Cleo Corinne Ferguson

Cleo Corinne Ferguson, 90, of Tipton, passed away peacefully with her daughter by her side on February 17, 2026, at Cedar Manor Nursing Home in Tipton. Services for Cleo will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Tipton. Visitation will take place from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., followed immediately by her funeral service at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow in the fellowship hall, after which a private family graveside service and burial will take place at Tipton Masonic Cemetery. Online condolences, photos, and memories may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com.

Cleo was born on March 22, 1935, in Woolstock, Iowa, to Luther and Evelyn Disney. She attended country school in Woolstock through 9th grade before graduating from Clarion High School in 1953. She went on to attend junior college for two years and then began her teaching career in Goldfield, Iowa.

In 1955, Cleo married Carroll Dahlgren and stepped away from teaching to raise their three children: Dwight, Denise, and Devin. The family later moved to Elkhorn, Nebraska, where she returned to teaching in 1962. A year later, they moved to Tipton, where Cleo earned her BA from the University of Iowa. She went on to teach first, second, and third grade in Tipton for the next 32 years. After retiring, she continued to serve the district for 12 more years as a volunteer and substitute teacher.

Teaching was woven through Cleo’s life and family. Her mother taught before her, and Cleo carried that calling into her own long career in the Tipton schools. That same dedication continued through her daughter Denise’s 35 years in elementary education and her granddaughter Alicia’s 12 years of teaching — a four‑generation legacy Cleo was deeply proud of.

Cleo was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she served in various roles over the years. Her faith, her commitment to education, and her desire to help others shaped the way she lived and gave back to her community.

She was active in many NEA and ISEA programs and served as president of FINE in Education in Des Moines. In Tipton, she served as president of Friends of the Library, was a member of the backpack committee, and participated in the Cedar County Old Jail Restoration Committee. For many years, she also enjoyed working at the elections.

In her free time, Cleo loved reading, quilting, sewing, crocheting, and knitting. Time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great‑grandchildren brought her the greatest joy. She cherished being with them, especially when she could share a book, a story, or a quiet moment together. Playing bridge with friends was another highlight of her days, often filling two or three afternoons each week.

Survivors include her daughter, Denise (Mike) Goetz; grandchildren Brad and Alicia (Tyler) Craig; and great‑grandchildren Cameron, Josie, and Tessa. She is also survived by her son, Devin (Kathryn) Dahlgren; step‑grandchildren Crystal (Matthew) Harvey and their son Skyler, and Kayla (Joshua) Griffin and their son Maddox. Additional survivors include her grandson, Gareth Dahlgren, and great‑grandchildren Ryker and Forest; her sister, Verneil Downing; and her brother, George (Marilyn) Disney.

Cleo was preceded in death by her husbands, Carroll Dahlgren and Richard Ferguson; her son, Dwight; and her brother, Stan Disney.

Memorials in Cleo’s honor may be made to the Tipton Elementary School book fund or the Tipton Public Library.