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Guthrie County Extension Notes — Week of May 5, 2025

May 9, 2025 | Guthrie County Extension Notes

Garden Box Challenge Workshop                         

  • Wednesday, May 28, 6-8 p.m.   
    Panorama High School Greenhouse
    Cost is $20 per box. Call the Guthrie County Extension Office to register at 641-747-2276.                     

Summer Day Camps                                                                       

  • June 5, 9 a.m. to noon
    Up, Down, Spin Around
    K-third. $20                                   
  • June 12, 9 a.m. to noon
    Science of BBQ
    Fourth-eighth. $25            
  • June 19, 9 a.m. to noon
    Fun With Bots
    K-third. $20
  • June 26, 9 a.m. to noon
    AG Everyday
    Fourth-eighth. $20
  • July 10, 9 a.m. to noon
    Kids in the Kitchen
    K-third. $20
  • July 17, 9 a.m. to noon
    Clover Cookie Factory
    Fourth-eighth. $25
  • July 22, 9 a.m. to noon
    Growing In The Garden
    Fourth-12th. $25
  • July 24, 9 a.m. to noon
    Art Explosion
    K-third. $20

Iowa Concern Hotline

Iowa Concern is a program of the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. The program began in 1985 as a toll-free number serving the agricultural community. Today, Iowa Concern serves both urban and rural Iowans. Iowa Concern services are available 24 hours a day, seven days per week at no charge. Iowa Concern has access to an attorney for legal education, stress counselors, and information and referral services for a wide variety of topics. Contact the Hotline toll-free at 1-800-447-1985.

The Guthrie County Extension Office is located at 212 State St. in Guthrie Center, IA 50115. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday: 8 a.m. to noon. Email xguthrie@iastate.edu or call 641-747-2276.

Virginia H. Kinney 

May 9, 2025 | Obituaries

1931-2025

Virginia H. Kinney, 94, of Yale and Perry, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines. Virginia’s visitation will take place on Sunday, May 11, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home, Perry Chapel. Her funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025, at St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Panora. Interment will be in the Richland Cemetery in rural Bagley. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a future designation in Virginia’s honor. Online condolences can be shared at www.caldwellparrish.com.

She was born on January 1, 1931, in Valley Junction, the first of three daughters to Theodore and Frieda (Clausen) Lueders. Her sisters, Bernice and Marilyn, followed.

On Aug. 10,1957, Virginia married Dean Kinney, and together they raised a large and loving family. She was a devoted wife, a deeply loved mother, a cherished grandmother, and a true friend to all she met. Known for her warmth and kindness, Virginia was also a talented cook whose homemade jellies, caramels, cookies and popcorn balls will be fondly remembered and dearly missed.

Virginia lived a life of faith and service. She was an active member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Panora and participated in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML), altar guild, quilting blankets for missionary events, bake sales, camp at Okoboji, Sunday School teacher and many more volunteer services.

A graduate of Dawson High School and a lifelong resident of the area, Virginia held many roles throughout her life, including sorting eggs, an operator at the telephone company, Yale Café, Yale Teen Center, Panora Craft Care Center, Perry Lutheran Home, and Perry Senior Citizens Meals, among others.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ted and Frieda Lueders; her husband, Dean Kinney; sons, Steve and Mike Woodley; daughter, Barbara Jenkins; grandson, Mikey Woodley; great-granddaughter, Kristin Hancock; sons-in-law, Wally Jenkins, Joe Bowen and Dana Bowman; brothers-in-law, Richard Mitchell, Truman Loudenback and Lee Kinney; and sisters-in-law, Velma Loudenback and Erma Kinney.

Virginia is survived by her children: Dorothy Funk, Cindy Bowen, Chris Kinney (Karole), Cheri Bowman (Greg), Janay and Jon Baumgartner, and Cathy and Cody Deakman. She is also survived by her sisters, Bernice Mitchell and Marilyn (Jerry) Schlemmer; 24 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; 24 great-great-grandchildren; four great-great-great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.

Julia Ann Millhollin

May 9, 2025 | Obituaries

1927-2025

Julia Ann Millhollin, 97, daughter of Earl and Dessie Vandevanter, was born Dec. 12, 1927, in rural Guthrie County. She passed away Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at her home.

Julia graduated from Guthrie Center High School in 1945. She married Clark Millhollin on Jan. 28, 1946, at the Christian Church parsonage in Guthrie Center, which was next door to where she lived. They lived a short while in Guthrie Center, Greenfield, Knoxville and Menlo before moving to California where they lived for 43 years. They moved back to Iowa in 1993 and made their home at Lake Panorama.

Julia is survived by her daughter, Deborah Berg of Florida; son, Mark (Jenny) Millhollin of California; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 70 years, Clark; daughter, Patricia Mahler; four sisters; and a brother.

Cremation has taken place, and no services are planned. Twigg Funeral Home, Panora, is entrusted with her services.

Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight takes place May 7

May 9, 2025 | News

Special to the Times Vedette

The 26th Brushy Creek Area Honor Flight was held May 7 and was sponsored by Guthrie County American Legions/Sal Posts: Panora 372, Guthrie Center 124, Stuart 146 and Menlo 511. The flight is part of the Honor Flight Network, which transports approximately 22,500 veterans annually. More than 300,000 veterans have taken these one-day flights to Washington, D.C., since the first flight.

Honor Flight Network is a national nonprofit organization comprised of independent hubs working together to celebrate America’s veterans. While initially focused on America’s World War II veterans, Honor Flight Network expanded to include those who served during the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Veterans boarded a plane at the Fort Dodge Regional Airport that took them to Dulles Airport in Washington, D. C., where they visited the nation’s capital to visit their memorials. 

Pictured are, back row: Rick Buttler, Daryl Dinkla, Dwight Dinkla, Jalen Spack and Bill Messinger. Front row: Craig Hiatt, Tom Francis and Arnold Kesselring.

GCH presents DAISY and Sunshine awards 

May 9, 2025 | News

Chris Stipe, Shannon Haus, Lori Harrah, and Sandy Atkinson pose following the DAISY award presentation.

By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

On Tuesday, May 6, Guthrie County Hospital held its annual DAISY and Sunshine awards, honoring nurses and patient care technicians (PCT). CEO Chris Stipe offered opening remarks and spoke of pioneering nurses Clara Barton and Florence Nightingale. Chief Nursing Officer Sandy Atkinson read aloud the nominations for each nominee.

LaRoyce Kress was announced as winner of the Sunshine award, given each year to an outstanding PCT. Shannon Haus won the DAISY award for nurses. Other nominees for the DAISY award included Kassie Cline, Jenna Deist, Nicole Esslinger, Jentry Hise and Dale Peterson.

Chris Stipe, Lori Harrah, LaRoyce Kress, and Sandy Atkinson following the announcement of Kress for the Sunshine award.