Obituary
Gary S. Hall, 79
Gary S. Hall, 79
Farnhamville - Gary S. Hall, 79, passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge.
Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 20, 2026, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Farnhamville with Pastor Aaron Zimmerman officiating. Burial will follow in Reading Township Cemetery in Farnhamville. There will be a visitation from 10:00 AM until the time of the service on Friday. Laufersweiler Palmer & Sons Funeral Home in Gowrie is serving the family.
Gary is survived by his daughters, Denise (Ryan) Moore of Gowrie, Darci (Jeff) Nemmers of Fort Dodge, grandchildren, Breann Moore (Tyler Price and Ashley Bates), Blair (Damon) Wynes, Baylee Moore (Blake Richmond), Jeff (Charity) Nemmers Jr., Trey (Kaylin) Thiele, Madeleine (Elliot) McLarty, John Nemmers, 15 great-grandchildren with 4 on the way, brother, Mike Hall of Cedar Rapids, sister, Shelly (Bill) Berger of Jefferson, brothers and sisters-in-law, Richard and Pamela Goodrich of Pleasant Hill, George and Paula Henry of Salem, VA, and nieces and nephews.
Gary is preceded in death by his wife, Sheila, parents, Raymond and Roberta (Schumann) Hall, grandchild, Catherine Nemmers, and sister-in-law, Vicki Hall.
Gary S. Hall was born on February 7, 1947, in Holstein, Iowa, and graduated from Prairie Community High School in Gowrie. Gary was united in marriage with Sheila Bowers on October 10, 1969, and the couple established their home in Farnhamville. He was employed with Farmers Co-op in Farnhamville for 35 years, retiring in 2009. Gary loved watching NASCAR and attending car shows. He was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.
Evolue Eleanor Baxter, 103
Evolue Eleanor Baxter, 103
Evolue Eleanor Baxter, 103, passed away Monday, February 9, 2026, at West Ridge Care Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A celebration of life will be held at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church on Monday, March 23, 2026 at 1:00 PM.
Evolue was born November 29, 1922, in Gowrie, Iowa to Roy and Etta (Soderbeck) Carlson. She graduated in 1940 from Gowrie High School and moved to Des Moines where she attended the American Institute of Business. She met Loren Baxter at AIB and in 1944 they were married. They welcomed their first son Craig, who passed away at age eight. A second son, Rodd, was born three years later. Evolue retired from the West Des Moines School District.
She was devoted to her Lutheran Faith, as a former member of Zion Lutheran Church, Gowrie, Iowa, and First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Des Moines, Iowa, and Windsor Heights Lutheran Church.
Evolue enjoyed gatherings with friends, dining out, playing cards, bridge and pitch were her favorites. She enjoyed attending local sports, I-Cubs, and cheering on the “Lovable Losers”, the Chicago Cubs, as well as the Iowa Hawkeyes.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Loren and son, Craig. Evolue is survived by her son, Rodd and daughter-in-law Kerstin Braun, along with her many relatives and friends.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.iowacremation.com under Recent Obituaries.
Jennifer Sue Sorenson Morrill, 80
Jennifer Sue Sorenson Morrill, 80
Jennifer Sue Sorenson Morrill, 80
Jennifer Sue Sorenson Morrill, aged 80, went to be home with the Lord on March 4, 2026, after a long health battle. She passed away peacefully, in her sleep, on her birthday. Being with her Lord and Savior Jesus - what a wonderful birthday present for her.
She was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and grew up on a farm with her three sisters. She later graduated from Luther College in Iowa, where she met her future husband, Bill Saetveit. They married in 1968, moved to Indiana, and then to Denver, Colorado.
Jennifer was a stay-at-home mom to two beautiful daughters, Amy and Stacy. She then eventually worked as an Administrative Professional in the Pulmonary Division at the University of Colorado Medical Center.
She is survived by her two daughters: Amy and Stacy; her four grandchildren: Logan, Blake, Simon and Alex; her two sisters: Jeri Peffer and Jane Mosher; and many other loved ones. She is preceded in death by her parents Alvin and Bethel Sorenson, and her sister Judy Sorenson Paski.
Jennifer enjoyed time with family, traveling, sewing, painting, and other crafts, and loved shopping on QVC!
The family will be having a small, private service, and thanks you in advance for your thoughts and prayers.
If so led, those wishing to honor Jennifer’s life can make a donation to the Alzheimer’s research organization of their choice.
