Richard Ferguson

Richard John (Dick) Ferguson was born October 18, 1923 to Everett L. and Gladys Miller Ferguson at their farm home near Mechanicsville, Iowa. He attended Pioneer #5 country school for 8 years and graduated from Mechanicsville High School in 1941. He attended Tipton Junior College until 1943 when he joined the Navy. Dick served in the Armed Guard Unit of the Navy as a radioman in the South Pacific until 1946. He then worked on the family farm until 1948 when he went to work as a bookkeeper at the Tipton State Bank. He married Mary Cruse of Mechanicsville in 1949, they later divorced. On June 10, 1979, Dick was united in marriage to Cleo Dahlgren at Lake Tahoe, Nevada. . He retired as Executive Vice-President from the bank in 1986. During his banking career, he served as chairman of Group 8 (8 Eastern Iowa counties) for 2 years, as president of Mississippi Valley (NABA) National Association of Bank Auditors, and on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Independent Banker's Association. After retirement from the bank he worked for Wingert Real estate for 10 years. He was active in many community activities; serving on the Chamber of Commerce, serving on the board of directors as treasurer of Cedar Manor. He also served as board member and treasurer of the original TEDCO. He was a lifetime member of the Royal Order of the Moose as well as the VFW. He was a 50 year plus member of the Bush-Dennis Post of the American Legion in Mechanicsville. He was president and long time member of the Tipton Rotary Club and received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award. Dick was past board member and officer of the Tipton Country Club. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Tipton. Dick is survived by his wife, Cleo Ferguson of Tipton, Iowa; step-sons, Dwight Dahlgren , Devin (Kathi) Dahlgren; step-daughter, Denise (Mike) Goetz of Tipton, Iowa; step-grandchildren, Brad Goetz, Alicia Goetz, Gareth Dahlgren, Crystal Bos, Kayla Bos; sister, Bar Wallick of Tipton, Iowa; brother, Dave (Dorothy) of Mechanicsville, Iowa; sister-in-law, Loretta Ferguson of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Everett and Gladys Ferguson; brother, Walt Ferguson; brother-in-law, Orin Wallick; nephew, Brad Ferguson; and niece, Cecilia Ferguson. Memorials may be made to Cedar Manor Nursing Home and the Tipton Ambulance.