Area Obituaries

Annette Marie Townsend, daughter of Nicholas Joseph & Alberta (Grannados) Castro, was born January 1, 1939, in Galt, California. Annette met the love of her life, Jerry Edward Townsend, as he was serving in the U.S Navy. They were married June 8, 1958, in Galt, California. To this union were 5 children: 4 daughters, Adrianne,…

Verden Dean Olney was born January 18, 1938, in rural Redding, Iowa to Carl and Vane (Paxson) Olney. He passed away on May 4, 2026, at the age of 88 in Mt. Ayr, Iowa. Dean left home at 17 years old and went to Chicago then to Texas and lived with the Caldwell family. He…

Alta Pearl (Pat) was born to Everett Melbourn Sutherland and Doris Dean (Jackson) on September 23, 1932, in Hatfield, MO. She started school in a one room schoolhouse, Turkey Grove, when she was four years old and graduated from Hatfield High school in 1949. She attended Hatfield United Brethren (Methodist) Church. At 16 years old…

Betty McNutt Klejch Miller, 88, of Creston, died Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Southern Hills Specialty Care in Osceola. Celebration of Life Services will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Powers Funeral Home in Creston. Services will be livestreamed at a link under her obituary at powersfh.com. Pastor Brian Campbell will officiate. Burial…

Rio Loren Doolittle was born in Des Moines, Iowa on November 4, 1964, to Gary and Kay (Bennett) Doolittle. They moved to their newly acquired farm in Ringgold County, and he was joined shortly after by little brother Nick. Gary and Kay raised their boys on hard work and hard play. Rio’s first love was…

Hugh Warren Terwilliger was born April 29, 1933, at the family farm home near Mount Ayr to Warren and Mary (Milligan) Terwilliger. He welcomed a sister Nancy June, in May of 1940. Hugh attended Lonesome Hollow Country School until 6th grade then finished 7th and 8th grade in Mount Ayr. He graduated from Mount Ayr High School in…

Steven Leroy Doolittle was born on February 9, 1947, in Shenandoah, IA to Clyde and Lucille (Mutchler) Doolittle. Shortly after the passing of his mother and 2 younger brothers Steve, went to live with Clifford and Ethel (Still) Doolittle and their 3 boys Roy, Larry, and Melvin at the farm. When Uncle Sam came calling,…

Mark Allen Erickson, son of Robert Allen Erickson and Shirley Ann (Strange) Erickson was born July 5, 1959, in Creston, Iowa and passed from this life Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Kavanagh on 56th in Des Moines at 66 years of age. Mark grew up in Mt. Ayr where he graduated from high school; he…

Nola Pritchard, 89, of Clarinda, Iowa passed away Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at Azria Care, Clarinda, Iowa. A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 28, 2026, at First Christian Church, Clarinda, Iowa with Pastor Mike Harvey officiating. Visitation will be held 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026, at…

Sharon (Force, Hembry) Kennedy, was born at home on May 26, 1942, in rural Worth County, Missouri, in the Fletchall Township to Clifford & Cleta Force. She passed away at age 83 on March 26, 2026, in Bentonville, Arkansas, with her sons at her side. She was preceded in death by her parents Clifford and…

Wim Banoe was born on April 4, 1935, in Peniwen – East Java, Indonesia to Inswihardjo and Suprasti. He was the sixth child of seven children. He grew up during World War II when the Dutch, then Japan colonialized Indonesia. He was such a storyteller and enjoyed an audience attentively listening to his many, many…

Dillon Jason Drake was born on September 23, 1992, in Creston, Iowa, to Barb (Saxton) and Deric Drake. He graduated from Mount Ayr Community High School with the Class of 2011. After high school, Dillon worked a variety of jobs before finding his place at Mercer Motor Repair, where he worked alongside his friend Mason,…