Rex Louis Rhoten, 79, died on May 30, 2023. He was born on Feb. 6, 1944, to William and Olive (Fox) Rhoten in Magnolia. He attended Magnolia High School and upon graduation immediately enlisted in the US Navy. He served in San Diego, Calif.; Jacksonville, Fla.; the Philippines, Guam, the USS Hancock CVA19 and the USS Ranger CV4. He attained the rank of Airman Electrician 3rd Class Petty Officer before his honorable discharge in 1965. After his military service, Rex returned to Magnolia and started work at PVS in Carter Lake, working there for approximately 40 years. After leaving PVS, he worked for CON-E-CO in Blair, Neb. for nine years. Rex was united in marriage on Sept. 3, 1966, to Janet Ellsworth in the Magnolia United Methodist Church. They continued to reside in Magnolia. To this union two sons were born, Micah John and David Lee.
Rex was a member of the American Legion O’Hara Seeley Post in Magnolia, the VFW and served as the President of the Magnolia Protestant Cemetery Board. Along with family, he also was caretaker of the cemetery for 38 years. Rex served on the Magnolia City Council for several years and was also a member of the Magnolia Log Cabin Committee. He attended Grace Community Fellowship in Missouri Valley. For many years, Rex successfully operated his own handyman service as he was a jack of all trades and part of that was mowing lawns. He dearly loved to mow with his Grasshopper riding mower.
Rex was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, James and his wife Velva, Roy (who went down with the USS Indianapolis in World War II), Glen, Lyle, Doris and her husband Ervin Konz, Clara and her husband Swan Magnuson, Donna and her husband Marvin Levell and Betty; deceased in-laws, Ed Fitzgerald, Robert Hart, John Keeven, Beverly Rhoten and father and mother-in-law, Ralph and Blythe Ellsworth.
He is survived by his wife, Janet Rhoten of Magnolia; sons, Micah and his wife Susan of Omaha, David and his wife Stephanie of Glenwood; four grandchildren, Joshua, Olivia, Edward and Arthur; sisters, Sarah Fitzgerald of Florida; Agnes Hart and Mary Keeven of Missouri; brothers, Tom Rhoten of Washington and Paul and his wife Michelle Rhoten of Magnolia; brother and sister-in-law Kenneth and Brenda Ellsworth of Logan; brother-in-law, Jim Ball of Missouri; sister-in-law, Ellen Rhoten of Omaha; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
A funeral service was held on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Grace Community Fellowship in Missouri Valley. Brad Westercamp presided over the service. The organist was Tammi Mether with congregational musical selections of “Victory in Jesus” and “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. The recorded musical selections were “On My Father’s Side” by Tim Menzies and “I Then Shall Live” by the Gaithers. The pallbearers were Gene Barber, Larry Hammitt, Roy Rhoten, Joshua Rhoten, John Rounds and Roger Rounds. Military rites were performed by Logan VFW Post 6259 and Magnolia American Legion O’Hara Seeley Post 612. Rex’s final resting place is at the Magnolia Cemetery.
Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine was in charge of the arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com
