Mavis L. Richards

Mavis L. Richards, 87, of Mason City, died peacefully Thursday, May 26, 2016, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Tuesday, May 31, 2016, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue with Pastor Kathy Graves officiating. Interment will be in Elk Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Kensett. Visitation will be one hour prior to services Tuesday at the church. Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Hospice of North Iowa, Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank or donor’s choice.

Mavis was born June 30, 1928, in Kensett, IA, the daughter of Bennie and Lilly (Groe) Brunsvold. She graduated from Kensett High School in 1946, and continued her education at Hamilton Business College. On January 11, 1953, Mavis married Selmer F. “Buster” Richards at Elk Creek Lutheran Church. Mavis and Buster were blessed with 61 years of marriage where together they enjoyed gardening, camping in every continental state and traveling internationally in their retirement years. Mavis worked at Standard Oil before her children were born. She later returned to the work force and became employed with Rockwell Collins for 15 years before retiring in 1993. Mavis’ greatest joy was being a grandmother and all the love and laughter she shared will be missed. She also enjoyed cross stitch and baking Norwegian pastries and dishes – especially her family’s favorite, lefse. Mavis was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she was involved with church circle and many other capacities including the weekly newsletter/bulletin folding team for 23 years. Mavis will be laid to rest at Elk Creek Cemetery on the very land her Grandfather homesteaded on arriving from Norway.

Mavis is survived by her children: Cynthia Walker of Mason City, David (Rachael) Richards of West Des Moines, IA, and Susan (Craig) Porter of West Des Moines; grandchildren: Kendra, Jarid, Kiley, and Dylan Richards, Evan and Elyse Porter; great-grandchildren: Reese and Daxton Richards; sister: Lois Heflin of Alden, IA; nieces: Barb (Paul) Niedermeyer and Mary (David) Snower; nephew: Mark (Connie) Heflin and many special cousins, great nieces and great nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 2014; brother-in-law: Frank Heflin; and sister-in-law: Ruby Richards.