"Home of Pioneer Spirit" |
Some songs from 1983 when Paul Irlbeck graduated from high school.
Because of this particular tragedy I'm adding some non-obituary
information to provide more aspects of their lives.
Dave
May 8, 1926 - September 30, 2004
Raymond Bechen, 78, of Vail died Thursday, September 30, 2004, at his residence.
Services will be 11:30 a.m. Monday at St. Ann Catholic Church in Vail.
Burial will be in St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Sunday, with a Legion of Mary rosary at 4 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Huebner Funeral Home in Denison, Iowa.
Ray was a Junior High teacher and coach during the mid-1950s at Manning Schools.
Son of Louis and Mabel (Mader) Bechen
Children Gene 1959 - 2023 & Chris Bechen 1969 - 1984
Wife Marie (Henkenius) Bechen 1925 - 2010
Man killed when tractor rolls over him
A man was killed when a tractor rolled over him while he was working on his western Iowa farm, police said.
Ray Bechen, 78, of Vail, was found by a neighbor about 8:30 a.m. Thursday, said
officials with the Crawford County sheriff's office. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mason City, Globe Gazette, October 5, 2004
Tractor upset kills Denison youth
Chris Robert Bechen, 15, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray and Marie Bechen of Denison
route 3, was killed Tuesday in a tractor accident.
The accident occurred on a county road 7 miles southeast of Denison. Bechen, a
sophomore at Denison High School, was driving the tractor on the road and
entering a "T" intersection, when he lost control during a left turn.
The tractor veered from one ditch to the other, then upset on the road. The
accident occurred near the driveway of the Jerry Brus farm.
His best friend, Jerry Brus, Jr., heard the crash from inside his home, and
rushed to the scene. Authorities were summoned, but declared Bechen dead at the scene.
Crawford County Deputy Sheriff Ron Hott investigated the accident.
Sioux City Journal, November 22, 1984
Seven Of Manning Faculty Resign
Seven members of the Manning School faculty have resigned according to Superintendent
William Baley. They are Ed Dakan, Vocational Ag; Christine Sanders, Homemaking;
Gerald Andrew, vocal music; Ray Bechen, Junior High and coach; Dolores Sextro,
6th grade; Lois Laverty, 4th grade; Ray Standerwick, athletic coach.
Teachers who have signed and returned contracts are: Superintendent Baley; high
school principal Richard Euchner; John Beach, business education and coach;
Douglas Wilcox. social studies; Richard Munster, science; Kenneth Laverty,
industrial arts; Lois Kemper, business education and girls P.E.; Lois Klisart, English; Sam Mast, mathematics.
Frank Plambeck, band: junior high principal Oliver Himley; Ila Rix, junior
high; Anna Rainthorpe, 6th; Mabel Mullen, 5th; Irma Bromert, 3rd; Golda Sander,
combination 3 and 4th; Sharon Olsen, 2nd; Margaret Ohde, 1st; Ruth Crandall,
combination 1st and 2nd; Liane Clarkin, Kindergarten.
Miss LuAnn Maassen of Harlan, who will graduate from Morningside College at
Sioux City in June, has been hired to teach fourth grade next year.
All members of the faculty have received pay raises in line with salary schedules.
Daily Nonpareil, April 10, 1957
Snippet:
Carroll Daily Times Herald December 26, 1956
Manning Schools: Ray Bechen, Junior High, is spending time with his family near Denison.
Henkenius-Bechen Nuptials
Read In Church Rites Today
The double ring ceremony and nuptial high mass were read this morning at the
wedding of Marie Henkenius of Carroll and Raymond Bechen of Vail, at SS. Peter
and Paul's Church. The Rev. Fr. Richard Dirksen, C.PP.S., chaplain at St.
Anthony Hospital, officiated at 9 o'clock.
The bride is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred and Angela (Kral) Henkenius and
the bridegroom, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis and Mabel (Mader) Bechen, all of Vail.
The hospital choir, composed of sisters and nurse sang during the service,
under the direction of Sr. M. Doris, with Sr. M. Eileen at the organ.
The bride wore a custom-made suit of white gabardine, designed on tailored
lines. Crystal beading in floral patterns featured the trim. Completing the
bride's costume were white accessories and a white orchid corsage.
Leah Henkenius of Vail attended her sister as bridesmaid. She wore a white
linen suit, white accessories, and corsage of white roses.
The bridegroom had his cousin, Howard Bechen of Yankton, South Dakota, as best man.
Breakfast for the bridal party, immediate families, and other guests was served
in the Driftwood Room of Hotel Burke at 11 o'clock. The table was appointed in white with a touch of blue and silver.
The bride, a registered nurse, was graduated from St. Anthony School of Nursing
in 1946. She took post-graduate work in surgery at Marquette University and
University Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1948. She has been assistant
supervisor of the surgery department at St. Anthony Hospital.
At present, Mr. Bechen is a senior student at Southern State Teachers College, Springfield, South Dakota.
He served in the Navy during World War II.
In September, the couple will live in Storm Lake, where Mr. Bechen will
continue his studies at Buena Vista College.
Carroll Daily Times Herald, June 15, 1950
Frank Gavin was a circus man and spent most of his lifetime under the big top, touring the entire North American continent. During the past several years since he left active circus work and devoted his time to farming, he became equally intent on community work, and was known for his Farm Bureau, 4-H Club leadership, and A.A.A. efforts. He was also president of the Manning Farmer's Night School for the first three years of its existence beginning in 1938, and this year refused to become a candidate for a fourth year.
