Geneva Locey

Geneva Belle (Neide) Locey was born to Edward and Texanna (Thorpe) Klesath on November 23, 1907 at Dana, Illinois. She moved to southern Minnesota and Iowa as a young girl. She attended rural school through the eighth grade.

Neide married Harry Earnest Locey on February 9, 1928. She was a homemaker and farmwife most of her life. Geneva and Harry rented a farm in Montgomery for many years and eventually moved to Spirit Lake on a new family farm. They retired and sold the farm in 1974 and they built the home she has resided in since.

Geneva was an avid gardener. She definitely had a green thumb. She would grow acres of tomatoes and always started them from seed! She was very involved with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter. Geneva loved to cook. She had large dinners every Sunday for all her family. Her specialty was caramel rolls. We all loved them. Geneva loved to sew. She would make flour sack dresses for her daughters. They always had a new handmade dress for the start of school. Every grandchild has a blanket, quilt, or stuffed animal memory from her. She will be missed dearly.

Geneva passed away on Wednesday, February 16, 2005 in her bed at home in Spirit Lake at age 97.

She is survived by her sister Opal Gray of Seattle, four daughters: Elsie May Whipkey and her husband Larry of Sparks, NV, Alice Marie Miller of Spirit Lake, Stella Jean Miller of Estherville, and Jacqualyn Pugh and her husband, Stan of Spirit Lake; eight grandchildren: Steve Miller and his wife Julie, Michael Miller, John Miller and wife Lori, Stan Pugh, Jr., Marcy Bosch and husband, Steve, Sara Montandon, Rob Pugh and wife, Katie, and Melissa Pugh; eleven great grandchildren: Kyle, Shawna, & Kessa Purcell, Jillian Miller, Kathi & Kevin Miller, Jacob & Jesse Miller, Justin & Zachary Montandon, and Halle Pugh. Geneva was blessed with one great great granddaughter, Ashlyn Purcell.

IN MEMORY
Geneva Belle Locey

SERVICES
Turner Funeral Home
Spirit Lake, Iowa
Monday, February 21, 2005 10:30 A.M.

CLERGY
Rev. Kay Hooper

MUSIC
Deanna Kuiper, Organist
Bob Cosens, Soloist
In The Garden
How Great Thou Art

PALLBEARERS
Steven Bosch
John Miller
Stevan Miller
Troy Montandon
Rob Pugh
Stan Pugh, Jr.

HONORARY BEARERS
Bill Bruett
Bob Bruett
Ed Goodman
Jillian Miller
Michael Miller
Merle Simpson

INTERMENT
Lakeview Cemetery

 

The Master’s Garden
The master walked in His garden,
Plucking flowers along the way,
He plucked one of my loved ones,
To add to his bouquet.
My heart at first was broken,
At the loss of one so dear,
But the tears I shed just washed my eyes,
So I saw His way more clear.
My Lord has a need for just this one,
For the pattern He has in mind,
But it’s hard for the rest of us to see
Why we must be left behind.
Perhaps we are not ready to go just yet,
We may need to ripen more,
To reach the full blown fragrance
My Lord is waiting for.
So I’m going to try my very best,
To be loving and kind each day,
So at last I’ll be counted worthy
To be part of my Master’s Bouquet.