Dortha Florence (Sydow) Cleveland was born April 13, 1910 in Trenton, NE to Robert and Margaret (Herchfield) Sydow. She entered heaven June 10, 2006 at the age of 96 in Alliance, NE.
She attended School in Trenton graduating in 1926. After attending normal school in Kearney, NE she taught rural school until her marriage to Clyde Cleveland, a marriage that lasted for 65 years until his death in 1995. To this union a son and daughter were born.
Dortha and Clyde lived in several towns in Nebraska and Iowa before settling in Farragut, Iowa in 1942. They resided there until Clyde passed away. Dortha then moved to Alliance, Nebraska to be closer to her daughter and son-in-law.
Dortha was a long time member of the Farragut Congregational Church and Garden Club. Her life was centered on her family, she was never to busy to listen or make cookies. Everyone loved and respected her, and she had a large circle of friends. She and Clyde enjoyed barn dances when they were younger. She loved playing dominoes and cards later in life. She loved roses and won several ribbons and awards at various events and always had strawberry jam and homemade grape juice for her granddaughters.
Dortha is preceded in death by her husband, three brothers, one son, her parents and several nieces and nephews. She is survived by her loving daughter and son-in-law, Marjory and Jim Langner of Alliance; granddaughters and their families, Ellen and Keith Gardner of Vancouver, WA, Karen Langner of Ames, IA, Nancy and Bob Elwell of Seward, NE, and Ann and Cory Mueller of Seward, NE. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and one nephew.
Graveside services were held Friday, June 16, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at the Farragut Cemetery in Farragut, Iowa. Words of comfort were given by Rev. Claude Westerfield. Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.hackettlivingston.com