Obituary

Richard Ivan Johnson, 95

Gowrie - Richard Ivan Johnson, 95, passed away Friday January 16, 2026, at the Marian Home in Fort Dodge surrounded by his loving family.

Richard (Dick) was born on October 10, 1930, to Harold F. and Ruby (Skoglund) Johnson in a home in Dayton, IA. He was raised and educated in Dayton, graduating from Dayton High School in 1948. On September 10, 1949, he was united in marriage to Pauline M. Johnson. To this union three children were born; Randy, Paul, and Lynne. Richard owned and operated Dicks Service Station Oil Co. for 40 years until retiring in 1989. He was active in the Gowrie community serving on the town council and as city mayor for many years. Dick was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church, Sons of the American Legion, and Gowrie Golf and Country Club. He was an avid snow skier, enjoyed restoring old gas pumps, and tinkering on anything mechanical. Dick’s biggest joy in life was his family. He spent his years traveling with Pauline and attending events for all of his grandkids. Dick was a huge fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Chicago Cubs.

Richard is survived by his wife of 76 years, Pauline. Children: R. Randall (Kathy) Johnson of Austin, TX, Paul D.(Kathleen) Johnson of Gowrie, IA, and daughter Lynne (Jess) Benson of Albuquerque, NM. Grandchildren: Brandi (Ron) Hemesath, Randalyn (Andrew) Houser, Paul D (Jen Hicks) Johnson, Rebecca (Josh) Benson-Stuyvesant, Joshua (Rachel) Johnson, Jason (Monica) Johnson, Katelyn Johnson, Zac (Margaret) Johnson, Chris Benson, and Jonathan Benson. Great Grandchildren: Conner (Elizabeth), Landon, and Josephine Hemesath, Henry, Hudson, Huck, Hayes, and Hagen Houser, Braxton Richardson, Rose & Lily Johnson, Sloan Stuyvesant, and Gracie Mellencamp & Brianna Thielen. Great-great grandchildren: Hallie & Scottie Hemesath, and Addie & Coleson Thielen.

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, sister, Roberta Hale, and brother, Robert Johnson.

Funeral Services were held at 10:30 AM Saturday January 24, 2026, at Zion Lutheran Church, Gowrie, with Lay Minister Beth Carlon officiating. Burial was in Gowrie Township Cemetery. There was a visitation from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Friday January 23, 2026, at Zion Lutheran Church, Gowrie.

Laufersweiler Palmer & Sons Funeral Home, Gowrie, is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.

Ramona K. Lind, 92

Ramona K. Lind, age 92, of Pocahontas, formerly of Gowrie, passed away on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Accura HealthCare in Lake City, Iowa.

Funeral Service was 10:30 AM, Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at Powers Funeral Home in Pocahontas, Iowa. Lay Minister Gary Zeman officiated. Burial took place in the Gowrie Township Cemetery near Gowrie, Iowa. Visitation was from 9:30 - 10:30 AM, Wednesday, prior to the service time. Powers Funeral Home of Pocahontas, Iowa handled the arrangements.

Ramona, daughter of Wilbur and Gladys (Anderson) Bricker was born on April 13, 1933, in Boone, Iowa. Growing up, Ramona lived in Pilot Mound, attending and graduating from Pilot Mound High School in 1951 where she was active in basketball, music and drama.

On June 15, 1951, Ramona married Don Lind, the “milk man” at Pilot Mound Covenant Church. Don delivered milk to Ramona’s high school everyday, where they soon became sweethearts, and upon graduation for Ramona, they settled down and made their home together in Dayton before later relocating to Gowrie. Ramona was a homemaker and Don worked for many years at Lind Dairy. During their time together, they enjoyed music, camping, and spending time with their children, grandchildren, family and friends.

In 2002, Ramona moved to Pocahontas to be closer to family after Don’s passing. There, she enjoyed being with family, watching her grandchildren in their activities, and occasionally baking.

Ramona spent the last couple of years at Accura HealthCare in Lake City, where she enjoyed many visits from her great-grandchildren. She loved her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren very much, and she loved to show off photos of “the grandbabies” to anyone who would visit.

Ramona is survived by her three children, Steve (Doris) Lind of Webster City, Bob (Shari) Lind of Hill City, SD and Patti (Denny) Martin of Pocahontas; 4 grandchildren, Eric (Danielle) Lind of Hill City, SD, Bret (Amber) Lind of Rapid City, SD, Andy (Erin) Martin of Pocahontas and Katie (Daniel) Smith of Lake City and 10 great-grandchildren.

Ramona was preceded in death by her parents, Wilbur and Gladys; husband, Don (1997), and siblings, Duane Bricker, Glenda Paris and Carol Moeller.

