Obituary of Alma Matthews

A funeral service for Alma Matthews, age 88, of Terril, Iowa, will be held Saturday, February 6, 2016 at 10:30AM at United Methodist Church in Terril. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery in Terril. Visitation will be on Friday, February 5th after 5:00pm with the family present from 5:00-7:00pm at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford. Alma Jean Matthews, the daughter of Clarence S. Harris and Julia C. Mills, was born July 6, 1927 in rural Dickens, Iowa. She graduated from Lake Center School and completed her education at the Sioux City Business School. On March 27, 1947, Alma was united in marriage to Leo William Matthews, Sr. in Jackson, Minnesota. She lived in Sioux Rapids and Graettinger before moving to Terril, Iowa in 1950. Alma took care of the home and also helped Leo on the farm. Alma was a member of the United Methodist Church in Terril and had worked as the church secretary and historian. She was also involved in the United Methodist Women's group. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, flowers, reading, cooking and enjoyed her time with her family. On January 31, 2016, Alma passed away at the Hawkeye Care Center in Milford, Iowa at eighty-eight years of age. She is survived by three sons, Leo William Matthews, Jr. (Sharon) of Spencer, Iowa, Thomas Ralph Matthews, Sr. (Lourie) of Spirit Lake and Timothy Mark Matthews (Jane) of Terril; two daughters, Marsha Deborah Larson (Winton) of Spencer and Melanie Jean Heyn (Dean) of Denver, Colorado; fifteen grandchildren, thirty-one great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren; three sisters, Bessie Brinkley, Alvera Siedel and Mary Bricker. Alma was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leo W. Matthews, Sr.; son, Monte Ryan Matthews; sister, Flora Siedel and brother, Lee Harris.