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| Irma Belshaw, 85, former Forest Lake Times reporter, editor |
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| Wednesday, 03 February 2010 | |
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Cliff Buchan News Editor A former editor and reporter for the Forest Lake Times has died. Irma Belshaw, who covered community and family news for the weekly newspaper in the early 1970s, died on Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 after battling cancer. She was 85. Belshaw was a housewife in Forest Lake when she joined the newspaper in mid-1969 as “Family Page” editor. It was her job to compile community news, church events, school news, college honors, weddings, engagements and anniversaries and hospital news. She also wrote feature stories and was a staff photographer. She held the position for more than five years before leaving the paper in 1974. A native of Illinois, Belshaw married her high school sweetheart, Bill Belshaw after graduating high school in Edwardsville. After her husband’s military service in the Navy, he joined American Telephone and Telegraph. The couple lived in Wisconsin and North Dakota before moving to Forest Lake in 1963, said her daughter, Bev Gabrick of Linwood. The family moved to Red Wing for several years before moving back to this area. The Belshaws lived in Wyoming as Bill Belshaw completed his career with AT&T and retired. Irma Belshaw worked at a number of part-time jobs over the years, her daughter said. The jobs including preparing and distributing food samples at area grocery stores, working with home interior product demonstrations and selling jewelry at Twin Cities department stores. She also became active in the Pentecost church. She was an active member of area Pentecost congregations for about 25 years, her daughter said. “The church became a real focal point in her life,” Bev Gabrick said. She remained at her home in Wyoming for a short time following her husband’s death in 2004. They were married for just over 60 years. In 2005 she moved to a home-based assisted living facility and then to the Arbors in Forest Lake. In December of last year, she moved to Birchwood Health Care Center to receive extended care. Funeral details A funeral service for Irma Belshaw was Tuesday, Feb. 2 at World of Pentecost Church, 16060 NW Crosstown Blvd., Andover, with interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. She is survived by her children, Jan Knauff, Ron (Norma) Belshaw, Bev (Rich) Gabrick, Gary Belshaw and Chris (Cheryl) Belshaw; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sisters, Hilda Schlemer-Barth and Marlene (Jerry) Johnson; brothers, Lester (Eileen) Howerton and Glen (Cathy) Howerton; nieces, nephews; and many church friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Belshaw; brothers, Kenneth Dale Howerton and Harold Howerton. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, in care of Mattson Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake, 55025. Social Bookmarking ...       |
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