Dolores H Lens

Larchwood, IA Dolores H. Lens, age 89 of Larchwood, IA died Sunday, December 7, 2008 at Friendship Village in Inwood, IA. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, December 10th at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood, with Father Jeff Schleisman celebrating. Burial will follow at Larchwood Cemetery in Larchwood. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 9th from 2:00 " 8 :00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 " 8:00 PM at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood. There will be a Vigil Service at 7:00 PM at the church Tuesday evening. Dolores Lens was born May 1, 1919 in Lyon County Iowa to John and Nettie (Sehr) Roeman. She was raised on the family farm near Larchwood and attended country school. After school she remained living with her parents on the family farm working for area families, cleaning house and providing child care. She was united in marriage to George Lens on January 29, 1940 at The Church of St. Mary in Larchwood, IA. They moved to the Lens family farm near the Iowa, Minnesota border where they farmed for 14 years. In 1954, Dolores and George moved into Larchwood, IA and purchased Pals Place, a recreation center. While operating Pals Place, they were a sponsor of the Larchwood Baseball Team when they won the South Dakota Amateur Baseball title in 1959. Dolores was an active member of St. Marys Church, serving on several church groups and church activities. She was a Den Mother for the Boy Scouts and a leader for 4-H groups. In her leisure time, Dolores enjoyed playing Bingo, cards and fishing at Lake Brandt. Both Dolores and George were very active with the Senior Citizens group in Larchwood. In June of 1999, Dolores unexpectedly lost her husband, George, after 59 years of marriage. Dolores entered Fellowship Village in Inwood, IA in January of 2003, where she died this past Sunday, December 7, 2008 at the age of 89. Her family will remember her for her strong faith, kindness and devotion to her family and friends. She is survived by her five children, Mary Ann (and Darwin) Schaff of Larchwood, IA, Josephine (and Jack) Hazard of OFallon, MO, Roger Lens of Sioux Falls, SD, Eileen (and Larry) Otter of Pipestone, MN and Richard (and Marsha) Lens of Independence, IA; eleven grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; one sister, Edna Hennings of Platte, SD; one sister-in-law, Amelia Roeman of Inwood, IA; and many other extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George Lens; an infant son, John Lens; two sisters; and one brother.