OBITUARY: Adrian E. Ringham, 1925-2004, Worth Co., Iowa

[Adapted from Northwood Anchor online, posted March 10, 2004]



                         Adrian E. Ringham
 
Adrian E. Ringham, 78, Northwood, Iowa, died Friday, March 5, 2004,
at his birth home. Funeral services were Monday at First Lutheran
Church, Northwood, with the Rev. Mark Decker officiating. Inurnment
was in the Silver Lake Cemetery, rural Northwood.

Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, Northwood, was in charge of
arrangements. Honorary pallbearers were Leonard and Betty Johnson,
Irl and Beverly Madsen, Dale and Marge Sime, Gene and Ilyce Stumo,
Kenneth Abrams, Palmer and Helen Dagestad, Jack and Jean Johnson,
Dave and Anne Stevens, DeVerne and Darlene Johnson, Odean and Lois
Sola, John and Marian Havlik and Don and Laura Brones.

Adrian E. Ringham was born Nov. 30, 1925, the son of Andrew and
Emma (Lokken) Ringham. He was baptized at Silver Lake Lutheran
Church and attended and graduated from the Northwood school system
in 1943. When he was old enough to drive, he always gave neighborhood
kids rides to school. Following high school, Adrian entered the
National Guard where he served as a Master Sergeant for four years. Farming was his passion. After he came home from the service,
Adrian farmed with his father, and later took over the farming
operation. Adrian also raised hogs and beef cattle over the years.

On June 28, 1953 he married Helen Tollefson in Austin, Minnesota.
The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last June
with a large gathering at their home. Adrian loved the farm and
always said the best part of going on vacation was coming home.

He also enjoyed woodworking and made numerous keepsakes for
family and friends. Helping others was one of Adrian's greatest
gifts, a gift that will live on in all who he touched.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Helen Ringham, Northwood;
three children, Marty Ringham and his wife, Teri, Milaca, Minnesota,
Amy Thorland and her husband, Steve, Thompson, Iowa, and Terry
Ringham and his wife, Rachel, Lake Mills; seven grandchildren,
Adam, Tony and Karly Ringham, Tonnes and Tristan Thorland and
Zachary and Jonah Ringham; three sisters-in-law, Lois and her
husband Don Purcell, San Diego, California, Phyllis Kittleson,
St. Ansgar, Iowa, and Mary Lou and her husband, Merv Ellingson,
Decorah, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother-in-law,
Paul Tollefson.



     Copyright 2004, K.L. Kittleson