Marguerite Farren, age 89, of Newton and formerly of Colo, died Tuesday, December 23, 2014, at Park Centre in Newton.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2014, at Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada, with burial to follow in the Colo Cemetery.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Sunday one hour prior  to services. 

Marguerite Farren was born on December 21, 1925, in Nevada, Iowa, to Floyd and Ada (Wescott) Oswalt. She attended Prairie Flower country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Collins Community High School in 1943.   Marguerite attended college at Cedar Falls and Drake University, majoring in elementary education.  She taught country school and later went to Colo where she taught fifth grade in the public school. 

On July 10, 1949, she married Richard Schyler Farren and lived in Colo.  After Richard’s passing in 1975, Marguerite worked for a children’s clothing store in Ames.  She worked in retail for 12 years meeting many wonderful friends. Her last 14 years were spent at Park Centre in Newton, where she was taken care of since unsuccessful hip surgery.  She was unable to walk so was confined to her chair and bed.  She was a strong, brave lady who made her family very proud.

Her life was spent enjoying her children and their families.  She and Richard have three children:  Patty (Tim) Dykstra of Newton, Jean (Roger) Bellinghausen of Newell, and Mark (Julie) Farren of Colo.  Her 10 grandchildren are  Angie (Kasey) Barnes of Newton, T.J. (Amy) Dykstra of Altoona, Beth Bellinghausen of Lawton, Ashley (Brandon) Brock of Alta, Lance Bellinghausen of Newell, Kira (Rob) Nelson of Roland, Kylee (Brad) Fleming of Nevada, Taylor (Kaleb) Applegate of Garwin, and Madison and McKenna Farren of Colo. She also has 13 great-grandchildren; a sister, Lola Whitaker of Collins; and several wonderful nieces and nephews.

As a 50+ year member of the Colo United Methodist Church, she was in many groups and was an active volunteer whenever needed.  She was a 50-year member of the Isabelle Order of the Eastern Star #271, where she held local and state offices, and also was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Colo BF&T club, and United Methodist Women.  Marguerite was involved in many community activities and was an avid reader, embroiderer, and cook.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Richard; her parents; three brothers, Bill, Gayle, and Russ Oswalt; a sister, Norene Hale; and a son-in-law, Tim Dykstra.

Ryan Funeral Home of Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Marguerite and her family.  Memorials in Marguerite's name may be directed to the Colo Fire Department.