Loretta Catherine (Reiland) Shillington

Loretta Catherine (Reiland) Shillington, age 86, of Clarion, passed away Tuesday May 24, 2005 at her home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday May 28, 2005 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Clarion, with Father David Beckman officiating. Burial will be at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Clarion.

Visitation will be held Friday May 27, 2005 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., with a prayer service to begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Ewing Dugger Helgeson Funeral Home, 602 North Main Street, in Clarion and will continue one hour prior to the funeral services at the Church on Saturday.

Loretta Catherine (Reiland) Shillington was born May 17, 1919, in Wright County, Iowa. She was the daughter of Emma and Anthony Reiland. Loretta was raised and educated in Wright County.

On April 13, 1940, Loretta married Clark Butch Shillington. To this union four children were born; Linda, Marilyn (Shorty), Lyle and Paula. Loretta was a busy mother and was a true farm wife helping with the livestock, fieldwork, canning etc. On April 9, 1962, Butch died in a pickup accident leaving Loretta as a young widow with four school age children. In December of 1962, Loretta and the children moved into Clarion where she lived in the same home until 2003. She kept busy raising her family and at different times working part-time at Cargill hauling grain, working at Dick Landess’ Pharmacy and Anderson Clothing. Loretta loved to bowl and golf. She enjoyed and supported her children and grandchildren with all their school activities and events; 4-H calf shows, racing events, etc. She was always in the bleachers. Loretta was proud of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was always there if any of her family needed her.

Loretta was originally a member of St. Joseph’s Mission Church southwest of Clarion and then St. John’s Catholic Church in Clarion. The Catholic Church was an important part of her life. She had great faith and belief in Christ and had been a member of St. Theresa’s Circle.

Loretta is survived by her four children and their spouses: Linda (Bennie) McGrath, Marilyn “Shorty” (Larry) Anderson, Lyle (Diana) Shillington and Paula (Barney) McCloskey; ten grandchildren: Anne (Michael) Marneris, Thomas Erickson, Angela Anderson, Kimberly Anderson, Randy (Andrea) Anderson, Erin Shillington, Alan Shillington, Troy Edwards, Stacey Edwards and Heidi Edwards; three great-grandchildren: Navan Johnson, Reed Johnson and Kylie Marneris; her sister, Dorothy Anderson; plus many, many relatives and friends.

Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony and Emma Reiland; her husband, Clark “Butch”; her brothers: Oswald, Raymond and Carroll; and her sisters: Ursula Stewart, Mary Hill, Veronica Hogle, Rita Fischer and Gladys Reiland.