This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Tk.2ADE/2355 Message Board Post: Funeral Services Held For Mrs. Church Tuesday Funeral services were held for Mrs. C. W. Church, Tuesday afternoon, June 24, in the Methodist Church at Murdo, with Rev. Walter Nelson officiating. Mrs. Robert Iverson, Mrs. Walter Nelson and Mrs. Arlan Boysen sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and one other selection, with Mrs. Ray England as accompanist at the organ. Pallbearers were: Fred Wheeler, Bill Davis, Frank Parks, Al Reynolds, Babe Reynolds and Russel Johnson. Funeral arrangements were in charge of Sorensen Funeral Home of Murdo. Interment was made in the Murdo Cemetery. Gertrude May VanGorder, daughter of Jason and Mary (Coon) VanGorder was born on May 30, 1885 in Clayton County, near the town of Luana, Iowa. She lived with her grandmother from early days of her life and until young womanhood. In 1902 on December 11 she was united in marriage to Wm. Kruse and to this union 2 children were born - LeRoy and Helen Kruse. In 1906 she was separated from her husband and came west with her daughter Helen. She took up a homestead about 6 miles north of where the town of Murdo now stands, and made final proof in 1908. She returned to her old home in Iowa in 1908 and a month later returned to Dakota where she was met at Mitchell and was united in marriage to Charles Wellington Church and to this union 6 girls and a boy were born. In the fall of 1909 the family moved to the eastern shore of Maryland where they lived for 10 years, then sold out their business interests and returned to Murdo in 1920 where they have lived ever since. Mrs. Church was active in community affairs and busy always helping relatives and friends. She was a member of the Methodist Church and belonged to the VFW Auxiliary and American Legion Auxiliary. She passed away at the Murdo Hospital on June 20, 1958 at 6:45 PM at the age of 73 years and 21 days. She leaves to mourn her passing her husband, Charles W. Church, Sr. and her children LeRoy Kruse of Luana, Iowa; Helen, Mrs. Daniel Riley of Spokane, Washington; Clevie, Mrs. Charles Wagner, Elco, Nevada; Marie, Mrs. Carl Skidmore, Marathon, Florida; Ruth, Mrs. Leo Vreeland, Seattle, Washington; Elma, Mrs. Haakon Anderson, Murdo, South Dakota; Lucille, Mrs. Wm. Griener, Murdo and Charles W. Church, Jr. of the US Navy aboard the air craft carrier, "Antietam". There are also 21 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. Ethel McIver and one brother, Charles Plant, both of California and a host of relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by one daughter, Ethel Genevive, who passed away in 1937 at the age of 15 years. Out of town relatives and friends who attended the service were: Mr. and Mrs. George Speckles, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Stickelberg, Mrs. Hazel Ommen all of Chamberlain, SD; Mrs. Neva Church, Adrian, Minn.; Mr. and Mrs. Garold McClanahan, Clearfield, S. Dak.; Mr. and Mrs. Fritz DeGarlias, Eugene, Oregon; Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Kruse and son Mickael, Luana, Iowa.