1941-2025

Ronald (Ron) Lee Lang, 84, passed away on Dec. 25, 2025, having lived a life defined by friendship, ingenuity and the mindset that every day is Saturday.

Born on April 11, 1941, in Des Moines to Oran and Mary Lang, Ron attended North High School and Parsons College, where he was a proud member of the TKE fraternity. Ron never met a stranger and maintained lifelong friendships, including decades of monthly lunches with his North High classmates, yearly college reunions and his morning coffee club in Panora. 

Ron spent most of his life in Iowa. He grew up in Des Moines, served a brief stint in the U.S. Army and moved to St. Louis for work, where he met Rita. They married in 1969 and returned to Des Moines where they welcomed a daughter, Jessica. In 1988, Ron built his home at Lake Panorama, divorced, and fully embraced lake life as a bachelor. 

A self-made businessman, Ron viewed his work as a salesman as a way to make money — and friends. He bartered, traded, negotiated and wheeled and dealed his way through life, somehow always coming out the other side with a little money in his pocket and a few new friends. His final venture was creating the Des Moines Apartment and Condominium Guide. Though he officially retired in 1998, Ron never stopped dreaming up new projects. 

Ron loved having fun — golfing, fishing, boating, gardening, building and tinkering filled his days. He could fix nearly anything with duct tape and ingenuity and firmly believed that “the one with the most toys wins.” Ron had a real knack for turning his ideas into reality. One of his proudest feats was finding a way around Lake Panorama’s “boat size” rule. The regulations limited length, not width — so Ron bought two used pontoon boats, took them apart, and rebuilt a double-wide party boat. It became legendary.

Ron’s home was always open and time spent with him was an adventure. Boats broke down, things caught on fire, and the best stories came when plans changed. Ron taught those around him to be adaptable and never sweat the small stuff. His greatest lesson lives on in not taking life too seriously.  

Ron is survived by his daughter, Jessica (Nick) Gerhart; his four grandchildren, Marlowe, Corinne, Wyatt and Grant; his brother, Ed (Linda); and his sister, Sandy. A private mass and burial will be held at a later date. Photos, stories and memories may be shared with his family at langslagoon@aol.com. 

In Ron’s memory, smile at strangers. Strike up conversations. Tell a few tall tales and make sure to enjoy the adventure — after all, every day is Saturday in heaven!

1935-2026                       

Kassen “Kass” Franklin Duis, 90, son of Harb and Anna (Groot) Duis, was born Feb. 14, 1935, near Emmetsburg. He passed away Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids.

Kass graduated from Cylinder High School in 1953. On March 20, 1960, he married Karen Kay Flick at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Emmetsburg. Kass enlisted into the United States Navy in 1963 serving until 1967. He was stationed in Coronado, California. Following his honorable discharge, Kass and Karen returned to Iowa, making their home for a short time in Laurens and then Manson. They then moved to several locations in the Des Moines Metro area. Kass worked as a computer programmer during this time. In the mid 1980s, they moved to Panora, and he opened up Duis DX station and operated this for the next 10-15 years before retiring.

Kass enjoyed coaching his sons when they were young. He also enjoyed being with his family and was a big baseball fan.

He was a member of St. Thomas Lutheran Church in Panora and the Panora Lions Club.

He is survived by his sons, Kevin (Terri) Duis of Des Moines and Kurt (Mindy) Duis of Panora; seven grandchildren, Jeffrey (Stephanie) Duis, Abbie (Sam) Zager, Tucker (Cara) Duis, Kooper Duis, Anna (Chase) Heithoff, Drake Duis and Rachel Duis; four great-grandchildren, Dominic and Gianna Zager, Flynn and Tatum Duis; and brother, Martin (Shirley) Duis of Spencer. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Karen; and 16 brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, at St. Thomas Lutheran Church, Panora. Burial will then take place at 12:30 p.m. at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery near Van Meter. Visitation will be Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, from 5-7 p.m. at the Twigg Funeral Home, Panora.

1952-2025

Connie Sue Foglesong, 73, daughter of Harry and Beverly (Derry) Sand, was born Dec. 11, 1952, in Guthrie County. She passed away at her home on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025.

Connie graduated from Menlo High School. On April 10, 1982, she married Bruce Foglesong in Justin, Texas. They made their home in Texas for five years. They then moved to Iowa and lived around the Panora area before settling in Linden for the last 30 years. Connie worked first as a dental assistant and then as a nurse’s aide for a combined eight to 10 years. Her favorite job was working for the Humane Society in Adel for a couple of years. She, along with her husband, Bruce, operated the Linden Canoe and Kayaks for 12 years, helping with answering phones and scheduling the deliveries of the canoes and kayaks.

Connie was a Dale Earnhardt and Denver Broncos fan. She loved penguins, baby goats and dogs.

She is survived by her husband, Bruce, of Linden; sons, James (Ryan) of Yale and Mikel of Yale; daughter, Chrisi (Jonathan) of Panora; grandchildren, Mayilla, Jami Lynn, Makenna, Austin, Logan and Ashton; great-grandchildren, Ava, Olivia and Kryin; brothers, Dick (Lori) Sand of Kansas City and Tom (Denise) Sand of Stuart; and sister, Julie Sand of Stuart. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Cremation has taken place, and visitation will be held on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, from 1-3 p.m. at the Linden Lions Club Building, Linden, Iowa.

Twigg Funeral Home, Panora, is entrusted with her services.

1958-2025

Brenda Kay Sheeder, a loving mother, devoted wife and cherished friend, passed away in Guthrie Center on Dec. 17, 2025, at the age of 67.

