Valores Young

Valores E. “Val” Young, 77, of Clear Lake, died Sunday, May 5, 2013 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, surrounded by her family.

Do to her wishes, she has been cremated and a “Celebration of Life” Memorial Service will be held in the near future.  Family has established a memorial fund at Clear Lake Bank and Trust so that she can continue to give to the community she loved.

Valores was born Oct. 27, 1935 in Mason City, the daughter of Leland and Delavin (Andrews) Guldberg.  She graduated from Thornton High School, Thornton, Iowa, in 1953.  

She married Russell Young on Jan. 30, 1954 at the Methodist Church Parsonage, Clear Lake.  For over 59 years they have celebrated their lives together in Clear Lake where they raised their three sons, Randy, Rick and Ron.

She began her retail career at Fareway Foods, before joining her mother-in-law, Jenny Young, in running Oluf  T. Hansen’s for over 30 plus years, where she got to know many  Clear Lake and area residents.  Her grandchildren were always amazed that when she walked down the street everyone knew their grandmother.  To her, a stranger was someone she just had not yet had a chance to talk to.

Valores was an active member of the Clear Lake Chamber and was Grand Marshall of the Fourth of July parade in 2005.  She helped Mad Hatter with getting the Buddy Holly Tribute started, renaming the street, maintaining the park on 8th and Main, Iowa State Fair Singers, Ridiculous Days, Fourth of July and the Santa House.  She was very passionate about Clear Lake, Main Street and small businesses in the area, working hard to develop programs and events that enhanced Clear Lake as a place to live and visit.  Valores was on the founding committee of the Christmas By the Lake.  She worked year round those first years to insure it was a first class contribution to our town. 

She enjoyed gardening, playing cards, knitting, doing great adventures with family, dancing, reading, listening to 50’s music and especially playing with the grandkids.  She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.  She will be dearly missed by her friends and family.

Valores is survived by her husband, Russell Young, Clear Lake; three children, Randy (Kim) Young, Clear Lake, Rick (Jeri) Young, Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Ron Young, Clear Lake, Iowa; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.  

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Gwynn Coyle.  

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.