Obituaries

April 15, 1930 – Feb. 16, 2021 A visitation for Rose Marie Rahbain, age 81, of Spirit Lake was held Feb. 18, 2021, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. A celebration of life for Rose Marie will be held this summer. Rose Marie Wagner Rahbain, the daughter of Herman and Ida (Kuchta) Hoffman, was born April 15, 1939, in Fort Dodge. She grew up in Dakota City and graduated from Humboldt High School. After graduating, she worked as a telephone operator and later became a manager...

May 8, 1948 – Feb. 15, 2021 A visitation for Linda Gano, age 72, of Montgomery was held Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. A private family burial will be held at a later date. Linda Diane Gano, the daughter of Eldon and Doris (Brown) Molendorp, was born May 8, 1948, in Spirit Lake. She attended Harris-Lake Park High School, lettering in basketball, track, band and chorus. After school, she remained active water skiing, snowmobiling, bowling and golfing...

Oct. 30, 1943 – Feb. 22. 2021 Linda Eastlick, age 77, of Milford passed away on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, at Lakes Regional Healthcare of Spirit Lake. A private graveside service for Linda will be held in the Middleburg Cemetery in Middleburg. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be sent to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

July 29, 1954 – Feb. 12, 2021 A celebration of life will be held at a later date for Don "Greg" DeRoos, age 66, of Milford.  Don “Greg” DeRoos, the son of Teresa Kew and Don Ray DeRoos, was born July 29, 1954, in Margate, Kent England. He was an Army veteran after serving in Korea...

Aug. 9, 1948 - Feb. 20, 2021 Bruce "Skippy" Bass, age 72, of Arnolds Park passed away on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at Spencer Hospital in Spencer. A celebration of life for Bruce 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 left at www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

March 20, 1943 – Jan. 31, 2021 Robert Joseph Tusa, 77, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, at the Good Samaritan Society Sogge Memorial where he had been a resident for over a year. Robert was born to the late Alfred and Beulah (Baker) Tusa on March 20, 1943, at the Halloran Hospital in Jackson, Minnesota, and was raised on the family farm in Middletown Township. He was baptized, made his first communion, and confirmed in the Catholic Faith...

April 7, 1940 – Feb. 1, 2021 Gary M. Piper, 85, of Okoboji passed away on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, after an ongoing battle with health issues. Gary was born to Waldo and Florence Piper on April 7, 1940, in Sioux City, joining his brother Wally, who was 11 years older and later became his high school football and basketball coach. After graduating from Central High School, he attended Morningside College on a football scholarship...

Aug. 18, 1918 - Feb. 9, 2021 A funeral service for Dorothy Hopkins will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, at United Methodist Church in Terril. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb 18 at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Dorothy Hopkins, age 102, passed away Feb. 9, 2021, at Clarinda Regional Health Center. Dorothy was born Aug. 18, 1918, at Marathon. She graduated from high school in 1936 and married Cleo Hopkins in 1937 in Dakota City, Nebraska...

March 24, 1934 – Feb. 5, 2021 Shirley Mae Rupiper, 85, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away Feb. 5, 2021, at Daugherty Hospice House. She was born March 24, 1935, in Auburn. Shirley was the daughter of Joseph and Anna (Kohorst) Wernimont. She grew up in the Auburn and Carroll communities and graduated from St. ...

1951 - Jan. 27, 2021 Mark Steven Handeland, 69, passed away of cancer on Jan. 27, 2021. He resided in Milford. A celebration of life will be held in honor of Mark at a later date. Born in Story City, he was the son of Lester and Laurentia. He attended most of his school years in Estherville and joined the United States Army at the age of 17. ...

Dec. 15, 1936 - Jan. 21, 2021 William ‘Bill’ Hughes Carmichael, age 84 of West Okoboji passed away peacefully on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. He was born Dec. 15, 1936, to Albert Charles and Madora Hughes Carmichael. He graduated from Pocahontas High School and the University of Iowa with a BSC and JD in 1961. ...

