Earlene Houwen

Ashton, IA Earlene Houwen, age 81 of Ashton, IA, died Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at Sibley Nursing & Rehab in Sibley, IA. Funeral service will be 10:00 AM Saturday, June 12, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ashton, with Reverend Dale Lint officiating. Burial will follow in the Gilman Township Cemetery in Ashton, IA. Visitation will be Friday, June 11th from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Ashton. Earlene Houwen was born on December 11, 1928, the daughter of George and Bertha (Willemssen) Houwen in Elk Township, near Reading, MN. She lived her life on the family farm by Ashton helping her parents with the farm operation. After their passing she and her sister Josephine Dickey continued to do so. They raised cattle, ducks, geese, chickens and turkeys and sold them to friends and family for holiday meals. They fished, babysat and went to several community activities. Earlene was an active member with the First Presbyterian Church of Ashton. She belonged to the church Ladies Aide and Ashton Auxiliary. Earlene is survived by her sister, Josephine Dickey; sister-in-law, Christine Houwen; five nieces, LaVonne (husband, Lester) Bents of Rushmore, MN, Linda (husband, Dennis) Schoneman of Ashton, IA, Kathy (husband, Dan) Hector of Wilmont, MN, Julie (husband, Tony) Burchill of Fulda, MN and Lori (husband, Dean) Honken of Lismore, MN; two nephews, John (wife, Teresa) Dickey of Worthington, MN and Bob Houwen of Lismore, MN; and several great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, William; an infant sister; brother-in-law, Joseph Dickey; and special friend Sylvester Klien.