Dorotha (Lukens) Ketchum

Dorotha “Dot” Ketchum, age 95, of Rowan, passed away on Friday, April 16, 2004, at the USA Healthcare Center in Clarion, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at the United Church of Rowan with Pastor Janet Wearda officiating.  Burial will take place at Graceland Cemetery in Rowan.

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 19, 2004 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Ewing Dugger Funeral Home, 602 North Main Street in Clarion and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

Dorotha (Lukens) Ketchum was born in Wright County on March 25, 1909, the daughter of Joe E. and Flora (Crabtree) Lukens. She attended Grant #7 Country School and graduated from Clarion High School in 1927.

On February 21, 1929 she was united in marriage to Philip E. Ketchum of Rowan. To this union four children were born, Robert, Patricia, Sidney, and Phillip.

She and Philip farmed for all of their married years. She was active in her church by serving on several church boards, teaching Sunday School for many years, being a member of the Alpha Circle, Women’s Fellowship, a 4-H leader, serving on the County 4-H Committee, Square-Circle Club, Quilting Club,  Progress Club, and neighborhood events. She also enjoyed gardening, flowers and crocheting.

In 1968 she and Philip moved to town and enjoyed traveling, gardening, and card clubs.

Dot is survived by three sons, Robert J. and his wife Inez of Belmond, Sidney H. and his wife Barbara of Hayden Lake, Idaho, Phillip E. of Bagley, Iowa; one daughter Patricia J. and her husband Verle Crafton of Rowan; eleven grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Violet, an infant brother; her husband, Philip in 1987; grandson, James Crafton; and foster daughter, Dorothy Schraeder.