Reta Ruth Beemblossom, age 81, of Washington, Iowa, died Wednesday, September 7, 2016, at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City following a brief illness.

Celebration of life services will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 12, 2016, at the United Methodist Church in Washington with Pastor Ben Blanchard officiating. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Sunday, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Reta was passionate about education and supporting students, please consider donating to the Earnest and Reta Beemblossom Scholarship Fund in lieu of flowers. Online condolences may be sent for Reta's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

Reta Ruth Ahrens was born April 5, 1935, in Washington, Iowa, the daughter of Harold Logan and Ruth Wilma (Tellin) Ahrens. She attended Country School in rural Washington County and later attended Washington Community Schools graduating from High School in 1953. Reta furthered her education at Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and graduated from Iowa Wesleyan College in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. She was united in marriage to Earnest Gene Beemblossom on June 8, 1957, in Washington, Iowa.

Reta lived most of her life in Washington, Iowa. Following their marriage, Reta and Earnie lived for three years in Marion, Iowa, and two years in New London, Iowa, before returning to Washington. Reta worked as a teacher for the Head Start Program in Washington before beginning her employment with the Washington Community School District in 1976 where she worked as an Elementary School Teacher until her retirement in 1997.

Reta was a member of the United Methodist Church; the Washington Education Association; the Iowa State Education Association and the National Education Association. She was a member of the Washington Community Y and the Washington Golf and Country Club. Reta was a social person and enjoyed being around her many friends at Halcyon House. She cherished the time she spent with her family.

Reta is survived by her daughter, Veta Thode and husband Mark of Washington, Iowa; daughter, Jean Knowles and husband Jim of Washington, Iowa; four grandchildren: Jaci Thode, Alex Thode, Laura Kies and husband Eric, and Tyler Knowles and wife Brooke; five great grandchildren: Maddox & Kennon Kies, and Carter, Reid & Cashin Knowles; sister, Margaret Ellingson and husband Pete of Minnesota; brother, Phil Ahrens of Washington, Iowa; nephew, Todd Ahrens; nephew, Craig Ahrens and wife Nikki; and one sister-in-law, Maxine Metzger.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Ruth Ahrens; and husband, Earnest Beemblossom in 2003.