Local News
Big Laughs & Big Talent: Southeast Valley Students Shine in The Beverly Hillbillies
The Southeast Valley High School Spring Play, The Beverly Hillbillies, drew a fantastic turnout on April 17 and 18, as community members filled the Gowrie Gym for two nights of laughter, energy, and memorable performances. The cast delivered an outstanding show, bringing the classic story of the Clampett family to life with humor, heart, and impressive stage presence.
The Beverly Hillbillies follows the journey of the Clampetts, a humble family from the Ozarks who strike it rich after discovering oil on their land. Their move to Beverly Hills leads to plenty of hilarious moments as their down-to-earth lifestyle clashes with high-society expectations. The Southeast Valley students embraced these roles fully, creating a production that kept audiences entertained from start to finish. Read More...
Lehigh Valley Cooperative Telephone Holds 73rd Annual Meeting; Honors Retiring CEO Jim Suchan
The Lehigh Valley Cooperative Telephone Association held its 73rd Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 13, bringing members together for an evening of updates, recognition, and community fellowship. Before the meeting officially began, attendees enjoyed a musical performance by Spencer Suchan, which set a warm and welcoming tone for the evening.
The cooperative introduced its current Officers and Board of Directors: Kevin Kruse, President, Dave Cramer, Vice President, James Hay, Secretary/Treasurer, John Flickinger, Director, Brian Lambert, Director, Kenneth Sanders, Director, Mark Lundgren, Director, Mark Campbell, Director. Read More...
Former Dayton Rectory Makes Slow but Celebrated Move to Hidden Acres
DAYTON — On Thursday, April 16, the former rectory that once housed nuns and Catholic clergy in Dayton made its long‑anticipated journey to its new home at Hidden Acres Christian Center. The house, now known as The Beverly House, traveled on gravel roads at about 20 mph, taking roughly three hours to complete the 6.5‑mile trip.
The home had been lifted onto a trailer earlier in the week, and Thursday’s move drew attention from residents. Along the route, crews had to coordinate carefully to ensure the oversized load could pass. Electric workers were called in to cut and lift wires, and tree‑trimming was done to clear branches to make room for the house. Even the entrance into Hidden Acres required trimming and adjustments just to get the structure through the long driveway.
When the house finally turned into the camp’s main drive, a crowd was waiting, many filming and cheering as the home arrived at its new destination. The house will soon become home to a young family, Kaleb and Kirsten Froiland and their baby, Walter, who will be the first to live in the newly named Beverly House. Read more...
Sports
Strong Winds, Strong Performances: SVMS Track Teams Open Season at Ogden’s Gary Paulsen Relays
By Coach Peterson
The 7th and 8th-grade boys’ and girls’ track teams kicked off their season on Monday, April 13, with an exciting first meet marked with warm temperatures and a challenging headwind along the 100-meter straightaway. The boys’ team placed 2nd and the girls’ team placed third, fantastic finishes at this challenging meet.
Despite the strong wind, athletes from both teams showed determination, grit, and early-season promise. The warm weather created an energetic atmosphere, but the steady wind demanded that our runners push hard against gusts that tested endurance.
In the 100-meter hurdles, competitors battled the wind stride for stride, but runners finished strong despite the resistance. 8th-grader Claire Peterson finished in 19.90, capturing first place, with teammate Kelsey Hayes clutching second place, a mere .10 of a second behind her. “I felt good running this race,” stated Peterson. Hayes added, “We were both pushing each other to go faster.” Adding to the outstanding 100-meter hurdle performance was 8th-grader Landyn Fisher. Fisher also took first place, with an exceptional time of 15.42, blowing the rest of the competition away. Coaches noted that while times may not reflect peak performance due to the windy conditions, the effort and technique displayed were encouraging signs for the rest of the season. Read More...
Relay Power & Record Chasing Performances Lead Girls to Strong Finish
By Coach Swieter
The girls track team competed at the MNW Coed relays where there were 14 teams. The girls had a great night and were able to place 7th in this meet.
The girls 4x200 last night placed 1st with Devynn Wilson, Addi Lundquist, Emily Wilson and Avrie Hanson. Avrie Hanson got the baton in 5th and had the best run of her life and crossed the line with a photo finish and pulled off the win.
The 4x100 placed 2nd and has the second fastest time in school history with Avrie Hanson, Mae Searcy, Madelyn Farley and Sage Lane. The girls are really hoping to get that school record. Read More...