Alice Harter

Alice Jane Hyde Harter was born August 22nd, 1940, in Grinnell, Iowa and passed away peacefully surrounded by family and lovingly cared for by the Northridge Village nurses and CNAs in Ames, Iowa. She grew up on her family farm south of town where she was the only daughter of Veda B. (Fleener) Hyde and George Amos Hyde. She attended the Baptist Church, learned to play piano and enjoyed time spent with cousins and her two beloved dogs, Penny and Specky. Alice was a city girl at heart. She loved going to town to stay with her aunts and school friends. She attended elementary, junior high and high school in Grinnell. Following graduation, she attended University of Northern Iowa but decided teaching wasn't for her so she transferred to the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, where she found success. She landed a job as a secretary at Traveler's Insurance Company and enjoyed working and shopping in downtown Des Moines. She met the love of her life, Larry Harter, while attending AIB and they were married at Hyland Park Lutheran Church on March 8th, 1963. The couple's first apartment was in the Sherman Hills Neighborhood, northwest of downtown Des Moines. Shortly aft...[more]

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the birth of their daughter, Shelley Jane, they moved further northwest to their longtime, well-known, residence at 1414 57th Street. They welcomed two sons, Steven Dawaine and Scott Hyde, 7 and 10 years later and lived there long after retirement. Alice worked many part-time jobs: CDS, Briggs, Greyhound, K-Mart and childcare while raising her children. She loved being out and about, shopping, garage sailing, craft shows, movies, the zoo and more. She got around in her red Impala, her mauve Oldsmobile and lastly her beige Impala. She also liked trips out west with Larry and the kids and later with friends. Every weekend Alice and Larry packed up the kids and either traveled east to see grandparents in Grinnell or west to visit grandparents in Exira. These were happy times spent with aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. In later years Alice was a member of Grace Methodist Church and enjoyed attending Sunday service. At home she loved sitting outside and visiting with neighbors as well as watching the squirrels, rabbits, birds and the annoying chipmunks that chewed up her flowers. Her last years were spent living at Northridge Village in Ames, Iowa. Luckily, Larry was there with her for two years before he passed away in August 2024. The two years after losing him, she was happy and enjoyed regular visits from her children and family. Hours were spent watching sports, her favorite past time. Her favorites being NFL, NBA and WNBA. Alice is preceded in death by her husband Larry Harter. She is survived by her children; Shelley (Kevin) Stow of Ames, Steve Harter of West Des Moines, and Scott (Wanda) Harter of Waukee; grandchildren; Kris Stow (Taylor Stoeckler), Betsy (Albert Contreras), Kendall Stow, Steele (Bridget) Harter, Safire Harter, Stryker Harte and great grandchildren; Robert and James Contreras and Ezra, Bryanna and Elijah Harter. In lieu of flowers and other customary remembrances, Alice's family suggests that memorial contributions may be directed to the Ames Animal Shelter and mailed to Ames Animal Shelter, 515 Clark Ave., Ames, IA 50010