Donald V. Markham, age 94 of Belmond, passed away in his sleep early Monday
morning, Nov. 28, 2016, at his home in Belmond.
Funeral services were held on Dec. 1, 2016, at the Belmond United Methodist
Church in Belmond. Pastor Leila Blackburn officiated. Burial took place in the
Belmond Cemetery.
Donald Victor, son of Ellis and Lizzie (Carter) Markham, was born July 29, 1922.
His father came from England in 1916 and went back and brought his bride home in
1919. Donald graduated from Rowan High School and worked for several different
farmers from Rowan and Alexander area before he started farming on his own.
Don was united into marriage with Joyce McClure on Oct. 18, 1947. The couple was
blessed with a daughter and son: Rebecca and Douglas. They made their home seven
miles west of Belmond and later moved to the McClure home place and continued to
farm even after retirement. All his life he enjoyed raising cattle and hogs from
early stage to full grown to time for market.
After retirement, Don and Joyce traveled to England and wanted to see what it
was like up one side of the coast and down the other. Each year they would spend
three months in Arizona for the winter. He belonged to Cattleman's organization
and then worked at the Iowa State Fair promoting beef for two weeks.
Don is survived by his wife of 69 years, Joyce Markham of Belmond; one child,
Rebecca Markham-Anderberg of Belmond; one grandchild, Jordan (Danielle) Daniels;
three great-grandchildren, Jade, Zane, and Shay of Belmond; one sister, Eleanor
Larrick of Osage; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; son Douglas Markham; brother Frederick;
and two sisters, Gladys Leist and Maurine Peters.