Milton Iverson

Milton I. Iverson, 82, of Waukon, died Saturday, February 26, 2005, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Tuesday, March 1 at Big Canoe Lutheran Church in rural Decorah, with Rev. David Andreae officiating. Burial was in the Iowa River Cemetery. Martin Funeral Home in Waukon was in charge of arrangements.

Milton Ingolf Iverson was born December 23, 1922, on the Hanover Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, farm of his parents, John and Otilda (Nelson) Iverson. He was baptized at Iowa River Lutheran Church and confirmed at Waterloo Ridge Lutheran Church. Milton attended rural Hanover Township Schools. His father died in 1932 when Milton was only 9 years old, so he was involved with running the farm from an early age.

On June 3, 1944, he married Ardeth Simonson at her parents’ home in Winneshiek County. They continued to farm the land which had been in Milton’s family for five generations, managing a dairy herd and raising hogs, beef, and crops. Milt liked working with timber and operated a saw mill on his farm where he processed the wood needed for his outbuildings. He also did custom crop spraying for neighbors, drove school bus for the Waukon Schools for several years, and operated a road maintainer for Allamakee County for a short time.

He was a long-time active member of Big Canoe Lutheran Church where he held numerous offices, and also served as an Iowa River Cemetery Association board member. Milton and Ardeth enjoyed traveling and had visited Alaska, been all over the western US, and made several trips to Canada to visit relatives. He was an avid reader, especially about history, liked feeding the birds and taking care of the cats and dogs at his farm, and enjoyed country music and antique machinery. He also enjoyed visiting with neighbors and making new friends, showing a genuine interest in what was important to them. As for Milton, his family was his first priority, as evidenced by the loving care he gave his wife and children, and the special attention he paid to holidays, birthdays, special events, and reunions.

Survivors include his eight children, Gary Iverson and children Jamie and Michelle of Fairbanks, Iowa, Robert (Catherine) Iverson and children Erica, Cynthia, and John of Blaine, Minn., Dianne (Bob) Hjellming and children Sherrie Ann, Cindy, and Chad of Caledonia, Minn., and Steven (Cindy) Iverson and children Kyle and T.J., Laureen (Don) Henningsgaard and children Christie and John, Craig (Janet) Iverson and children Nathan, Brock, Brady, Paige, Dana, and Danielle, James (Connie) Iverson and children Matt, Marshall, and Mitch, and Cheryl (Bob) Bjerke and children Kayla, Shawn, Brianne, and Rachel, all from the Waukon area; five great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and numerous relatives in the Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada area.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife Ardeth who died in 1996; and two brothers, Curtis and Kermit.

Honorary casketbearers were Owen Myrhe, Owen Thorson, Harold Lee, Joe Gallagher, Ernest Gavle, Gordon Tangen, Jim Casterton, and Arnold Thorson. Casketbearers were his grandchildren.