May 25, 1933 - Jan. 24, 2021 A funeral service for Borge "Doc" Bak, age 87, of Spirit Lake, was held Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, at Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Burial was at Lakeview Cemetery. Memorials in honor of Doc may be directed to either the National MS Society (www.nationalmssociety.org) or the Ataxia-Telangiectasia Children's Project (ATCP.org)...

Jan. 3, 1938 - Jan. 18, 2021 A funeral service for Robert Rickabaugh, age 83, of Okoboji, was held Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Burial was at Union Cemetery in Harris. Robert Ray Rickabaugh, the son of Richard and Marvine (Gross) Rickabaugh, was born in Harris on Jan. 3, 1938. He spent his childhood in Harris and graduated from Harris High School in 1956...

April 13, 1923 — Jan. 21, 2021 A private family service was held for Leona Spieker, age 97, of Milford. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery. Leona Elizabeth (Sandman) Spieker went to meet her Lord and Savior on Jan. 21, 2021. She was born on the April 13, 1923, in Petersburg, Nebraska...

Sept. 19, 1933 — Jan. 22, 2021 A funeral service for G.D. "Skip" Hughes, 87, of Arnolds Park, was held Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, at Harbor of Joy Lutheran Church in Milford. Burial was at North Lawn Cemetery in Spencer. Gifford Duane "Skip" Hughes, the son of Walter and Evelyn (Knutson) Hughes, was born Sept. ...

Dec. 27, 1925 — Jan. 14, 2021 Fred J. Schmidt, Sr., 95, of Spencer passed away on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, at St. Luke Lutheran Home in Spencer. A memorial service for Fred 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 left at spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

Aug. 22, 1924 — Jan. 22, 2021 Elizabeth "Beth" Kramme, 96, of Spirit Lake passed away on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at Comfort Hospice House in Pella. A celebration of life for Beth will be held at a later date at the Spirit Lake United Methodist Church. Burial will take place in the Lake View Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be left at: spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

Sept. 1, 1933 — Jan. 19, 2021 Delores Marchand, age 87, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, at Lakeside Lutheran Home in Emmetsburg. A private family service will take place at a later date. Dee worked many years for Milford School as secretary for the superintendent and Milford School Board secretary...

April 20, 1940 — Jan. 21, 2021 Arnold "Arnie" Jerome Sunde, 80, of Ankeny passed away at Taylor House Hospice on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. He was born on April 20, 1940, to Oscar and Myrtle (Paulson) Sunde in Estherville. Arnold attended Gruver high school. After graduating, he went to work with his friends on a ranch in Nebraska. It was one of his best times. Following his time on the ranch, he received his associate's degree from Estherville Jr. College...

July 12, 1941 — Jan. 6, 2021 Wilfred "Willy" McHugh, 79, of Okoboji and Fort Myers, Florida, passed away unexpectedly Jan. 6, 2021, at Lee Health Park Medical Center in Fort Myers. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. ...

Jan. 9, 1961 — Jan. 8, 2021 Steven Reighard, the son of Eleanor Reighard and Jim Sandberg was born Jan. 9, 1961, in Spirit Lake. He died on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 59. Steve grew up in Estherville and graduated from Estherville High School in 1979. He then attended Hamilton Business College and received his accounting degree...

Jan. 12, 1934 — Jan. 13, 2021 A funeral service for Phyllis Johnson, 87, of Spirit Lake, was held Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, at First Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake. For those looking for a way to remember Phyllis, it was her wish that friends and family would plant a tree in her honor...

July 17, 1941 — Jan. 13, 2021 A family service was held for Norman Nattress, age 79, of Milford, on Tuesday Jan. 19, 2021. Burial was at Milford Cemetery. A Celebration of Life is being planned for July, 2021. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be in Norman’s name to the Milford Boy Scouts, The American Legion Post 384, and IOOF Home & Community Therapy Center...

Jan. 20, 1939 — Jan. 1, 2021 In loving memory of Marjorie Jennings Ilich, who passed from this world on Jan. 1, 2021. Marjorie was a true friend, a devoted wife, a wonderful mother, an artist, a writer and so much more — smile and a laugh that will be missed beyond description...

