Lila I. (Blecha) Manley

FAIRFAX, Iowa -- Lila I. (Blecha) Manley, 72, died Sunday (Feb. 1, 2004) at her home in Fairfax, Iowa after a long illness.

She was born April 23, 1931, to Albert and Hattie (Wilkinson) Blecha in Benkelman.

On June 25, 1950, she married Keith D. Manley. In the early 50s, she taught school in a one room schoolhouse in Nebraska and for 20 years she worked as a bookkeeper for farm equipment companies. Her husband died Feb. 2, 1981, in Yuma, Ariz.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Keith; two brothers, Walter and Dale Blecha; and a sister, Mary Helen Gadeken.

Survivors include her children, Martin Manley and wife, Sandy of Ramona, Calif., and Sharla Manley of Fairfax; two sisters, Ila League of Stratton and Virginia Blecha of Omaha; and eight grandchildren.

Services are today, 2 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church near Ely, Iowa with the Rev. Bob David officiating. Inurnment will be in Linwood Mausoleum in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Friends and family can sign the guestbook at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under "obituaries."

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society or Hospice of Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids.

Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home of Cedar Rapids is in charge of the arrangements.