Laura Ruth Samuelson

Laura Samuelson, 103, of Stanhope, passed away on Saturday, October 11, 2014, at the Stratford Nursing and Rehab Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Stanhope with Pastor Dave Nerdig officiating. Burial will follow at Lawn Hill Cemetery, southeast of Stanhope. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center. Laura Ruth Sundell was born April 7, 1911, the daughter of Albert T. and Julia E. (Lundblad) Sundell at the family farm near Boxholm. Since the doctor fell asleep on his way to deliver her and got lost on the country roads, a neighbor lady came over and delivered her. Laura was baptized and confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Boxholm. She attended Boxholm Consolidated School and Boone High School where she graduated in 1929. She then continued her education at the Iowa Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in Des Moines and received her Registered Nursing Degree in May of 1933. She married William J. Samuelson on March 26, 1936, in Boone. Shortly thereafter they moved to Stanhope where they farmed until William's deat...[more]

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n 1985. Laura stayed on the farm until late in her 90's when she moved to Story City. Laura took her nursing very serious and worked at the Winterset Hospital and the Hamilton County Hospital in Webster City. She later worked many years for Dr. DeWayne Anderson in Stanhope and then with Dr. Anderson at the McFarland Clinic in Ames. Laura was very active in Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Stanhope, and in the Stanhope Community. She was a 4-H Club Leader, President of the P.T. A., the first woman member of the Stanhope School Board and volunteered at Bethany Manor and the Stratford Care Center. Her favorite past times were reading, helping on the farm and tending to her sheep. She is survived by two sons, David (DeLoris) Samuelson of Knoxville and Dennis (Pat) Samuelson of Jewell; four grandsons, Steven (Diana) Samuelson, Brian Samuelson, Scott Samuelson and Anthony (Barb) Samuelson; and a great-granddaughter, Lhotse Samuelson. She is also survived by step-grandchildren, Zach Davison, Dylan Davison, Deisha (Steve) Reynolds, Tyler and Delanie, Dana (Kate) Goshon and Morgan. Laura was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, William, brothers, Clarence, Cloyd and Morris; sisters, Viola and Mildred; and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left to the family and used per Laura's request. Write a personal tribute for the Samuelson family at www.fosterfuneralandcremation.com.