The Flagler News
Obituaries
submitted by Edward Roberts
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Services held for Flagler’s Ida Gwyn
Ida Ruth Fisher was born April 10, 1908 in a sod house at Flagler, Colorado, A.C.
Fisher and Stella Strode Fisher. Her parents came to the Flagler area in 1887.
She and her brother and sister were active in the family farm and ranch work.
Ida married Jim Gwyn on October 16, 1924.
To this union three children were born, Albert Gwyn, Maggie Schiferl, and Agnes
Jones.
Jim and Ida spent most of their lives living on their place on the Republican
River. They moved to Flagler in 1957 due to Jim’s failing health. Jim passed
away in 1959.
At a very early age Ida learned to love horses. She became quite a horsewoman
and at the age of 60 she started barrel races.
She has had many hobbies including crocheting, embroidering, tatting, and quilt
making. Each one of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren has
special hand-made gifts by her.
Ida was very interesting and has been consulted many times by local historians,
especially Lyle Stone.
She was on the Kit Carson County Carousel Restoration Committee in its early
stages.
She was a faithful member of the Rebekah Lodge for many years.
She passed away at Denver Presbyterian Hospital on July 27, 1994, at the age of
86 years, three months and 17 days.
Ida was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one sister, one son in
law, and one grand-son-in-law. She is survived by her three children, 11
grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Source unknown, probably the Flagler News.
SERVICES HELD TUESDAY FOR WILL STRODE, EARLY SETTLER
Will Strode 89, passed away Friday, January 15 at the Lincoln County Hospital in
Hugo. He had been in poor health for a number of years and in gradually
declining health for the past few months.
Mr. Strode was one of the community’s oldest residents, both in age and in years
in this area, having arrived here nearly 78 years ago as a child. His lifetime
spanned the entire era from the beginning of the early homestead days until now.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning, Jan. 19 at 10 A.M. at St. Mary’s
Catholic Church with burial following in the Flagler Cemetery with the
Walker-Love Funeral Home in charge. Rosary was held Monday evening, Jan. 18 at 7
P.M.
Casket bearers were Will Kliewer, Duncan Farr, Ted Wickham, J.R. Kountz, Robert
Miller and Edmund Smith.
William H. Strode was born on October 6, 1875 to Stephen S. and Hannah M. Strode
in Mason County, Texas. In 1882 the family moved to Sadalia, MO and I 1886 they
came to Colorado, settling in Kinston.
In 1887 they came to this area and took a homestead not far from Crystal Springs
on the Republican River. At the time there was no town here nor had the post
office at Bowersville been established yet.
As a teenager in 1891 he began working in the cattle roundups as a horse
wrangler for the Elbert County Livestock Co. and later worked as a cowboy for
various other outfits in this area.
On February 12, 1902, he was united in marriage to Mamie E. Neff at the home of
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. L.J. Neff in Flagler.
They lived their entire married life in this community except for about five
years prior to World War I when they lived in Longmont where he was in business.
Returning here, they lived for 26 years on a ranch south of Flagler along the
river, which is now part of the Winger ranch. They moved to town in 1942 when
Mr. Strode retired from ranching.
They were the parents of ten children, nine of whom along with Mrs. Strode of
the home survive: Claude A. of Wenatchee; WA, Alta V. of Flagler; Rethal R.
Eaton of Orange, CA; Gilbert L. of Portland, OR; Elnora M. Bradley, of Jerome,
ID; Thelma L. Strode, deceased; Jay J. of Carey, ID; Clayton C. of Ephraim, UT;
Stephen S. of Flagler and Faye Hackerson of El Paso, TX.
Also surviving are many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The Strode’s celebrated their Golden Wedding with an Open House at their home in
1952 and their 60th anniversary with an Open House in 1962.
From The Flagler News 1-31-65
The Flagler News
Thursday, June 21, 1979
MAMIE STRODE PASSED AWAY FRIDAY AT 96 YEARS OF AGE
Mrs. Mamie Strode, 96 years of age passed away at the Lincoln Community Hospital
in Hugo on June 15, 1979, following a brief illness.
Services were held on Tuesday, June 19 at 2 P.M. at the Flagler Baptist Church
with the pastor Rev. Richard Sutterlin officiating.
Two selections were sung by the Staffer brothers, “Whispering Hope” and “Rock of
Ages” with Mrs. Charles Crisp at the organ.
Casket bearers were Paul Schiferl, Monte Strode, Rick Crisp, Bob Miller, J.R.
Kountz and Ted Wickham. Interment in charge of Hendricks Mortuary of Burlington
was in the Flagler Cemetery.
Mrs. Strode’s life time of over 90 years in this community, virtually spanned
the entire period of this part of the plains since settlement began. So she had
a rich store of experiences of her own and of others to share with the many who
were interested.
Because of her interest and enjoyment of people she took part in the community
far longer than the majority of people live and continued to be independent as
long as possible.
Former residents here to visit felt their trip not complete without a visit with
Mamie Strode. Her memory was excellent as she functioned as an historian for the
community.
Since 1978, following hospitalization, she resided at the Lincoln Community
Nursing Home in Hugo.
Born in Seward, Nebraska on December 9, 1882, she came to Colorado at the age of
4 years, when her parents moved to a farm 17 miles northeast of Flagler. Mamie
received her education in the schools around Flagler.
On February 12, 1902, she married Will Strode and they moved to a farm southeast
of Flagler. Later they bought the place on the river south of Flagler in 1916.
In the fall of 1942, the family moved to town which has been their home since
that time.
Mamie was a member of the Rebekah Lodge and the SOS and a member of the Women’s
Society of the Flagler Baptist Church. She accepted Christ and was baptized at
the Flagler Baptist Church in 1937.
She was preceded in death by her husband Will and a son and a daughter. She is
survived by her children: Alta Strode of Flagler; Rethal Eaton of Santa Ana,
California; Gilbert Strode of Portland, Oregon; Elnora Bradley of Wendell,
Idaho, Jay Strode of McNeil, Arizona, Clayton Strode of Bloomington, California;
Stanley Strode of Flagler; and Faye Hackerson of El Paso, Texas; as well as
numerous grandchildren and Great grandchildren.