Arretta Houser

Arretta Mayme Houser, one of four children of Homer F. and Allie (Achenbach) Mickey Crowder, was born at Macedonia, IA on October 26, 1911. She grew up in the Macedonia area and attended Macedonia Public Schools. Arretta and Lee Wilbur Houser were married on April 13, 1928 at Red Oak, IA. They lived in Macedonia until 1945 when they moved to Council Bluffs, IA and lived until 1970. While living in Council Bluffs, Arretta worked for ten years as a car cleaner for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. Their marriage was blessed with nine children Mary, Lola, Colleen, Rosa, Homer, Billy Lee, Allie, Barbara, and Bobbie Lee. Lee's job with the railroad took he and Arretta to South Dakota and Chadron, NE. At Chadron, Arretta worked in the food service department of the Chadron State College for five years. After Lee's retirement, they moved to Villisca, IA and later to Carson, IA. Arretta and Lee had been married for 52 years when Lee died on June 29, 1980. Arretta was a member of the Presbyterian Church at Carson, V.F.W. Auxiliary at Chadron, and Royal Neighbors of America. She loved to crochet, embroider, read and work with her many flowers. Arretta was livin...[more]

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ith her daughters Mary and Lola in Council Bluffs, IA where she died on June 17, 2002 at the age of 90 years, 7 months, and 22 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son Bobbie Lee Houser; brothers Norman Mickey and Frederick Mickey; sister Leota Zarbo; grandchildren John Hiltabidel, Jackie Hiltabidel, Debra Vermuele, Ronald Vermuele, Denise Vermuele, Olive Vermuele; and great grandchild Anthony Lee Houser. Arretta is survived by her daughters Mary Donaldson and husband John of Council Bluffs, Lola Loftus and husband Earl of Council Bluffs, Colleen Chase and husband Burton of Sioux City, IA, Rosa Baker of Show Low, AZ, Allie Fankhauser and husband Arnold of Chadron, NE and Barbara Melvin and husband Jim of Buffalo Gap, SD; sons Homer Houser and wife Renae of Pembroke, GA and Billy Lee Houser and wife Diane of Anchorage, AK; daughter-in-law Colleen Houser of Eagle River, AK; step brothers Junior Crowder and Bob Crowder both of Carson, IA; 26 grandchildren, 79 great grandchildren; 84 great great grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.