Obituaries

Fleur Kathleen Benjamin was born in December of 1934, and she went to be with her Lord in December of 2020 at the age of 86. She grew up in Vinton, Iowa, and is the oldest of 5 siblings, which include Yvonne Turner of Bedford, TX. Fleur was preceded in death by her parents Dorothy and Glenn, her sister Thurla, and brothers Glenn (Donna) and Gene (Sherry – who is still living in Austin, TX).

Gary Lee Counter, 62, of Belle Plaine, Iowa, passed away March 4, 2021, at the Oldorf Hospice House, Hiawatha, Iowa, due to cancer.Gary was born March 19, 1958, to George Counter and Ellen (Ostby) Counter Ericson in St. Cloud, Minn. Gary was an entrepreneur, he as an insurance sales agent, carpenter, realtor, he authored a children's book, was a newspaper columnist, DJ and a craftsman in woodworking.

Helen G. Welsh, 93  years old, of rural Brandon, Iowa, died on Thursday, March 4, 2021, at Ravenwood Specialty Care in Waterloo, Iowa.  She was born on January 22, 1928, in rural Fairbank, Iowa, the daughter of Paul Gregory and Alta Lavina (Ohl) Shannon.  She attended the Fairbank country school.  On May 16, 1958, she and Kenneth Lee Welsh were married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa.

Marty Lorenz Andresen, 65, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 6, 2021 at Sunnycrest in Dysart, surrounded by his family.Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at the Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone.  Interment will be held at the Keystone Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 PM on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Richard (Rick) Laton, 72, of Princeton, IL, formerly of Vinton, was killed in a car accident on March 2, 2021 in Illinois.Surviving are his wife, Marsha of Princeton, IL; daughter Jennifer (Jason Christensen) of Waterloo; son Jason (Tammy) Laton of Vinton; stepson John Cook of Chicago, IL. Grandchildren Austin Collins and Tim Collins both of Knoxville, TN; Brayden Laton, Bryce (Taylor Kastli) Laton all of Vinton; Courtney Laton and Robert Essex of Cedar Rapids; Great Grandchildren Joebe, Addy, Kain and Liam.

Marjorie Lorraine Degner, 93, passed away Friday, March 5, 2021, at Westbrook Acres Nursing Home in Gladbrook from natural causes with her daughters by her side. Private family services will be held with Rev. Brian Channel officiating. Burial will be in the Dysart Cemetery.Marjorie was born July 23, 1927, on the family farm near West Union, IA to William and Marjorie Ash Billmeyer.

Ronnie Earl Dixon, 61, or Roper, North Carolina and formerly of Vinton, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, February 26, 2021 following an extended illness. Ronnie was proceeded in death by his parents, Elmier and Wynoina of Roper, North Carolina, sisters, Bernice,  and Helen (Brown), and brothers, James, Bobby and Gary. He is survived by May Doris Roughton, of Jamesville, North Carolina, Louis Dixon of Garrison, Iowa, Thurmin Dixon of Williamston, North Carolina, and one uncle, Frank Midgett of Plymouth, North Carolina.

Drusilla Ivah (Griffith) Richtsmeier passed away Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, in Wildwood, Florida, at the age of 96. Dru was born in Ackley, Iowa, on Feb. 15, 1925, to Charles and Sophie Griffith (Maifeld). She graduated from Ackley High School in 1943, then moved to Cedar Falls, Iowa, and worked as a telephone operator through the end of World War II.

Dennis Emberton, 84, of Brandon, died Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, at Prairie Hills Assisted Living in Independence.  Dennis was born Dec. 1, 1936, in La Porte City, the son of Ai and Florence (Hilmer) Emberton. He graduated from La Porte City High School in 1955. Dennis married Ruth Ann Arensberg on Sept. 8, 1957, at the United Methodist Church in Garrison.

Carmeletta "Connie" Irene (Covington) Lentz, 90, of Hiawatha, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, at Bickford Cottage in Marion. In agreement with Connie's wishes, cremation has taken place. The family will greet friends from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 6, 2021, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion. A graveside service will follow at Dunkard Cemetery in Midway.