Funeral services for George Edward (Ed) Menefee, age 87, formerly of rural Hartland, will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the United Methodist Church in Ellendale. The Rev. Gary Liker will officiate. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday at the Bonnerup Funeral Service in Ellendale, and one hour before the service at the church.

Mr. Menefee died of cancer on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2003, at the New Richland Care Center, where he had resided since October 2000.

He was born on Oct. 1, 1915, in Omaha, Neb., the eldest child of Grant Emmett Menefee and Ruth (Stokes) Menefee.

He was raised in Iowa and graduated from Albia High School in Albia, Iowa. He worked for a short time as a coal miner, served in the CCC Camps during the Depression, and served in the Civil Air Patrol during World War II.

He was united in marriage to Beulah P. Olson on Oct. 23, 1937, in Hampton,

Iowa.

Following their marriage they lived and farmed in Wright County, Iowa. In 1948, they moved to Minnesota to the present Menefee farm in rural Hartland. He had been a member of the United Methodist Church in Rowan, Iowa, until transferring his membership to the United Methodist Church in Ellendale.

Ed farmed in Bath Township in Freeborn County and worked many years at Rasco Wood Products in Clarks Grove, until he retired. He enjoyed a good joke, fishing, traveling, crossword puzzles, flying, playing pool, and golfing.

He is survived by six children: Sandra Menefee Taylor of St. Paul, Gregg Menefee of rural Hartland, Sally Menefee and her husband Steve Oehlerich of Roseville, Minn., Connie and her husband Maurie Schuman of Kearney, Neb., Jon and her husband Reuben Calderon of Dripping Springs, Texas, and Roxane and her husband, Larry Ray of Rocky Mount, Va.; 15 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; a brother, Kenneth and his wife Lou Menefee of Downers Grove, Ill.; a sister, Betty and her husband Ennes Stagers of Las Vegas, Nev.; several nieces and nephews; and special friend, Francis Misgen.

He was preceded in death by his wife, and his parents.

Ed will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

The family wishes to express gratitude to the staff at the New Richland Care Center for seeing him through his final journey.