Funeral services will be held at the farm home south of Manning at 2 p.m. Thursday, the Masonic burial service being used. The Rev. Alexander Wimberly of the Manning Presbyterian Church, will officiate and burial will be in the Manning Cemetery. Special music for the services will be furnished by a quartet composed of Martha (Mrs. Nick C.) Schrum, Emma (Mrs. Albert) Dietz, Herman C. Pahde, and Clifford M. Johnson, accompanied by Bonita (Mrs. Henry) Hagedorn.
Mr. Gavin is survived only by his widow, the former Rose "Ella" Murray of Templeton.
He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, August 4, 1884. Orphaned at a very early age he joined the circus when he was fourteen and until his comparatively recent retirement from the entertainment world devoted a lifetime to the circus. He was a concession manager. The family home has been in the Manning area for the past twenty-five years.
Mrs. Gavin has also been associated with the circus since before their marriage, for she joined a circus when it passed through this community many years ago to become its costume mistress. It was there that she met and later married Frank Gavin.
Gavin's career, brought him in touch with many celebrities all over the nation. He numbered among his friends Babe Ruth, Grantland Rice, Will Rogers, Tom Mix, and many others. He held the honorary titles of Traveling Ambassador of the Ponca City, Oklahoma, Chamber of Commerce, and Special Deputy Sheriff of the Madison Square Garden in New York.
At their present home south of Manning where the Gavins lived for the past nine years, Mr. and Mrs. Gavin traditionally played Santa Claus to all the children of the neighborhood each year. No entertainment in the community was complete without his help and advice.
Fraternally he was a member of Ivanhoe Lodge A.F. &
A.M., Kansas City, Missouri, and of Commandery No. 4, Knights Templar, Royal
Arch Chapter 22, Consistory and Shrine, all of Montgomery, Alabama.
Carroll Daily Herald, March 4, 1941
Frank A. Gavin
Funeral services for Frank A. Gavin, 56, prominent Audubon County farmer and
former circus man who died Monday night at the St. Anthony Hospital, Carroll,
will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at the farm home in Lincoln Township, near Gray. The
Rev. Alexander Wimberley, Manning Presbyterian pastor, will officiate. Burial will be at the Manning Cemetery.
He was born August 4, 1884, in East Cambridge, Massachusetts, and started in circus work as a boy, with Howes Great London Show (from London, England), selling candy, fruit and soft drinks. He became "boss butcher" with the same show at 17. He served as concessions manager with many noted shows including Barnum & Bailey, John Robinson, Sells-Floto and others.
He married Miss Rose Ellen Murray, January 4, 1914, and she became chief costume designer for American Circus Corporation, for which her husband was concessions man and purchasing agent.
They retired from circus work and moved to the Audubon
County farm eight years ago. Mr. Gavin operated 345 acres and owned 271 more in
Cameron Township, Audubon County. He was prominent in agricultural circles,
serving as director of the Audubon County Farm Bureau, Audubon County Beef Producers'
Association, and Audubon County Soil Conservation and Improvement Association.
Daily Nonpareil, March 5, 1941
Pallbearers For Frank
Gavin Rites Today Are Listed
Active pallbearers at the Frank Gavin funeral Thursday were Hans Beese, Emil
Friedrichsen, Peter Moeller, Floyd Campbell, Henry Joens, and William Schultz.
Honorary pallbearers were Ted Simpson, Brayton; Ai Miller,
Gray; Elwin M. McGinnis, Audubon; Ira R. Miller, Audubon; Edwin Anderson, Hamlin;
Judson Zentmire, Audubon; Andrew Hansen, Audubon;
Bert Miskimins, Gray; Julius Wehrmann, Edward E. Breckenridge, John A. Lewis,
and William B. Campbell (School & FFA instructor), all of Manning.
Carroll Daily Herald, March 6, 1941
Templeton - Phil Neu attended the funeral of Frank Gavin in Manning Thursday afternoon.
Carroll Daily Herald, March 8, 1941
Two hundred and fifty persons representing sixty families in
this community attended the first annual picnic for members of the Manning Farmer's
Night School at Spring Brook Park near Guthrie Center.
Daily Nonpareil, August 25, 1938
Manning Farmers' Night School Class Holds Annual Picnic
Members of the Manning Farmers' Night School and their families held their
annual picnic at Lakewood Park Sunday. The heavy rain Saturday night cut the
number attending from the usual two-hundred to about eighty-five. Twenty-one families were represented.
A picnic lunch was served at noon with the usual contests and activities taking place afterwards.
The ball game between the farmers living south of the highway with Louie Musfeldt as captain, bowed in defeat to those living north of the line, who had as their captain Mevis Wiese.
In the pillow slip relay, which followed, the south had its revenge, winning in both the men's and women's sections.
In the balloon race for young men and women, Norma Musfeldt won first place, Helen Hansen, second, and Marilyn Mohr, third.
The boys and girls from six to twelve had a paper bag relay in which the boys defeated the girls.
In the slipper kicking contest, Dorothy Welch proved her prowess by kicking highest and farthest, Ila Beese took second place, and Norma Musfeldt, third.
The contests closed with a tugo-war
in which the men of the north put the greater weight on the issue. The
afternoon closed with the serving of ice cream.
