Fyrn F. Dewitt-Harless Obituary (1916

In Loving MemoryFyrn F. DeWitt Harless Fyrn F. DeWitt Harless, of Milford, died Saturday, January 22, 2005, at the Monarch in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 88 years, 7 months 22 days. She was born May 31, 1916, on a farm near Seymour, Missouri to James & Lora (Moore) Todd, the 9th of 12 children. As a young girl, Fyrn attended a country school near Beamon, MO and later became a 1933 graduate of Wright High School. On Sept 19, 1934, she was united in marriage to Oren W. DeWitt and to this union two sons and six daughters were born. Together they lived for 5 years near Beamon and later moved to Omaha in 1940. They also resided briefly in Detroit, MI before moving to Glenwood, Iowa in 1949. They moved to Milford in August of 1951 where Fyrn cleaned many people's houses for many years. She also was employed with Milford Tech School and later for Trabert's Five & Dime Store. On August 31, 1979, Fyrn was blessed with a second marriage to Harold C. Harless at the United Methodist Church in Milford. Her greatest joy was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Fyrn enjoyed fishing in Missouri and in her later years loved to travel extensively throughout the United States with Oren and later with Harold. Fyrn will also be remembered for her loving care when Oren had his stroke and later with Harold's failing health. Fyrn was a member of the Milford United Methodist Church, American Legion Auxilary, OES Blue River Chapter #132, where she received her 50 yr pin, and was past noble grand of the Rebecah lodge in Glenwood. Survivors include her sons & daughters-in-law, Jerry & Sondra DeWitt, Beatrice, James & Linda DeWitt, Shelton, daughters & sons-in-law, Laura Jo Harman, Grand Island, Jeanne Maul, Lincoln, Janie & Roger Beranek Dorchester, Margaret "Peg" & Monty French and Barbara & Jerry Henkel, all of Lincoln, 39 grandchildren, 81 great grandchildren, 10 great-great granchildren; a sister, Jewel Lafever, Sacramento, CA, son-in-law and spouse, Maurice & Linda Jantze, Milford, stepchildren, Gary & Barbara Harless, Anita Minnig, Barbara Schipper, Dianne Cook & Robin Jones, all of Iowa, nieces, nephews, a special friend, sister Elaine of the St Elizabeth Hospital. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Oren in 1977, Harold in 1999, a daughter, Alberta "Snooks" Jantze in 1998, two grandsons, Jonny Sweley, Kenneth Beranek, three great-grandchildren, Aaron R. Brethouwer, Charles D. Parks and Emily J. DeWitt, four brothers, Roger, Jack, Sirel & Billy Todd, six sisters, Demar Clauxton, Gertie Davis, Alberta Odom, LaVina Odell, Effie Roberts and Ruby Lutgen. Services: 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Milford United Methodist Church, with Rev. James B. Miller officiating. Interment is in Blue Mound Cemetery, Milford. Visitation is 9-9 Monday, 9-noon Tuesday, Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Milford and 1 hr prior to services at church. Family will receive friends 6-8 pm Monday at the funeral home. Memorials have been established to the Monarch or to the Milford Rescue Squad.