Dean Paul Erb

Dean Paul Erb (March 16, 1940 – January 8, 2026) left this world while surrounded by deeply grateful and loving family members in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Born in Des Moines and raised in Earlham, Iowa, Dean attended Earlham School, followed by the University of Iowa where he attained two degrees (BBA and JD). Dean married Shirley Ann Bouten in February of 1964 in Iowa City, and after graduating law school in 1965, moved to Gowrie, Iowa to work at the Johnson Law Firm of Fort Dodge. Dean and Shirley raised four boys in Gowrie.

In the early 1980s, Dean achieved sobriety and became a lifelong advocate for others in recovery including through the Iowa Bar Association’s support program for attorneys navigating addiction. Dean was known for his longtime personalized license plate message, an AA slogan - “KISS” – keep it simple stupid! It was through recovery that Dean met and married Keya Brighi in 1989, subsequently enjoying 36 years of inspired adventures together.

Dean was preceded in taking flight by his father, Ralph Herbert Erb, mother Hazel Lucille Fleming Erb, stepmother Mary Erb, and sister Margaret Erb Zampa. Dean’s legacy lives on through his beloved wife Keya Erb Brighi of Grand Rapids, Minnesota; ex-wife Shirley Erb of Grand Rapids, Minnesota; 4 children and spouses (Mike & Colleen Erb of Cumberland, Wisconsin; John & Melissa Erb of Grand Rapids, Minnesota; Jeff Erb of New Richmond, Wisconsin; Matthew Erb & Noshene Ranjbar of Tucson, Arizona); 7 grandchildren and spouses/partners (Conor & Dani Erb of Cumberland, Wisconsin; Myles & Tiffany Erb of Bismarck, North Dakota; Aidan & Kenna Warner of McCarthy, Alaska; Brittany & Anthony Westbrook of Fate, Texas; Spencer Erb & Angie Mengelkoch of Coon Rapids, Minnesota; Sheyanne Erb & Tyler Arend of Rochester, Minnesota; & Cole Erb of St. Louis Park, Minnesota); and 13 great grandchildren (Ava, Beckham, Aspen, Khloe, Brooklyn, Mikenna, Lincoln, Crew, Avonlea, Ridge, Selah, Riley, & Henley).

While at the University of Iowa in the 1960’s, Dean was active in the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He also joined the United States Army as a Reserve Commissioned Officer, grade of Second Lieutenant, from 1962-1965, with a goal of joining the Judge Advocate General. When nearing completion of Law School, upon application to join JAG, the Surgeon General honorably discharged him due to a medical issue, a disappointing but fateful determination that ultimately led him to the Johnson Law Firm in Fort Dodge. While his time in service was limited, he was always taking time to connect with and honor Veterans from all branches of service.

Dean’s life was marked by tireless giving and in the humblest of ways. From serving as a mentor and sponsor for countless persons in Alcoholics Anonymous, to serving two terms as Mayor of Gowrie, to fundraising for community initiatives at Pine Ridge, South Dakota in collaboration with his culturally adopted Lakota family, to supporting many persons and families in need, Dean facilitated healing in countless ways. He enjoyed breaks from his professional and volunteer work by taking fishing trips to Canada, hunting trips with his sons and grandsons, and “occasional” visits to ice cream shops.

The family wishes to thank the caring staff of River Grand Senior Living and St. Croix Hospice in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, for their compassionate care in his final days, as well as the endless parade of friends, colleagues, and connections that he made in his nearly 86 years of life.

In lieu of gifts or flowers, memorials can be made to either 1) EARTH: Empowering All Relatives To Heal (www.earthrelatives.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that his daughter-in-law and son (Noshene and Matt) co-founded; 2) by adopting a dog or making a donation to his grandson and wife’s (Aidan and Kenna) Alaskan dog-sledding business (Waylon’s Dog Sledding, https://www.waylonswaydogsledding.com/why-sponsor-1); or 3) making a donation to a 12-step recovery program.

A celebration of Dean’s life will be held at 1:00 PM Friday May 15, 2026, (PLEASE NOTE THE DATE) with Military Rites by American Legion Peterson Post # 431 of Gowrie following at Laufersweiler Palmer & Sons Funeral Home, Gowrie. There will be a vistation at Noon at the funeral home, with a luncheon following the service at Zion Lutheran Church, Gowrie. If you do not receive local Gowrie announcements and wish to be notified of the full details closer to the date, you can request to receive an email by going to this link and entering your information: https://tinyurl.com/mrxmnjuh

With Dean’s lifelong connection to Indigenous communities, we wish to close this short and inadequate summary of an amazing life, with a Lakota phrase, Mitákuye Oyás’iŋ, reminding us that we are all relatives. Dean is already at work on the other side bringing people together and finding the middle and common ground in all things. 

We love you Dean!