Area Obituaries

JOHN JAMES BIDDLE     John James Biddle, son of Grant and Vinnie (Clark) Biddle, was born April 12, 1926 in Dallas, Iowa. John graduated from Lacona High School in 1944.     John answered the call from God to preach and was a minister of the gospel for the rest of his life. Beginning in Lucas,…

BETTY BLESSMAN     Betty was born to Harry and Blanche Stamper in Diagonal, Iowa where they lived until the family moved to Mount Ayr in 1935. Betty graduated from Mount Ayr High School and met the love of her life, Leroy Blessman from Clearfield, at the local roller rink. After high school, she moved to…

BEVERLY ANN SWANSON     Beverly Ann Jeter Swanson, 66, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, October 4, 2014. She was surrounded by family and an abundance of love.     Beverly was bom on July 11, 1948 in Creston, Iowa to parents Jim and Marie Jeter. She was raised in Bedford, Iowa with her…

JUDY KAY FIFER     Judy Kay Fifer, daughter of Michael Homer and Beulah Lorrene (Collins) Fry, was born January 13, 1946 in the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola, Iowa. Judy attended Central Decatur School. Judy lived in Van Wert, Leon and Decatur while growing up. She was working at Tripps Nursing Home when she was…

HELEN M. DEFEO     Helen M. DeFeo NiskayunaHelen M. DeFeo, 91, of Hawthorn Rd died peacefully at home on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 after a brief illness. Born in Hale, Missouri, she was raised in Mount Ayr, Iowa. Helen was one of eight children of Lee and Maude (Brown) Hobbs. She graduated from Mount Ayr…

ALLEN EDWARD KIMBERLIN     Allen Edward Kimberlin was born March 16, 1944 in Diagonal, Iowa to Nemel Alton Kimberlin and Mary Uretta (Dunn) Kimberlin. Due to being handicapped Allen lived most of his life at the Glenwood Resource Center in Glenwood, Iowa. He later moved to Mosaic in Osceola before moving to the Atlantic Nursing…

KENNETH EUGENE NEWBY     Kenneth Eugene Newby, son of Willis and Lois (Harris) Newby, was born July 21, 1956 in Ringgold County, Iowa.     His children remember him as a passionate, loving father and Pappy to his Grandchildren. To his daughters he was fun and hilarious, and very quick witted. He knew how to fix…

MICHELLE LYNN BEDIER     On September 23, 2014, the world lost one of its most beautiful smilesever created.  Michelle Lynn (Pomerenke) Bedier gained her heavenly wings and emersed into eternal rest after fighting an inspirational battle with breast cancer.     Funeral services were Monday, September 29, 2014 at 2 p.m., at the Federated Church, followed…

KENNETH DRIFMIER     Kenneth Driftmier was born December 21, 1920 in Page County Iowa. He graduated from College Springs, Iowa High School. Kenneth served in the Air Force in World War II.     Kenneth and Dorothy Burns were united in marriage on July 17, 1944. They moved to Beaconsfield, Iowa where he was Farm Manager…

KYLE REX SHAHA     Kyle Rex Shaha was born July 10, 1950 to Rex Owen Shaha and Vesta Opal (Wardrip) Shaha in Creston, Iowa.  Growing up, Kyle attended Saltzman Country School through fourth grade. He graduated from Mount Ayr High School in 1968 and attended Universal Trade school in Omaha, Nebraska.  Kyle was an active…

LAWRENCE E. “BISH” BISHOP     Lawrence E. “Bish” Bishop, son of Merwin and Ruby (Robinson) Bishop, was born May 6, 1934 at Lewis, Iowa. Bish served his country in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Japan. On November 21, 1960, he married Florence Osborn in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Her sister, Angeline, and father, Lawrence…

ULA AGNES HAYS     Ula Agnes Hays was born January 6, 1944 in Mount Ayr to Charles Wade Hampton and Cleo Helen Stringham. Ula attended Mount Ayr School. She was united in marriage to Orval Franklin Hays May 6, 1977. Ula worked many different places throughout the years at the Elm’s Club in Creston and…