Carroll Daily Herald, August 19, 1941
If I had a lot more time, I could find pictures for a lot of the people mentioned in this Gavin feature just above, and also more information but for now I'll just add this information
about Bill Campbell, who was one of the pallbearers for Frank Gavin.
My dad and mom, and many other Manning folks who knew Bill Campbell, always
talked about their fond memories of Bill. My dad continued to be friends with Bill after high school.
Bill Campbell when he taught at Manning.
The course will be divided into two parts: the day school for high school boys and the evening school for adult farmers. The classes offered in the day school will be as follows: Freshmen, Livestock; Sophomores, Crops; and Juniors and Seniors, Farm Management. In addition the boys will carry a project through the summer as: a litter of pigs, a baby beef, a dairy heifer, a corn yield test plot, breeding hybrid corn, soybeans, and many others. The boys will have an opportunity to show these projects at state and local fairs. Also the boys will have a chance to go to Ames in the annual state agricultural contests. There will be a livestock and crops judging team, a farm management team, a demonstration team, and a farm forum speaker.
The Smith Hughes course has kept boys in school and on the farm. It has changed them from unpaid hired men to small independent operator's or dad's partner. A survey of Ames graduates recently showed that those who had taken vocational agriculture in high school made better grades in college and were placed in better jobs upon graduation from college. The course is not a book, learning course. While books and bulletins form the largest part of the classroom work, in addition to them the students learn by actual experience, on field trips during the school year, state contests, showing his projects, judging, and his own home project.
This course is not meant to take the place of actual farming experience but to give the boys in addition new knowledge and methods of farming.
Her efforts in researching Manning history will be GREATLY missed by me, and even though most people who visit my website won't realize it, they too benefited from her efforts.
She wanted her passing to remain reserved, but I want to honor her amazing and selfless efforts in this tribute.
I'll be working on her tribute over the next few days but here is some information to begin with.
Connie with her mother, Marian.
A private family graveside service will be held at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Irwin, Iowa.
In lieu of flowers, any donations can be made to First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund or a charity of your choice.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Connie’s family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.
Connie was born on June 14, 1951, in Carroll, Iowa, the daughter of Marvin and Marian (Ohrt) Petersen, and grew up on a farm east of Irwin, Iowa. She graduated as the valedictorian of the class of 1969. Connie participated in several activities throughout school such as 4H, basketball, track, speech, and others. The girls' basketball team of 1969 still holds all the school records for Irwin 6 on 6 basketball. She was proud of the team and all they accomplished, especially the game where she scored 69 points.
After high school she attended John F. Kennedy College in Wahoo, Nebraska, where she played basketball, and hopefully also went to classes and learned something. She then attended Wayne State College in Wayne, Nebraska, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a minor in German.
Following college she began working for Agri-Bolt & Cabinet Company/Hot Springs Spas in Carroll in 1973 and retired in 2016.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Carroll where she served on several committees.
Connie enjoyed genealogy, gardening, playing the piano, traveling, camping, her flowers that bloomed from Spring to Fall, watching football and basketball games on TV, (especially the Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones, and Nebraska Cornhuskers), visiting with family and friends, and work, along with other things.
She was also an advocate for organ donation, as she had received a kidney transplant in 2000.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by several cousins and extended family, and many friends, too numerous to name. You know who you are.
Connie
Nephew Brian Reid, Connie, nephew Barry Reid
In 2017, I scanned the Ohrt/Petersen family collection from Connie.
Click below to view that web page.
Click to see the Ohrt history
Written by Connie Petersen 2017
Marian Jean Petersen is the first born daughter of Nellie and Julius Ohrt. Her younger sister is Shirley. Marian was
born on the farm in Ewoldt Twp. and grew up on that farm north of Manning,
where her dad did all the farming with a team of horses. She recalls how the
gypsies would come and gather to the north of the farm, camping along the
untraveled road side. They would ride their horses into the farm and through
the watermelon and strawberry patch, destroying them. One small girl named
Marian was a good horseman and could clear the fence with her horse.
As a kid, for entertainment, they would go into Manning on a Saturday night, and "people watch" There was a "snack stand" there where they would have hot peanuts and popcorn.
Marian also chuckles when she talks about her cousin Harold who would come to the farm and get her into trouble. He would make musical instruments out of boxes and whatever else he could find, those were fun times.
Marian tells the story of when she was in 4th grade or so, at the end of the school year, there was a class party. This particular time, the class hiked around the block and it began to pour down rain, and they all got soaked. The next day she woke up with the mumps!
Marian attended Manning public school where she excelled academically. She was a member of the Quill and Scroll, honor society, order of Gregg shorthand artists. Marian won awards for accurately scribing 100 words per minute in short hand. She won an award for that at the Iowa Public radioShorthand contest at WOI in Ames.
She was a member of the Artistic typist society and recalls a highlight of her high school when her teacher, herself, and two other students drove way to Newton, Iowa, for the state typing and short hand contest. Marian placed seventh in the state in the state typing contest. She says she can still hear the load noise when the typing started in that large auditorium. Marian was also the school newspaper editor.
After graduation, Marian worked for Dultmeier Mfg. in Manning for 7 1/2 years where wooden wagon boxes were being manufactured. John R. Hansen at that time was the president of the Company and he later became a member of the House of Representatives.
She recalls how she and a friend would take the train to Omaha to see movies. She also spent time at Lake View and Lake Okoboji.
