She was a faithful, loving member of the GCI Church of Sioux Falls, SD. She always had a positive attitude towards life, always encouraging and had a great sense of humor.

Survivors include four brothers: Vernon Rydom, LaCresant, MN; Arthur Rydom, DeSmet, SD; Donald Rydbom, Erwin, SD; Albert Rydbom, Windsor, CO, and two sisters: Ann Hayes, Mapleton, IA, and Rose Ann Krause, Rockford, MN. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted; parents Arthur and Kate (Bosse) Rydom; brothers John Rydbom and Barney Rydbom; and sisters, Ruby Weise and Dorthy Virchow.

Delores Blessing, long-time member of New Life Christian Fellowship in St. Paul, MN, passed away on March 29 after numerous debilitating and lengthy illnesses. Delores was raised in an orphanage and carried a special place in her heart for the disadvantaged. She is survived by her husband Wayne.

Eugene L. Burton, 84, of Lexington, Kentucky died Wednesday, November 12, 2008 of complications following surgery to repair a broken hip.  He was born December 28, 1923, in Garrard County, KY- a son of the late Joseph Neal Burton and Margaret Morris Burton. 

Eugene entered the U.S. Army in 1943 and served in the World War II theaters of Africa and Europe, until his discharge in November 1945. Eugene and Geneva were married April 15, 1949.  Eugene and Geneva were both active members of the World Wide Church of God since 1963.  At the time of his formal retirement he was a carpenter and a Local Elder in the local, Lexington, KY, World Wide Church of God congregation. 

He continued on in his labor of love, serving the members of his 'spiritual family' until a stroke severely disabled him in October 1994. The effects of the stroke removed much of his ability to speak and walk.  Despite the trials suffered during the 'stroke years', Eugene and Geneva continued to live as a loving inspiration to their many friends and family members. Until his death in November 2008, he was lovingly cared for by his wife Geneva.

He is survived by his wife Geneva; only daughter Debra Burton-Booth and her husband, J. Leslie, of IN; only grandson Aaron Booth and wife Dawn of OH; and two great grandchildren, Brooklyn and Wyatt, both of OH.  Eugene is also survived by one brother, Wylie Neal Burton of Nicholisville, KY.  He was preceded in death by two sisters, five brothers and other family members. 

Funeral services were conducted at 2PM Saturday, November 15, 2008, at the Betts & West Funeral Home, by Pastor Ron Dick.  Eugene is interred at the Maple Grove Cemetery, Nicholisville, KY. 

Those wishing to, may still leave condolences on the Betts & West Funeral Home web site; URL  http://tinyurl.com/ns38na 

Those wishing to send cards or contact Geneva, may do so at:

Geneva Burton
POB 2765
West Lafayette, IN 47996

Aaron Cruise, 86, of Winnsboro, TX, died on June 29. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sara Ingle Cruise; a son, Victor, of Bedford, TX; four daughters: Mary Scott, in Scotland, Ellen Sadovy, Raleigh, NC, and Anne Cruise, Winnsboro, and Tish Cruise, Athens, TX; eleven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Nelson Doucet, a long-time former employee, died on August 27. He was hired full-time in 1960 and retired in 1998. For many years, he was the Dept. Manager of Machine Maintenance at Ambassador College in Pasadena, CA.

Donald Ellis Jones, 70, died Sept. 30 of an aneurism. He was a church member for 20 years in Chicago. He is survived by his wife Maddie Jones, nephew Michael Jones, neice Jackie, and Brittany Jones, a daughter from a previous marriage to Elaine Jones.

LaVerna Sawyer, 85, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009, in Lakeport, Calif., with her daughter and son-in-law at her side.  LaVerna was born on April 28, 1924, in Kirkville, Iowa, to William H. and Jesse A. Bennett.

LaVerna was nominally Methodist until becoming involved with the Radio Church of God in the 1960's.  She brought her two youngest sons, Harold and Charles into that church and became an active Christian with Bible Study, prayer and fellowship.  Up until about the past year, she actively took part in a small church group.  For the past year, her short term memory made most things impractical except for short visits, eating and resting.

LaVerna was an avid reader.  We as children growing up remember her reading the LA Times from front to back every day.  She loved historical novels and religious works.  Until a couple of years ago, she would make weekly visits to her local library and read the fiction area, starting with the "A"'s and going through the "Z"''s.  She told me she had done that a couple of times.  She had read through the Bible many times.

She was a Lake County resident for the last 21 years. LaVerna was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Robert. She is survived by her six children, Larry (Linda) Slycord of Tillamook, Ore., Robert (Kathleen) Sawyer of Fresno, Calif., Mary Ann (Jerry) McQueen of Lakeport, Calif., John Sawyer of New Orleans, La., Harold (Margit) Sawyer of Unionville, Conn., and Charles (Bonnie) Sawyer of Bloomfield, Iowa; brothers, Clarence Bennett of Newton, Iowa, and Marion Bennett of Quincy, Ill. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. LaVerna moved to California in 1966 and spent most of her life since then in California, with moves back to Iowa from time to time to enjoy the family there. She resided in Lakeport, Calif., since 1988.  The family requests donations be made to the charity of your choice or to the Lakeside Wellness Foundation, Center for Health, 5176 Hill Road East, Lakeport, Calif. 95453.