Le Mensching

Le Ila Darlene Mensching, 79, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Sunday, November 25, 2001, at the Atlantic Nursing and Rehab Center where she was a resident.The daughter of Jesse Francis and Marie Inez Corey Bonar, Le Ila was born July 18, 1922 at Dunlap, Iowa where she grew up and graduated from Dunlap High School in 1941. Her marriage to Harry Frederick Mensching took place on August 28, 1941 in Blair, Nebraska. Following marriage, they moved to San Diego where Harry was employed at the Consolidated Bomber Plant. They moved to Pisgah, Iowa and Harry was drafted into the United States Air Corp. During this time, Le Ila stayed with Harry's parents. When Harry returned from the war, they farmed in the Pisgah and Dunlap areas. Years later they lived in Storm Lake, IA, Appletown, WI and South Bend, IN before moving back to Pisgah. Then Le Ila and Harry went on a harvest run from the middle of Texas to Kansas where she was the cook while Harry ran the combine. They then moved to Kimballton where they owned and operated the Hill Top Drive-In and later moved to Carroll where they owned and operated Todd's Drive-In. They lived in San Diego for several years before moving to Fayette, Missouri and then to Atlantic in 1986. Le Ila was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic and loved to crochet, read and do needlework. she crocheted doll clothes, afghans and dollies of which many were given to relatives and friends.Surviving are her husband Harry of Atlantic; two sons, Ralph Mensching and wife Susan of Edgewood, Washington and Gene Mensching and wife Susan of Peosta, Iowa; one daughter Donna Larsen and husband Gary of Exira, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Troy Larsen of Chicago, IL; Jodi Larsen of Omaha, NE, Jesse Larsen of Exira, IA, Rob Mensching of Seattle, WA, Gabe Mensching of Dubuque, IA, Steve Mensching of Tacoma, WA and Tina Stern of Olympia, WA; six great-grandchildren, Bryce, Chloe and Broderick Mensching, Karah Collin and Corbin Stern; two brothers, Howard Bonar and wife Darlene of Anchorage, AK and Donald Bonar and wife Mary of Grand Junction, CO; a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.She is preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Ivan Bonar and Francis (in infancy); three sisters, Rose Ann Nelson, Nina Weigart and Arvella (in infancy).Funeral InformationServices for Le Ila will be held on Thursday, November 29, 2001, at 10:30 AM at the Zion Lutheran Church in Atlantic with Pastor Allen D. Hellwege officiating. Interment will be in the Atlantic Cemetery.