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
South Valley Central Plains FFA Holds 2026 Annual Awards Banquet
The South Valley Central Plains FFA Chapter hosted its 2026 Annual Awards Banquet on April 12 at Southeast Valley High School, celebrating a year of accomplishments, leadership, and growth among its members. The evening brought together students, families, advisors, and supporters for a full program recognizing achievements across all levels of the chapter.
The banquet opened with a meal followed by the traditional Opening Ceremony, setting the tone for an evening dedicated to honoring hard work and dedication. Seniors were recognized alongside their parents immediately following the meal, marking an emotional milestone for students concluding their FFA careers.
Throughout the program, members were acknowledged for their participation and success in a wide range of activities, including the 2025 State Convention, High School CDEs, County and State Fair competitions, Trapshooting, and the earning of American Degrees. The chapter also presented Discovery Degrees, the Star Discovery Award, Middle School and High School LDEs, Greenhand Degrees, Chapter Degrees, the Star Greenhand Award, and the Star Chapter Award. Read More...
Local Soldier Surprises Siblings at SV Schools After Returning From Deployment
A heartwarming reunion unfolded in the Southeast Valley School District on April 8 when Carter Ferry, who had been stationed in Syria, returned home and surprised his younger siblings at school.
Carter’s family learned only the day before, that his flight home had been confirmed. After landing, they went straight to the airport to greet him before heading directly to Southeast Valley Middle School to surprise his sister, Leela.
The family quietly entered Mr. Lee’s art class, a fitting location, as Mr. Lee himself is a former Army service member. With her back turned, Leela had no idea her brother was standing just feet away. When she finally turned around, her face filled with shock. Read More...
Dayton United Methodist Church Hosts 4th Annual Table Affair
The 4th Annual Table Affair was held Saturday, April 11, at the Dayton United Methodist Church, bringing together community members for an afternoon of fellowship, creativity, and a beautifully prepared luncheon. What began as a simple idea has grown into a cherished tradition that celebrates both artistry and togetherness.
The event first began under the leadership of Becky Blair and Brittany Miller, whose inaugural Table Affair was an immediate success. Their vision has continued to flourish, inspiring volunteers each year to design themed tables that reflect personal stories, faith, and imagination.
This year, 9 volunteers decorated themed tables, each accompanied by a written description explaining the inspiration behind the design. Eight tickets were sold per table at $10 each, with attendees enjoying a program presented by Cheryl Toyne and Char Kelley, followed by a delicious lunch prepared by church members. Organizers emphasized that the event truly takes a church family to bring to life from donating food to preparing and serving the meal. Read more...
Sports
Jaguars Shine in Outdoor Debut, Capture Team Title at Ram Early Bird Relay
By Coach Nuss
After a washout a week ago, the Southeast Valley boys’ track & field team finally got to compete outdoors for the first time on Friday, April 10th at the Ram Early Bird Relays in Jefferson. At the conclusion of the meet, the Jaguars found themselves at top of the team standings with 120 points. Forest City was 2nd with 89.5 and Earlham was third with 88.5.
The Jaguars were led by six 1st places finishes, a couple school records and several school top-10 finishes. Individually, the Jaguars had three first place finishes. Colin Johnson won the 110m high hurdles in a school record time of 15.18. Ian Brunner’s shot put throw of 46’ 0.5” won the shot put and is the 4th furthest throw in school history. In the 200m dash, Kayden Showers claimed gold running a 22.96. Read More...
Southeast Valley Girls Golf Opens Season with Win in Tiebreaker
The Southeast Valley girls golf team opened its season on April 9 with a competitive meet against West Bend-Mallard Wolverines at the Gowrie Municipal Golf Course.
Both teams finished the meet tied with identical scores of 241. The tie was broken by comparing the fifth scorer from each team, where Southeast Valley secured the victory. The Jaguars’ fifth scorer carded a 69, edging out West Bend-Mallard’s fifth score of 70.
Meet medalist honors went to Avery Weydert of West Bend-Mallard with a score of 53. Southeast Valley’s Taylor Willardson earned runner-up honors with a strong round of 55. Read More...