RetaMae Lewis

FOREST CITY - RetaMae Lewis, age 90 of Forest City, died Sunday, November 13, 2011 at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt, Iowa.

Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, November 17, 2011 at the United Methodist Church in Forest City with Pastor Jerald Swanberg officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Forest City. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 PM on Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at Petersen Lund Funeral Home 505 N Clark St in Forest City and will continue an hour prior to service at the church.

RetaMae Lewis, the daughter of Elmer and Bonnie (Dow) Brooker, was born July 28, 1921 at the home of her parents eight miles west of Forest City. When two years old, she moved with her parents and brother, Wayne, southeast of Forest City where she lived until her marriage. She attended a rural school nearby and graduated from Forest City High School with a normal training certificate. Retamae later taught at a rural school. On July 26, 1942, she married Lloyd Lewis. They moved to Austin, Minnesota, where he was employed at Hormel until called into service. She followed later to California when he was stationed in Fresno, California and Santa Maria, California. While there she was employed in Civil Service at the base of offices. They were moved to Orlando, Florida base and to Montgomery, Alabama where he was discharged. Returning home from the service, they lived and were employed in Britt. They then joined in a family partnership and started the original "Hi-Way-Market" in Forest City. They later moved to Northwood, where Lloyd was employed in Nelson Hardware. RetaMae attended Mason City Junior College and taught school again until the arrival of their son Lonny Lee in December 1953. In 1954, the family moved to Belmond where they started the "Belmond Hardware". While there, they were joined by a second son Spencer Ray in December 1959. Because of health reasons the store was sold and they moved to Mason City where Lloyd was employed at Curries Hardware. RetaMae was employed at Penny's Store and Madison School as a Para-Professional. Moving back to Forest City in 1970, RetaMae was in the Elementary School as a substitute teacher and Teacher Associate until she retired in 1990, after nineteen years. RetaMae always enjoyed her home, family, five grandchildren, church work, Senior Citizens, gardening and camping. She was active in church and circles, Rebekah Lodge filling all stations, and the Retired Teachers.

RetaMae is survived by her husband of sixty-nine years, Lloyd Lewis of Forest City; two sons, Lon (Nancy) Lewis and their daughter, Mary and Spencer (Janet) Lewis and their four daughters, Amanda, Kaitlyn, Bonnie and Rhiannon; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.