Feb. 20, 1927 — Jan. 13, 2021 Ione Lennette (Rossow) Brekke, the daughter of Alma and Leonard Rossow, was born on Feb. 20, 1927, in Hollandale, Minnesota. She passed away at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville at the age of 93. Private family services will be held. Online condolences may be left for the family at henryolsonfuneral.com...

July 16, 1937 — Jan. 11, 2021 A funeral service for Cameron Welch, age 83, of Spirit Lake, was held Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Burial was at Okoboji Cemetery. Cameron Arthur Welch, the son of Arthur and Evelyn (Wolf) Welch, was born July 16, 1937, in Okoboji. ...

June 26, 1931 — Jan. 10, 2021 Arthur "Art" Henry Berg, 89, of Spirit Lake passed away on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2021, at his residence in Spirit Lake. A mass of Christian burial was held Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake followed by military funeral honors conducted by the American Legion Timpe Post #23 and the John W. ...

Oct. 19, 1951 — Jan. 8, 2021 Rebecca "Becki" McCoy, 69, of Spirit Lake passed away on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at Accura Healthcare of Spirit Lake. Services for Becki will be held at a later date. Burial will take place in the Lakeview Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake. Arrangements are under the direction of the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be left at spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

Oct. 3, 1955 — Jan. 1, 2021 Patrick Kelly, 65, of Spirit Lake passed away on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at Crosswinds Church in Spirit Lake. A private graveside burial will be held in the Lakeview Gardens Cemetery in Spirit Lake. The Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake is in charge. Online condolences may be left at spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

July 6, 1946 — Jan. 9, 2021 Patricia "Kay" Schweitzer, 74, of Spencer passed away on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, at Lakes Regional Healthcare of Spirit Lake. A memorial service for Kay will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 14, at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. A private family burial will be held in the Riverside Cemetery in Spencer. Arrangements are under the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Online condolences may be left at spiritlakefuneralhome.com...

Feb. 18, 1935 — Jan. 10, 2021 Neal Richard Christensen of Humboldt passed into God's love Jan. 10, 2021, in Daphne, Alabama. The youngest of five, he was born to Chris and Amelia Christensen on Feb. 18, 1935. Neal leaves behind the legacy of a U.S. Army career spanning two tours in combat, service with the National Military Command Center, the U.S. Army War College, and as the Deputy Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard...

June 28, 1928 — Jan. 4, 2021 Melvin "Mel" Struthers Jr. passed away on Jan. 4, 2021, peacefully at home. He was born in 1928 in Spirit Lake to Melvin Struthers and Vivian (Eastman) Struthers. Lawyer, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, tennis player, sailor, swimmer, friend — Mel was a lifelong learner who loved music, reading, education, travel and people...

Oct. 20, 1945 — Jan. 6, 2021 Mary "Tooty" Vugteveen, 75, of Milford passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at Accura Healthcare of Spirit Lake. A rolling visitation was held Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Schuchert-Lentz Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. A procession then took place to First Lutheran Church in Milford where a funeral service were held at the church. ...

May 20, 1943 — Jan. 8, 2021 A private family service for Mary Adams will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13. A live stream link to view Mary's service will be posted prior to Wednesday. A full celebration of life memorial service to honor this Christian life well-lived will be held at First Lutheran in Milford when loved ones can come together safely this summer...

Dec. 5, 1931 — Jan. 3, 2021 A funeral service for Kedric Wunder, age 89, of Lake Park, was held Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at First Presbyterian Church in Lake Park. Burial was at Silver Lake Cemetery. Memorials given to the family will be donated to charities in honor of Kedric...

June 2, 1927 — Jan. 5, 2021 A funeral service for Earline Blahauvietz, age 93, of Spirit Lake, was held Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. Burial was at Union Cemetery in Harris. A recording of Earline's service can be viewed using a link found at turnerfuneralhomes.com...