Manning had a celebration every summer with lots of games and events. One year her friend asked her to come along with her. Her friend's husband was home from the Navy and his brother was with them. Marian went with her friend and that is how she met her husband Marvin. They went to the Great Western Park in Manning, which was a popular spot for young people. There was roller skating there and other things to do. Marian was married at the Presbyterian manse in Manning in April of 1950 with the reception of 70 guests at her mother's home. She purchased her wedding dress for $35 in a time when wages were 75 cents per hour. Her wedding dress is now at the Shelby County Historical Museum. Her colors were aqua and white.
Marian and Marvin farmed near Irwin. She raised a huge garden every year and did lots of freezing and canning. She raised chickens which came on the train and ducks and geese. She had 2 large incubators in the basement with goose eggs, that she watched daily, sprinkled the eggs, candled them and turned them until they hatched. She then sold the geese, and also sold the feathers. They walked miles and miles pulling weeds from the beans and taking weeds from the corn fields and pastures.
Those were the days when neighbor ladies helped each other. There were home permanents, and wall paper parties, and getting together so the kids could play. Many a night was spent playing cards with neighbors and having a light lunch. Music was enjoyed from Marvin's accordion playing and some would dance.
Marian and Marvin enjoyed getting away for daily fishing trips, but had to be home for the chores. They had milk cows, hogs and other animals. They enjoyed occasionally going to the dog races, snow mobiling, the CB club, and the trap line where they caught, skinned, stretched and sold furs. They liked flea markets, garage sales, and auctions where they bought and sold items. During that time, they also collected items. Marian collected over 100 Mickey Mouse items, she said they were cute. She also collected over 90 cylinder lamps.
She and her husband never missed an Irwin Girls' basketball game in 6 years to watch their daughter Connie play the center forward position. She is proud of the local school and state scoring records her daughter still holds.
Later on, Marvin and Marian moved to Irwin. Marian worked at the local café. Later she was involved with the senior center and received some volunteer awards. She managed the greeting cards there, and she and her friend would go to flea markets, farmers markets, and other venues selling cards, raffle tickets and other items as fund raisers for the center. She was on the calling committee to invite others for special meals the center had.
Marian spent a lot of time doing filet crochet, what started as a hobby, turned into family and friends requesting certain patterns made for them. Among the designs is one for Connie's cedar chest that has 3 deer in it and covers the entire top of the chest. Marian is most proud of the 3 foot peacock she crocheted. These are beautiful pieces of art! Marian was also a good seamstress, making quilts and sewing her daughters clothing. She also helped Connie and her friends with 4-H team demonstration practices.
In later years, Marian enjoyed her first airplane flight to see friends in Cincinnati, touring historic Kentucky, riding in Carol's 48 Dodge, visiting the trailer at KOA, visiting a casino, staying at a bed and breakfast in eastern Iowa, and many other things.
These days find Marian engaged in activities of the day, playing a fun game of cards, enjoying polka and country music, cheering on the Hawkeyes, Cyclones, and the Cubs, and being involved with a puzzle or two. She enjoys the company of friends and visiting with her guests to keep up to date on what is happening in the community and with family.
I hope to work on her story and get it featured in the Monitor and on my
web page fairly soon, but it always takes time to edit and proof read things like this and then get the approval for the final version from the family.
Here are 2 photos of Esther -
one from her time here in Manning in the early 1940s and the other one when I interviewed her a few months ago.
Esther Ruth Halverson
March 4, 1924 - April 8, 2025
Esther Ruth Halverson, age 101, of Carroll, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, April 14, 2025, at the First United Methodist Church in Carroll with Rev. Terry Plocher officiating. Music for the service will be by Nancy Davis and Jake Gute. Burial will be in the Carroll City Cemetery. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the First United Methodist Church YouTube Channel at Carroll FUMC Video.
Visitation will be held on Monday morning from 9:30 A.M. to 10:15 A.M. at the First United Methodist Church prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the First United Methodist Church in Carroll.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com.
Esther was born on March 4, 1924, in Akron, Iowa, and she was the daughter of Henry A. and Emma (Gillman) Stryzewski. She attended the Akron Community School and graduated from the Akron High School. She then attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, receiving her bachelor’s degree in music. In 1950, she was united in marriage to John J. Rogers, and they were blessed with one daughter, Ann. Esther was employed as the vocal and music instructor at the Manning, Coon Rapids, and Bayard School District for several years. Esther also was the publisher for the Coon Rapids Enterprise for several years. John passed away in 1960 and she was later married to William L. Chambers in 1965 and he passed away in 1979. In 1982, she was married to Donald W. Forrest, and he passed away in 1984. She later found love again, marrying Donald Halverson on May 1, 1994. The couple made their home in Carroll, Iowa. They enjoyed many wonderful friends, games of bridge, and travel experiences. Their favorite trips included winters in Arizona with friends and a trip to Israel, where Esther and Don were baptized in the Jordan River.
Esther was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Carroll where she was very active in the church including directing the church choir. She also directed the church choirs at the Presbyterian Church in Carroll, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Carroll and the Methodist Church in Coon Rapids. She organized the Carroll Community Chorus in 1976 and directed that group for several years. She organized various small vocal groups in the Carroll community, including. a women’s triple trio, the Noteables, where she made lifelong close friends. She was also a member of P.E.O. since 1952. Esther loved cooking, baking, and gardening. But most of all she cherished the time with her friends and especially her family.
