Park. Burial will be at 2:00pm in the Oakland Cemetery in Peterson, Iowa, on Thursday. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, from 5:00-7:00pm, with a prayer service at 7:00pm at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be sent to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com.

Derald Leroy Gardner, 76, of Spirit Lake, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 8, 2019, at his home, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, November 16, 2019, at the United Methodist Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00pm, Friday at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Burial will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home of Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be sent to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com.

Helen Lowman, 102, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and formerly of Milford, died peacefully in her sleep, Thursday morning, November 7, 2019, at the Bethany Lutheran Home Hospice Outreach Center, in Council Bluffs.

A memorial service for Arvin Schumann, age 80, of Milford was held Thursday, October 31, 2019, at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Burial was at Milford Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to First Lutheran Church Drive-In Worship.

A funeral service for Willie “Sonny” Heerde, age 80, of Milford, was held Wednesday, October 30, 2019, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Burial was at Northlawn Cemetery in Spencer.

Paul Buckley, 97, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, formerly of West Union and Okoboji, passed away on Friday, October 25, 2019, at Foundation Cottage in Sioux Falls. Private services for Paul will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be sent to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com

James Leo “Jim” Cates, 92 of Okoboji, Iowa, and formerly of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away Tuesday afternoon, October 22, 2019 at his residence. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com.

Heath Hjelmer Huberg, 37, passed away at his home on Sunday evening October 13, 2019, surrounded by his loving family.

Robert “Bob” Henry Rossow, 75, of Spirit Lake passed away on Tuesday, September 24, 2019, at his home in Spirit Lake with his family by his side.

Ruth M. Barnard, 99, of Spirit Lake passed away on Sunday, September 22, 2019, at Accura Healthcare of Spirit Lake.

Edith Carolyn Woodke, of Milford, Iowa, formerly of Early, Nemaha, and Sac City, IA, passed away on Monday, September 16, 2019, at the Accura Healthcare of Milford, at the age of 96. Carolyn Rutledge was born on July 3, 1923, to John and Beulah (Manly) Rutledge in Alberta, Canada. Carolyn’s family lived in Bowden, Canada until 1929, York, Nebraska, for a year, and then moved to Early, Iowa, where she attended elementary and high school graduating in 1941. She continued her education at Morningside College in Sioux City for a year studying music.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Irene Clark, 77, of Milford, was held Thursday, September 12, 2019, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, in Milford. Burial was at Milford Cemetery.
Irene Louise Clark, the daughter of Eldon and Irene (Koch) Wallace, was born November 27, 1941, in Odebolt, Iowa. After graduating from Odebolt High School, she attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, IA.

Lorraine Katherine Kirchner was born on April 17, 1922, in Estherville, Iowa, to Henry J. and Mary (Snyder) Neppl weighing 2 pounds. She passed away on Saturday, September 7, 2019, at the Good Samaritan Society in Estherville at the age of 97 years.

David LeRoy Brant, son of LeRoy and Norma (Spencer) Brant, was born on September 9, 1931, in Terril, Iowa. He passed away surrounded by family on September 5, 2019, at Accura Healthcare of Milford at the age of 87 years, 11 months, and 26 days.

Cynthia Ruth Bauer, loving wife, mother and grandmother went to be the Lord on August 31, 2019, at the age of 71. Cyndi was born on July 28, 1948, in Hartley, Iowa, to George and Ester (Sandersfield) Mohr, grew up on her family’s farm, and attended St. John’s Lutheran Church in May City. Cyndi married Michael Bauer in 1970.

Philip J. Vander Ploeg, age 83, of Okoboji, Iowa, and formerly of Sheldon, passed away on Tuesday, August 27, 2019, at his home in Okoboji. His Funeral Service was Friday, August 30, 2019, at First Lutheran Church in Milford, with Rev. Perry Aalgaard and the Rev. Brian Jack officiating.

Claude F. Hone, well-known Sioux Falls Realtor, and long time West Okoboji Harbor resident, died Tuesday, August 27, at the age of 99 and almost 7 months. He was one of the first Harbor residents in 1973 when there was only one canal open and not many houses.

Dr. Alfred Libby Klein, 95, of Spirit Lake, passed away on Monday, August 26, 2019, at Accura Healthcare of Spirit Lake. A memorial service for Al will be held on Wednesday, September 4, 2019, at 11:00am, at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00pm, on Tuesday, September 3, 2019, at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Burial will take place at a later date in the Lakeview Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be sent to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com.

Robert Ronald Higley, the son of Harley and Bernice (Carson) Higley, was born January 1, 1935, in Terril, Iowa. Bob departed this life on Monday, July 29, 2019, at the Good Samaritan Society in Estherville, Iowa, at the age of 84 years. Visitation will be Tuesday, August 6, from 5:00 – 7:00pm, at Henry-Olson Funeral Chapel – Estherville. Funeral Service will be Wednesday, August 7, at 11:00am, at United Methodist Church in Estherville with Pastor Kevin Moore officiating. Robert will be laid to rest at North Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Spencer.

Betty Lou Cuklanz passed away peacefully on July 27, 2019, surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by husband Duane (Toad) Cuklanz; her parents; brothers, Donald Roland, Charles Roland, Robert Roland, and Dean Roland; and sisters, Virginia in infancy, Vivian Fread, Darlene Nissen, Mary Mingus, and Helen Enderson. Betty was the last of the brothers and sisters to join the Roland parents. Once again, the chairs around the Roland family table are full and the coffee is being consumed in large quantities.

A graveside service for Larry Stoller, age 63, of Spirit Lake, was held Friday, July 26, 2019, at Lakeview Gardens Cemetery in Okoboji. A Celebration of Life gathering was held Sunday, July 28, at Okoboji Classic Cars in West Okoboji.
Memorials may be directed to the Arnolds Park/Okoboji Underwater Search and Rescue Dive Team.

Karli Mae Dietrich, 36, of Kissimmee, Florida, passed into the loving arms of her Savior on Sunday, July 14, 2019. Karli was born in Spirit Lake, Iowa, and attended Osceola High School in Kissimmee, Florida.

Ralph “Boober” Roberts Schneider, 84, of Okoboji, passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2019, at his home after a 4 year battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

William “Bill” Dale Thiesen, 72, of Spirit Lake passed away on July 2, 2019, at his home in Spirit Lake.
There was a gathering to celebrate Bill’s life at the VFW in Spirit Lake on Saturday, July 13, 2019. Arrangements were under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be sent to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com.

Larry Keith Eckard was born to Elmer and Rowena Eckard on January 10th, 1937. His childhood years were spent in Milford, Iowa, where he received his education from Milford High School. While at Milford he was involved in every athletic activity possible and dabbled in school plays (who knew). He continued his education at Mankato State for whom he played football and track.