Iola Scherbenske

Iola Lucille Buckingham Scherbenske, 88, Jamestown, ND, left this world on January 28, 2013. She had resided at Ava Maria Village since November 25, 2003.

Iola was born August 15, 1924 in Crawford, Nebraska, the daughter of Ross and Nancy Buckingham and was the oldest of seven children, Iola, Bill, Dean, Irma, Jack, Bruce and Harriet. Iola grew up in Crawford, next to Fort Robinson. It was at Fort Robinson where she sang in the Officers Club of the World War II prisoners of war interment camp and met her husband, Rueben. Rueben and Iola married on May 8, 1945 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They returned to Jamestown in 1946 where Rueben started a dairy farm and worked with his father John in the gravel business. Never to let grass grow under their feet, the farm expanded, the family grew and they started Scherbenske Excavating & Trucking.

Iola never lost her love of singing or children. You could hear her singing as she drove tractor in the field, milking cows, hanging clothes on the line or keeping books for the growing business. Iola and Rueben were also foster parents, taking in several children over 20 years. In the evening as activities wound down she and Rueben could be found playing cards with their kids or their many friends with popcorn popping on the stove. She was a member of the St. Paul?s Methodist Church Women?s Circle for 40+ years.

Iola is survived by nine children: Danny (Sharla) Matteson, Jamestown, Gerry (Judy) Scherbenske, Jamestown, Shirley (John) Krohn, Eden Prairie, MN, Nick (Rita) Scherbenske, Jamestown, Lydia Jean (Jim) Hillerson, Fargo, ND, Pam (Jerry) Szarkowski, Jamestown, Mike (Dana) Scherbenske, Winnemucca, NV; Sharon (Leo) Goldade, Dacono, CO and Tina Scherbenske, Fargo, ND; 21 grandchildren; and 36 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rueben; an infant daughter, Claudine Kay; parents; and siblings, Bill, Dean, Jack and Harriet.