Esther wanted to teach instrumental music but was told that it was not suitable for young ladies to teach instrumental music, and that she should teach vocal music.
She could not afford to have her laundry done at college, so she mailed it home to have her mother do it. Her mother returned the clothes, along with fresh bread and butter, and once a pheasant.
Esther biked across the Canadian Rockies with three teacher friends on one-speed bikes. They slept on the ground, were sniffed by a bear, woke up next to a rattlesnake nest, and had their pictures taken with the movie star Randolph Scott.
Esther is survived by her daughter Ann Chambers (Kent Nellis); step-sons: Myron (Joani) Halverson, Mark (Debbie) Halverson, David (Mary) Halverson, Doug (Karla) Halverson, and Dierk (Barbara) Halverson; grandchildren, John Davin Nellis and Caroline Nellis; numerous step grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Paul (Ardelle) Halverson; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
She is preceded in death by her husbands: John J. Rogers, William L. Chambers, Donald W. Forrest, and Donald G. Halverson; her parents; stepdaughter Linda (Karlton) Fullenworth; brother Ralph (Blanche) Stryzewski; sister Phyllis (Glenn) Kask.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll, Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids, Regency Park Nursing and Rehab Center in Carroll, and the staff and volunteers at St. Anthony Hospice for all their care and support for Esther.
Claus H. Bunz wrote on Esther's
guestbook at Dahn & Woodhouse April 11, 2025
I was a pupil of Esther during the time she taught vocal music in
the Manning public school system. During that time I
was also a member of the choir at Zion Lutheran Church which she directed. I
learned a great deal about music from her. She made participating in music
something that was joyful as well as fun. I extend my deepest sympathy to her
family and pray for our Lord Jesus Christ's Blessings on all of you.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at St. Lawrence Church - St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll. The Celebrant will be Fr. Timothy Schott. Music will be provided by Kathy Halbur and Sherry Loughran. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Susanne Soppe. Gift Bearers will be Jaci Menke and Elijah Boggle. Casket Bearers will be Drew Menke, Jake Menke, Elijah Menke, Jordon Werner, Steve Menke, and Mitch Schultes. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll with military honors conducted by the Manning VFW and the Carroll American Legion.
A visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Monday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll with a rosary at 7 p.m. The casket will be moved to St. Lawrence Church on Tuesday morning where additional visitation will be from 9:30-10:15 a.m.
Memorials may be left at the funeral home or the church for a later designation.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Don’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Donald Raymond Menke was born on July 28, 1938, in Houghton, Iowa, the son of Alvin and Anna (Woerdeman) Menke. At the age of 12, the family moved to Harper, Iowa, where Don later graduated from St. Elizabeth High School.
Following graduation, Don proudly served in the United States Army for two years until his honorable discharge. On July 10, 1965, he married the love of his life, Betty Cecilia Soppe in Des Moines, Iowa. Together, they raised three children: Jeff, Dennis, and Jean; all graduates of Manning High School.
Don worked as a hog buyer for Oscar Mayer (starting at Manning in 1971), and later for Excel until his retirement. Even after retiring, he continued to haul livestock until the fall of 2024. In 1991, Don and Betty fulfilled a lifelong dream by purchasing an acreage in Macon, Missouri, where they enjoyed raising livestock together.
A devoted Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeyes Fan, Don found joy in the simple pleasures of life. After Betty’s passing in February of 2008, Don reconnected with his high school classmate Joann Holtkamp at a reunion in June of the same year. The two formed a special bond and enjoyed many trips to the casino and countless card games.
Don is survived by his children: Jeff (Donna) Menke of Mitchellville, Dennis (Michelle) Menke of Ankeny and Jean (Brad) Werner of Sac City; his cherished grandchildren: Jordon (Sophia) Werner, Drew Menke, Jaci (Elijah) Menke, Elijah Menke, and Jake Menke; step-grandchildren: Tammy (Nathan) Peters and Jason Werner; his dear friend, Joann Holtkamp of Donellson; his sisters: Eileen Clarahan of Marion and Mary Ann (Allan) Bohr of Columbia, Missouri; his sisters-in-law: Jean Soppe of Papillion, Nebraska and Cheryl (Alan) Schultes of Dedham and Kathleen Menke of Sigourney; his brothers-in-law: Don (Susanne) Soppe of McFarland, Wisconsin and Dr. Mike (Pat) Soppe of Carroll; as well as other extended relatives and many friends.
Don was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 42 years, Betty Menke; his parents, Alvin and Anna Menke; his sister, Jane; brother Victor; brothers-in-law, Paul Clarahan and Charlie Clarahan; and his parents-in-law, Andrew and Marie Soppe.
Don's life was marked by love, hard work, a deep appreciation for family and friendship. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Dennis Menke
Wendel Kahl, Jean Myer, Mike Hull, Jean Menke - Pat Kirby was the teacher
Student Council Luau April 1987
School cooks: Betty Menke,
Gertie Dammann, Bev Rowedder, Theda Wiese
1981 Manning Centennial book
OSCAR MAYER
Oscar Mayer & Co. traces its presence in Manning, Iowa, to 1967 with the creation of a livestock buying center on the outskirts of the city.
The livestock center's impact on the community can best be measured in economic terms. During its first 12 years, including the company's 1979 fiscal year which ended October 27, area hog producers received approximately $76 million for their livestock marketed at the Manning Center. For 1979 alone, area farmers were paid more than $8 million for hogs sold at Manning.
