June 2025

Joan L. Heiter, 82, of Humboldt, passed away on Tuesday morning, June 24, 2025 at Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge.
Joan was born March 18, 1943 in Bradgate, the daughter of John and Edna (Henderson) Madsen. She grew up in the Bradgate area and attended Bradgate School and graduated from Gilmore City-Bradgate High School in 1961. Joan married Carl Heiter and they later divorced. Joan was then united in marriage to Gerald L. “Jerry” Heiter on March 17, 1967. The couple made their home in Humboldt. She worked as a dispatcher for a number of years at the Humboldt Law Enforcement Center and she and Jerry were caretakers at Union Cemetery in Humboldt. Joan enjoyed quilting and crocheting, playing the piano and served as the church organist at both Rutland Trinity Lutheran Church and Lake Lutheran Church near Renwick.

Laila M. Kinseth, 94, of Bode, passed away on Thursday evening, June 19, 2025 at her home in Bode.
Laila was born March 9, 1931 in Ottosen, Iowa, the daughter of Carl “Albert” and Anna S. (Gravlund) Bratland. She was raised and educated in Bode, graduating from Bode High School in 1949. Laila worked at the Bode movie theatre and took great pride working as the personal assistant to the school superintendent during high school and later working at Eastman Studio. She was united in marriage to Arlis L. Kinseth on December 1, 1951. The couple made their home in Bode and Laila worked as a teller for the Bode State Bank. Laila enjoyed reading, cooking, her dogs, camping, traveling and adventures throughout the United States with Arlis. Family was important to her and she was always available to help care for family. Laila was an active member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, a member of the Women of St. Olaf, the Community Club and the American Legion Auxiliary.

By APRIL KELLEY
The Des Moines River was the main topic of conversation during the Humboldt County Conservation Board meeting on Wednesday, June 18.

Humboldt County Conservation Director Dave Lee told the board that he had been in contact with John Wenck who is the Water Trails Coordinator with the DNR.

Water Trails are recreational corridors and routes on rivers and lakes designed to provide adequate access points and amenities for canoeists and kayakers in the state of Iowa.
Wenck suggested that they map the Des Moines River to continue the water trails.

“At this time it pretty much stops at the border of Humboldt. It would attract people if we were to have a completed map of this stretch of the river,” Lee said.

Lee described the mapping similar to Google Street View for roads. People would be able to input their route and see where access points are, curves or rapids in the river and any other obstacles.