March 25, 1995 — Dec. 22, 2020 A funeral service for Angel Bastman, age 25, of Lake Park was held Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at the United Methodist Church in Lake Park. Burial with military honors was at Silver Lake Cemetery in Lake Park. Angel Marie Bastman, the daughter of David and Tammy (Weltzin) Bastman, was born March 25, 1995, in Spirit Lake. She graduated from Harris-Lake Park High School with the Class of 2012...

Nov. 6, 1941 — Dec. 23, 2020 A funeral service for Robert Wiese, age 79, was held Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, at Hope Lutheran Church in Everly. Burial was at Lone Tree Cemetery in Everly. Robert Eldon Wiese, the son of Eldon and Velma (Peters) Wiese, was born on Nov. 6, 1941, in Spencer. After graduating high school, he attended Iowa State University...

Nov. 12, 1934 — Dec. 21, 2020 Nyla Lucille Anderson, age 86, passed away on Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, in Needles, California. She was born Nov. 12, 1934, in a farmhouse outside of Westport in Dickinson County to Omer and Hattie Adams. Nyla graduated from Spirit Lake High School as part of the class of 1952. ...

Dec. 12, 1934 — Dec. 30, 2020 There will be no formal services for Norma Meyerdirk, age 86, of Spirit Lake. Norma Jean Meyerdirk, the daughter of Frank and Lucile (Peelgrin) O’Clair, was born on Dec. 12, 1934, in Webb. She graduated from the high school in Webb...

Aug. 25, 1934 — Dec. 30, 2020 Leland "Lee" Currier passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020 at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. Leland Gail Currier was born to Gilbert Arnold and Lois Auline (Ducharme) Currier in Bellingham, Washington, on Aug. ...

May‌ ‌9,‌ ‌1925 — Dec.‌ ‌6,‌ ‌2020 Kasper‌ ‌George‌ ‌Graff‌ ‌was‌ ‌born‌ ‌on‌ ‌May‌ ‌9,‌ ‌1925,‌ ‌in‌ Leland and passed‌ ‌away‌ ‌on‌ ‌Dec.‌ ‌6,‌ ‌2020,‌ ‌in‌ ‌Santa‌ ‌Barbara, California, at the age of 95‌. ...

Dec. 1, 1927 — Dec. 31, 2020 A visitation for Joyce Klenken, age 93, of Spirit Lake, was held Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. A private family service was held Monday, Jan. 4, with burial at Lakeview Cemetery. Joyce Mildred Klenken was born on Dec. 1, 1927, to Albert and Emma (Bauer) Wegner in Lakefield, Minnesota. She attended Lutheran parochial school in Lakefield until the eighth grade and graduated from the public high school in 1946...

May 2, 1943 — Dec. 27, 2020 A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date for Gary Green, age 77, of Milford. Gary Richard Green, the son of Richard (Tuffy) Green and Effie Korthals Green was born May 2, 1943, in Hull. He was raised on a farm north of Boyden and graduated from Sheldon High school in 1961...

Oct. 4, 1931 — Dec. 22, 2020 Frederick Reed Dowden, 89, of Spirit Lake, died at home on Dec. 22, 2020. Born to Frederick Rufus and Bessie Elva (Reed) Dowden on Oct. 4, 1931, at the family home on 16th Street, Fred spent nearly all his life in Spirit Lake, a place he loved dearly. ...

April 4, 1937 — Dec. 27, 2020 There will be no formal services for Floy Ahrenstorff, age 83, of Lake Park. Condolences may be sent to 940 27th St. Spirit Lake IA, 51360. Floy F. Ahrenstorff, the son of Sigfried and Lillian (Atzen) Ahrenstorff, was born April 4, 1937, in Heron Lake, Minnesota. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux Valley and graduated from Sioux Valley High School...

Dec. 2, 1934 — Dec. 24, 2020 A private family service was held for Ardyce Rueter, age 86, of Lake Park on Dec. 31, 2020. Ardyce passed away Thursday, Dec. 24, at Accura Healthcare in Spirit Lake. Ardyce Mae Rueter daughter of Arthur and Anna (Brenne) Anderson was born on Dec. ...