The hogs marketed here are shipped to the Oscar Mayer pork processing plant in Perry.
Donald Menke, Manning livestock buying center manager, has served in that capacity since 1971.
The Manning area continues to be an excellent source of quality hogs for the Perry plant. Hog purchases are growing and another addition to the hog buying center is under construction.
Oscar Mayer & Co., which acquired its Perry plant in 1965, is a national and international food processing firm. Founded in 1883 in a small retail sore on Chicago's north side, the company today operates nine U.S. plants and 42 distribution centers, and has ownership in meat firms in Venezuela, Japan and Spain. Oscar Mayer specializes in sausage products and is the country's sales leader for wieners, cold cuts and bacon.
Subsidiaries of the firm produce fresh pickles, pharmaceuticals and chemicals, spice extracts and food processing and packaging machinery. The company recently made a bid to acquire Louis Rich, Inc., a major turkey product processor headquartered in West Liberty, Iowa.
On sales of $1.3 billion in 1978, the company ranked among the top six of the more than 3,000 meat firms in the country.
Oscar Mayer employs about 13,000 people, including approximately 800 at the plant in Perry.
1991 Manning Centennial supplemental
State Play-Offs
1984-1985 - Manning's first trip to the State Play-Offs! Manning 7, Mt. Ayer 0; Ogden 7, Manning 6.
1985-1986 - Manning was ranked #8 in the state in the final rankings! Manning 26, Avoca 17; Manning 21, Southeast Warren 20; Maurice Orange 35, Manning 0.
Members of the 1985-86 squad that played in the state semi-finals were: Nate Bandow, Richard Borkowski, Steve Clausen, Paul Croghan, Willie Croghan, Marc Drees, Mark Haubrich, Aneal Joseph, Brian Kahl, Gerald Kahl, Jay Karsten, Eric Kelderman, Scott Kerkhoff, Brad Kusel, Craig Langel, Dennis Menke, David Mohr, Brad Otto, Nate Puck, Rob Rauch, Dan Renze, Terry Rosonke, Jon Saunders, Russ Sturm, Doug Vollstedt, Kent Vollstedt, Steve Vollstedt, and Dale Wegner.
1988-89 - Manning returns to Play-Offs. Elk Horn-Kimballton 13, Manning 7.
I also featured Marlene's detailed ancestral family background. She had them on large cardboard display boards when I scanned them.
I also have another large family
Hargens portrait that I don't have identified - Chris & Anna (Wiese) Hargens family - and would like help with IDs...
I know many of these letters have been thrown away, because the Veterans themselves told me they didn't keep them or family members of deceased Veterans decided they weren't anything important to keep.
I no more than turn a couple of more pages in the scrapbook and found this article about one of my Grau relatives.
Captain Lester Grau in Japan 1952
This story can become somewhat convoluted and confusing to write about, since multiple parties were involved and different projects occurred separate of each other's timelines.
In 2011, Wayne Saunders of Manilla contacted me about his interest in area history and told me he had negatives of many Manning events and school activities.
In 2012, I found some time to visit with him at his home west of Manilla and he gave me the Manning negatives to scan. He also showed me how he had negatives of many other sports
games where Manilla had played.
Another interesting project he had done was to cut out highlight clippings from the Manilla Times and pasted them in booklets 1 x 1.5 feet in size.
I continued to communicate with Wayne over the years and when I found out he was in the Manilla Manor, I went over to visit with him and also to ask him more about the slides
he had.
Sadly, he passed away not too long after my visit in 2018.
I went to his funeral and visited with his family...I asked them about Wayne's negatives and
booklets and what they were planning to do with them - they really didn't have a good idea, so I suggested they give them to me and I'll scan them and put them
in the Manning Museum someday.
It is always difficult to bring up topics like this during a funeral/viewing but I have found that if I don't speak up right away, that in many cases
a family starts to throw stuff shortly after the funeral, so I try to encourage them to let me go through anything they have that has a Manning/area connection and if they don't want it back, that I'll preserve it.
Back to my mother and how she is involved. When the Saunders family gave me Wayne's huge scrapbooklets, she went through each page/article to look for obituaries of Manning connected
people and other Manning connections.
Mother was in her 90s, so she had a lot of history stored in her "memory banks" and was able to add comments to little notes about various
articles which I'm now finally going through.
I really should be working on other more pressing projects, but I'm finding that I need to also work on other lower priority projects
because if I don't get through them and digitize some of that information - once I'm gone - no one will take the time and won't have the historic understanding on how to compile it
digitally.
I also would like to capture more Manning/school events like the school spring play being presented at the end of March, but they take a lot of time photograph, and
if/when I make a web page for those images, that takes a LOT more time to create. While I know other people take pictures of these
events, I know that someday their digital images will be lost.
Here are some examples of what I've been writing about above from Wayne's collection...
Here is a screen shot of several of the 360+ negatives I scanned from Waye's photography collection in 2012.
December 4, 1972 MHS vs Manilla
My mother was an Ehrichs and fiercely protected the name and family connections.
I remember how disappointed she would become when she found out months/years later
when one of her cousins and other Ehrichs relatives had passed away, and the younger generations didn't try to contact her and the other relatives,
even if distantly related about the passing.
I would tell her that those children/grandchildren probably had no clue whatsoever with their Ehrichs ancestry and probably
didn't care, and so many people today don't even publish an obituary or maybe just a death notice.