Brenda’s early years in Nebraska were filled with the warmth of a close-knit family and the joys of discovery and learning. After graduating from high school, she pursued her interest in numbers and details by majoring in accounting in college, a field in which she excelled due to her meticulous and organized nature.

Brenda’s love for her family was evident in every aspect of her life. She is survived by her adoring children, Richard Sheeder and Kassandra Sheeder, both of Guthrie Center; her loving mother, Laverne Barnard of Beatrice, Nebraska; and her caring brother and sister-in-law, Duane (Teri) Barnard of Palisade, Nebraska, and Janell (Darrell) Parde of Loomis, Nebraska. Brenda was preceded in death by her father, Everett Barnard; and her beloved husband, Kerry Sheeder.

Brenda’s love story with Kerry began in Beatrice, Nebraska, where they were introduced by her mother. Their love blossomed quickly, and they were married on May 26, 1990, in Pickrell, Nebraska. Together, they embarked on a life full of adventure, following Kerry’s pipeline work across the United States. Brenda’s adaptability and supportive nature were the glue that held their family together during these travels.

A woman of many interests, Brenda found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She was an avid sewer and scrapbooker, capturing memories and creating beautiful keepsakes for her family and friends. Her passion for the outdoors was shared with Kerry, as they often went on pickup rides or side-by-side rides, exploring the beauty of the countryside.

Those who knew Brenda will remember her as a loving, thoughtful and passionate soul. Her ability to listen and her readiness to offer a helping hand made her a beacon of light in her community.

1996-2025

Thomas Lee Brooks, a man of courage and remarkable handiness, left this world on Dec. 11, 2025, at the age of 29. Born on Sept. 28, 1996, in Des Moines, Thomas grew into a person who could always be relied upon to lend a helping hand. His final moments were spent in Sioux City, surrounded by the love and comfort of his family.

Thomas was a proud graduate of Guthrie Center High School, where he formed many lifelong friendships and laid the foundation for his future. Thomas enjoyed his time working at Blue Bunny Ice Cream, where he was not only a maintenance worker but also a beloved colleague. His dedication to his job was evident in the meticulous care he took in every task he undertook.

Family was the cornerstone of Thomas’ life. He is survived by his cherished grandmother, Debra Wilson, who instilled in him the values of kindness and perseverance. His siblings, Angela (Brooks) McMichael, Tyler Brooks, John Sherwood, Danny Sherwood, Zach Mobley and Mary Elizabeth Trent, will remember him as the brother who was always ready to offer support and share in life’s joys and challenges. Thomas’ legacy will live on through his son, Oliver Palmersheim, who was the light of his life. His loyal dog, Cardi, was a constant companion and source of joy.

Thomas was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Brooks, and his grandfather, Danny Brooks. Their memories served as a guiding light for Thomas, inspiring him to live a life of integrity and purpose. Those who knew Thomas will remember him for his courage, which shone brightly, whether he was facing personal challenges or coming to the aid of a friend in need. His ability to fix and build, a testament to his handiness, was a gift he generously shared with all who knew him.

Thomas Lee Brooks will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all who had the pleasure of knowing him. His spirit, characterized by bravery and a knack for making the world a better place, will continue to inspire and influence those he left behind. As we say goodbye to Thomas, we celebrate a life well-lived and a man well-loved.

1953-2025

Dale Craig Betts was born Oct. 30, 1953, in Richland, Washington, at the U.S. Military Hospital at Camp Hanford to Richard and Lois Betts. Dale was raised on a farm south of Jefferson. He attended Jefferson Community School until graduation in 1972. During his school years, he participated in wrestling, baseball, FFA and 4-H.  He earned money doing chores for neighbors and working at a local feed mill while also helping on the family farm. He enjoyed modifying cars and motorcycles. He shared many stories of drag racing with friends and a month-long motorcycle adventure out west with minimal money and no plan. What an adventure!  

Dale met the love of his life, Connie Clause, at Spring Lake and married in 1974 in Grand Junction. They made their home south of Jefferson. Dale continued to help on the family farm and welded at Ideal. Dale and Connie became parents to two children: Alan and Jessi.

In 1981, they moved to their permanent farmstead near Winkleman Switch and began farming on their own. He and Connie worked side by side caring for their livestock and began to start their own row crop farming. Dale continued to use his welding skills at Osmundson and later Scranton Manufacturing while farming. Eventually, he gave up the welding jobs and focused on his own operation. As the years went by, they continued to expand their row crops and cow herd until they eventually had 200 cow calf pairs. Dale took great pride in his cow herd.  

Dale always had time for his kids, making sure they learned skills and life lessons that would carry them through their lives. He took time to attend the many activities they were in, and he was the same when he became blessed with four grandkids. He was a grandpa who made time for them fishing at the river, riding ATVs, teaching them hands-on skills or going to their activities.  

Dale passed away Dec. 16, 2025, at the age of 72 years. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Connie; son, Alan Betts (Tanya) of Jefferson; daughter, Jessi Riley (Andy) of Rippey; four grandchildren: Kara Heick (Eric), Cole Betts, Brent Riley and Max Riley; brother, Gary Betts (Alene); sister, Betty Hoyle (Kirby); mother-in-law, Dorothy Clause; in-laws Reg Clause (Mary), Linda Clause (Guy), Mary Ann Haver (Ed), Cindy Stubbs (Mark) and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at Mary Greeley Medical Center, Greene County Medical Center and UnityPoint Hospice for their wonderful care of Dale. Also, thank you to those who have helped our family or reached out during these last three months.

Visitation for Dale Betts will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2025  in the Greene Room at the Wild Rose Casino in Jefferson. Services by Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home and Cremation Care, Jefferson.