Bette Eleanor File Gossen Lensch Dennis

F, (1923 - 2006)
Bette (File) Gossen Dennis,
1923-2006
Father*Edward File (1881 - 1952)
Mother*Dora Boll File (1893 - 1984)
Name Variation Eleanor Bette 
Birth*7 Mar 1923 Rock Rapids, Lyon, Iowa (IA), United States (US)1 
Married Name Gossen [File] 
Marriage* Groom=Delphin John Gossen 
Divorce*20 Oct 1955 Principal=Delphin John Gossen2 
Married Name1 Apr 1962 Lensch [File] 
Marriage*1 Apr 1962 Rock, Minnesota (MN), United States (US); Principal=Robert Kenneth Lensch3 
Married Name1999 Dennis [File] 
Marriage*1999 Principal=Frank Dennis 
Death*10 May 2006 1 
Note12 May 2006 obituary: Des Moines (Iowa) Register, Friday 12 May 2006/s.A/p.7/c.1/ Bette (File) Dennis4 
Burial*13 May 2006 Decorah, Winnesheik, Iowa (IA), United States (US)1 
Note*17 May 2006 obituary: The Lyon County (Iowa) Reporter, Wednesday 17 May 2006/s.A/p.3/c.4, 5&61 
Biography* Bette File Gossen Lensch Dennis, 1923-2006:
Bette was the fifth of nine children and the second of four daughters. Her father Edward was born in Illinois. her mother Dora was a first generation German-American born in Iowa. In 1930 the family was renting, for $15/month, at 202 E Fifth Street in Rock Rapids. Her father Edward was working as a farm laborer. In 1940, they were renting in Doon township for $10/month and the father, with an eighth grade education, was working in a Public Emergency Work program. In 1939, he worked 25-weeks and earned wages of $300. Bette married Delphin Gossen and on 15 June 1942 he enlisted in the U. S. Army and wasn't discharged until 18 October 1945. In the inerim Bette was the family breadwinner in support of herself and their two small children. In 1950, the family lived at 201½ Story Street in Rock Rapids. During the war years and after, she worked as a waitress, sales person, administrator for Farm Bureau Insurance, house mother at Iowa Methodist School of Nursing, and as a unit clerk at Iowa Methodist Medical Center. She and Delphin were divorced in 1955. In the settlement Bettie was awarded custody of the children, possession of the household goods and had to pay court costs and her attorney fees. Delphin was awarded visitation rights and the 1942 Dodge and had to pay support of $26/month for each child until the age of 18 and his attorney fees. In 1962, Bette married Robert Lensch. He died in 1982. In 1987, Bette was living at 2137 Evergreen Place in West Des Moines, Iowa. In 1999, she married Frank Dennis.

Bette, 83, of Decorah died on a Wednesday. Survivors included her husband Frank, two sons , 10 step-children, several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, two brothers, Ken File of Cherokee, Iowa and Gene File of Le Mars, Iowa and one sister, Joyce Mantle of Rock Rapids. Memorial services were held on Saturday at Saint Mark Lutheran Church with private internment in Decorah.

NOTE: Bette's obituary lists Decorah, Iowa as her residence but her actual death place has not been identified. The obituary lists Bette's funeral as having taken place at St. Mark Litheran Church. There is a Lutheran church in Decorah but it is not named St. Mark. The obituary also states that she was buried in Decorah. There are nine cemeteries in Decorah, five of which are identified as Lutheran. Her second husband Robert Lensch is buried in Springfield Cemetery 6.6 miles south of Decorah. Mayhaps Bette is buried there. 
Last Edited3 May 2023

Citations

  1. [S18] Obituary,.
  2. [S1597] Newspaper item.
  3. [S1843] MACO eCounties., Minnesota Official Marriage System - Marriage Index (published on the World Wide Web by MACO),.
  4. [S2065] Newspapers.com.

Paul Harold Carpenter1

M, (1899 - 1983)
Father*William A. B. Carpenter (1866 - 1943)
Mother*Esther Lynch Carpenter (1868 - 1916)
Name Variation Harold 
Birth*19 Dec 1899 Fort Dodge, Webster, Iowa (IA), United States (US)2,3 
Marriage*26 Nov 1926 Everett, Washington (WA), United States (US); Principal=Elvey (?) Carpenter4 
Marriage*1 Jun 1959 Cherokee, Cherokee, Iowa (IA), United States (US); Bride=Ethel Marguerite Gossen McCord Carpenter4 
Death*15 Aug 1983 Cherokee, Cherokee, Iowa (IA), United States (US)1 
Note*16 Aug 1983 obituary: Cherokee (Iowa) Daily Times, Tuesday, August 16, 1983/p.2/c.21 
Burial*18 Aug 1983 Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cherokee, Iowa (IA), United States (US)1 
Biography* Paul Harold Carpenter, 1899-1983:
Paul was the second of five sons. His father William was a first generation English-American born in New York and his mother Esther was a first generation Irish-Scotch-American born in Pennsylvania. In 1900 the family was renting at 1000 Eighth Street in Fort Dodge City (Wahtousa township), Webster County, Iowa. The father William was a brakeman on the railroad. An occupation that Paul was due to follow. In 1910, they owned a mortgaged house on 326 South Fifth Street and the father William was now a conductor. A career path that Paul would also follow. In 1916, Paul, who had completed one year of high school, went to work as a brakeman on the Illinois Central Railroad (ICRR). By 1918, when Paul registered for the World War I draft, the family had moved to Cherokee, Iowa and were living at 344 East Main Street. He was described as being of medium height and slender build with brown eyes and hair. By 1930, married, Paul and wife Elvey were renting at 2315 George Street in Sioux City, Woodbury County, Iowa for $30/month. In 1939, Paul, now a conductor, worked 45-weeks and earned $2,460 in wages. By 1940, he and Elvey owned a $2,500 duplex at 220 East Main in the 2nd ward of Cherokee. They rented-out the other half. Paul worked 50-hours in the week-ending 30 March. He registered for the World War II draft in 1942 at age 42. Paul was 5'-11'' tall, weighed 150 pounds. His eyes were hazel, he had gray hair and a ruddy complexion. The registration was signed Paul Harold Carpenter on the 16th of February. Paul also owned and operated the Tomahawk Skating Rink. In 1949, he worked 50-weeks and earned $3,000. Other relatives in the household earned $400 and they made $3,000 from the skating rink. Wife Elvey died in 1958 and the following year Paul married the widow Ethel (Gossen) McCord. He retired from the railroad in 1962 after 46-years. Paul was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.

Paul, 84, of 232 East Maple Street in Cherokee, died on a Monday at Sioux Valley Memorial Hospital after a lengthy illness. Survivors included his wife, Ethel; a son, a daughter, six grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a brother, Donald Carpenter of Belleville, Illinois. The funeral was held Thursday at Immaculate Conception Church with Rev A. E. McCoy officiating. He was buried with his first wife. Greenwood Funeral Home was in charge.

NOTE: There is disagreement in the records over Paul's birth year. His Iowa County birth record and his World War II draft registration list it as 1899. His World War I draft registration, obituary and tombstone list 1898. We have chosen to use 1899 because of the Iowa birth record. 
Last Edited12 Apr 2023

Citations

  1. [S18] Obituary,.
  2. [S1848] World War II draft reg from https://www.familysearch.org/
  3. [S2066] LDS family search, Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935.
  4. [S18] Obituary, his.