This is their prerogative and right but I'm sure future descendants and relatives and
historians/genealogists will wonder where the obituaries are...all they'll find are death certificates. There won't be any of the little anecdotal notes and little stories preserved, like
with many obituaries - at least in the past.
I've been to various graveside services with no formal funeral and the relatives were amazed at how many Manning folks showed up...I would tell them
that if they had a funeral and notice of services that they would have had many more show up, who weren't aware of just the graveside service.
I remember Ruth Ohde always commenting that Manning funerals were a community event - more so that most other towns.
Mother put a sticky note next to this 8x10 inch Hudson ad, and she also highlighted one little sentence in another article about a windstorm in the area where "The televison aerial on the Ehrichs store in Aspinwall was torn loose." Mother was a thorough reader and had a keen eye to find these little tidbits of history.
1950 showing at the Manning Crystal Theater - ad in the Manilla Times
I've also been adding more obituaries to my obituary web page from Wayne's scrapbooklets. Some won't appear to have a direct Manning connection but if you read them thoroughly you'll find some of those connections. I also add little notes that show/make the connections that my mother wrote down on sticky notes in Wayne's scrapbooks.
It didn't take me long to figure out the last name which I'll let "you" figure out if so inclined...
Donna Sonksen wedding - Pastor Edward Heinicke
Donna played the piano/organ for mother's junior church choir
Tim Kienast & Joni Siepker wedding - Pastor Edward Heinicke
Mother was good friends with Leland & Genelle Kienast through various church
activities.
Keith, Rita, Amos
Mother was a good friend of Marie Misselhorn.
The last couple of years of my dad's life he had lost quite a bit of his vision from the complications of Diabetes.
I remember he just loved this radio and mom
had marked 1380 with a red mark for the Carroll radio station so he could find it easier.
Note: "Top grain cowhide"
Now this isn't all that old of an item but it shows just a little piece of history
that some of us grew up with.
Here is the owner's manual that my mother had kept in one of her boxes.
Amos Kusel - owners manual for radio
I'm scanning more old items from my mother's collection and other items I've gathered over the decades.
Mirror given out
by Merle to promote his business.
I'm guessing the rectangular box outline on the left is where there was a thermometer glued on the glass and fell off in the past and was lost.
As usual, I continue to scan and archive Manning's history...these items are also featured at the link above.
Click to see the tribute
Click to see the tribute.
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Peggy Nelson, a cherished mother, grandmother, and friend, who left us on January 16th at the age of 93. Her life was a testament to love, resilience, and dedication to her family.
Peggy was born on July 5th, 1931, in Exira, Iowa, to her parents, Lloyd and Bernice (Brauch) Jorgensen. Peggy was married to Merle Turner and was blessed with two children, David and Linda. This marriage ended in divorce, and she later married Eugene Andersen where she was blessed with another son, Danny. Unfortunately, this union was met with tragedy, as Eugene suddenly passed away when Danny was just a baby. Peggy went on to meet and marry the man she would spend the rest of her life with, Clifford Nelson and to this union three children were born, Lisa, Dale, and Lori.
Clifford and Peggy were married August 6th, 1959, and enjoyed 64 years of marriage before Clifford’s passing in 2023. They made their home in multiple places, mostly raising their children in Manning, Iowa. Once the kids were grown, they spent several years in Omaha, Nebraska, later retiring to Des Moines, Iowa. Before moving to Independent Living at Ramsey Village in Des Moines, they enjoyed living with their daughter Lori in Grinnell, Iowa, for 4 years. Fortunately, overall, Peggy enjoyed good health and was able to live out her remaining years in Independent Living at Ramsey Village.
Peggy was an outgoing woman, who cherished her family and her friends. While her younger children were in school, she sold Avon and enjoyed visiting, having coffee, and selling her product to the local ladies. After retirement, she was very active in her church in Des Moines, Glen Echo Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She also volunteered many years at both Iowa Methodist downtown and Methodist West, and whenever she was a patient, very proudly would tell her nurses that she used to be a volunteer. She loved family holidays, especially the Fourth of July where you could always find all her children with her, celebrating the closeness of the extended family and then her birthday the following day.
Peggy is survived by her children; David Turner of Galena, Illinois; Linda and husband Gary Knueven of Manning, Iowa; Danny Andersen and wife Linda Capcara, Phoenix, Arizona; Lisa Nelson of LaGrange Park, Illinois; Dale and wife Lesli Nelson of Pella, Iowa; and Lori and husband Mike Novelli of Ferryville, Wisconsin. Sisters Twila Ballard of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Janet (Glen) Nelson of Atlantic, Iowa; and brother Phil (Pat) Jorgensen of Clarinda, Iowa; sister-in-law Darlene McConnell of Atlantic, Iowa; nineteen grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Eugene Andersen, her husband Clifford Nelson, daughter-in-law Linda Turner, granddaughters Erin and Elizabeth Nelson, great-granddaughter Miranda Knueven, father-in-law Walter (Ted) Nelson, mother-in-law Ina Littlefield Ernst, sister Corrine Christensen, sister-in-law Phyllis Sheer, brothers-in-law Emmert Christensen, Edwin Sheer, and Mike McConnell.
According to her wishes, her body has been cremated, and no
funeral services will be held. Interment at the Exira Cemetery and a
Celebration of Life are being planned for a later date.
https://www.thecremationsocietyofiowa.com/post/peggy-ann-nelson
I also had visited with Ron Colling over the years on how he handled deadly traffic accidents, and home fires...having the Freedom of the Press behind him, he used his judgement
as to when/how he would use some of those pictures in the Monitor.
Of course he had time to think about it for many days before it was published - unlike today
with EVERYTHING needing to be INSTANT.
He also did not like to take pictures of deadly traffic accidents and would not take close-up pictures of the victims and many times would wait until the vehicle was hauled off-site to take
pictures...he only took these types of pictures if they were to be used by inspectors of the accident and law enforcement.
He didn't want to add salt to the wounds of the victims and the families by
publishing irresponsible photos in the paper.
Another reason why most people need to stay way back from a fire event, and also not feel they have to post the pix they take is shown below...No one can know for sure what might be in the structure that will explode and become a deadly missile, like what happened in 1964.
Now I was never a fireman but I've video-taped controlled burns of house fires by the firemen and also captured them with my digital camera.
I've also been involved with many controlled burns of barns and farm buildings during our farming operation.
So I've had decades of experience around fires to understand many of the dangers that could arise.
I visited with Gene Steffes for a few minutes to tell him I won't be posting fire pictures like so many vultures have done on the Internet to bolster their egos, but if it was OK I would feature some of the hard work and volunteerism for the clean-up and some history of the Dultmeier building...he said that would be OK.
I also thanked one of the firemen on-site while taking some pictures of the clean-up process.
I hope everyone who sees a fireman will thank them for their volunteer service.
Before you post something like this tragedy - think about if it was your property in a conflagration - about your livelihood and family...you might think twice then...
Dave
Once I receive the obituary, I'll include it with the tribute.
OK, I'm an old fogey, but I think we need to go back to some and maybe many aspects of the "Good ole Days" before it is too late...
Clippings from the Ahrendsen scrapbook
Korean War Veterans continues
For those of you who are occasional visitors to the Manning Exchange - please make sure to click on the "archived articles" section where previous featured stories are kept.
"Let it be known that he who wears the military order of the purple heart has given of his blood in the defense of his homeland and
shall forever be revered by his fellow countrymen."
George Washington, August 7, 1782
Just as a reminder: the Manning History book committee continues to work on a Manning area Veterans' history book
project.
For those of you who are Veterans or have/had Veterans in your family - will you come forward?
The history book committee will do their best to get as many pictures and information about the 1000+ Manning Veterans
but we can't do it all by ourselves.
How many small communities do you know have published 5 history books? The first one was the History of Manning 1898, then the 1981 Manning Centennial book, next the 2006 Manning Quasqui book, and most recently the 2009 Manning School history book. Probably the last book to be published will be the upcoming Manning Veterans' book - unless someone comes forward in the next generation to take over these projects after I'm gone. Will you help with the Veterans' history book project? If you are a Manning connected Veteran or are presently serving and do not submit your military connected pictures and infomation you probably won't be in this once-in-a-life-time Manning Veterans' history book. With a limited number of volunteers we can only do so much on our own but will try to get pictures of as many Veterans as we can. There are over 1000 Manning Veterans so we have a long ways to go before the book can be published.
Manning Veterans are slowly coming forward and below is another example. We hope to eventually get more pictures and information for Mike to put in the book but for now this is what I have to show to you.
One thing that many Veterans and people who are submitting information have not fully understood is that this next
Manning history book is specifically a Veterans' only book. It won't be like the Centennial or Quasqui history books were,
where there is a Veterans' section along with other community aspects. We are aiming for a 2-volume book (around 1090 total pages) which will really be unique!!!
This book will be ALL Veterans' information (and the post auxiliaries) - hence it
won't be a "Name, Rank, and Serial Number" only history but we want a complete history for each Veteran.
For instance - below is Louis Boell's picture and the information
that was published in the Veteran section of the 1982 Aspinwall Centennial history book. It has the basic
information but we are looking for more and I spoke to Louie by phone and he sent more pictures
and information - also for his brothers.
To see what Louis submitted click on the link underneath "Are you a Manning Veteran" shown below.
Note: we also want some family background such as parents and grandparents. All too often you will only see just the Veteran's name with their basic military information but without the family connections it will be difficult for future historians and genealogists to know for sure who this person belongs to.
Please e-mail me about your Veteran questions manningveterans@davidkusel.com
1 Manning citizen served in the War of 1812
105 served in the Civil War
1 served in the Indian War
5 served in the Spanish American War
350+ served during WWI
650+ served during WWII
87+ served in the Korean war era
65+ (more names need to be found) served in the Vietnam era
55+ (many more names need to be found) served from 1975 to present
29 paid the ultimate price with their lives defending the U.S. Flag
We are starting the Manning Veterans' history book project
Don't wait until you see "Deadline" or it WILL be too late!!!
Click to read promos for the Veteran book
If you simply don't want those old family pictures you inherited please don't throw them - send them my way.
A lot of times I can recognize a face or location in those old pix.
One thing to keep in mind while you are looking for pictures - if they are glued in old scrap books please do NOT try to pull them out or cut them out. I can scan the whole page of the scrapbook and crop out the pictures you want to use in the book. If you attempt to forcibly remove the pictures you will probably damage them and when I scan them that damage will probably show up. This means I'll either have to use my graphics program to touch up the damage which can take a lot of time, or if they are badly damaged I just may not even take the time to scan them.
