Gracia L. Forney, 90, formerly of rural Rodney and most recently of Spirit Lake, died Monday, July 13, 2026.
Gracia was born April 15, 1936, to Byron and Dorothy Cleveland Aldrich in the family home near Rodney.
She grew up surrounded by a close extended family that included her grandparents, Lewis and Grace Cleveland; her mother; her brother, Lowell; and her aunt and uncle, Hazel and Jim Cleveland.
According to her obituary, Jim Cleveland became an important father figure for the family after returning from military service in the South Pacific during World War II.
Gracia attended elementary school in Rodney and graduated from Smithland High School in 1954. She then moved to Omaha, where she worked as a secretary for Mutual of Omaha.
She married Orval Donald “Don” Forney in 1957. Their son, Gregory, was born in 1958, followed by their daughter, Teresa, in 1959.
The family moved several times while Don worked in heavy construction, including projects connected to the development of the interstate highway system. They eventually returned to the family farm near Rodney.
Don operated Forney Construction, a carpentry business that Gracia managed for decades. Together, they built a home on the family farm in the Loess Hills, only a short distance from the house where Gracia was born.
The farm remained at the center of Gracia’s life. Her obituary notes that she spent most of her years there surrounded by family, familiar countryside and the community that shaped her childhood.
Gracia was an active member of the United Church of Christ in Rodney. She taught Sunday school, served as Sunday school superintendent and held several positions on the church board.
While her children were young, Gracia was a stay-at-home mother and supported their activities through the Maple Valley Band Booster Club.
After her children graduated, she returned to the workforce. Gracia worked as a secretary in law offices in Mapleton and Omaha before spending many years at Mapleton Trust and Savings Bank. She retired in 2001.
Gracia and Don enjoyed retirement on the family farm, attending their children’s concerts and performances, spending time with their grandchildren and traveling across the country.
She was also a devoted caregiver to her mother, aunt and uncle as they grew older.
Don died in 2019. Gracia continued living on the family farm for four more years with her beloved dog, Dottie Belle, before moving to WEL-Life assisted living in Spirit Lake in 2023.
Gracia is survived by her son, Greg Forney and his wife, Julie, of Spirit Lake; her daughter, Teresa Keehn and her husband, Terry, of Salem, South Dakota; grandchildren Brian Forney, Nicholas Forney, Kelly Keehn, Alex Keehn, Nathan Forney, Logan Keehn and Audra Bertram; their spouses; and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Don; and her brother, Lowell.
The family will greet friends beginning at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 17, 2026, at the United Church of Christ in Rodney.
The funeral service will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent in Gracia’s memory to the United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 71, Rodney, Iowa 51051.
Turner Jenness Family Funeral Home is handling arrangements. To read more and see the full obituary, please click here.
If you would like an obituary, remembrance or tribute story published in NIT, please email the details to NORTHIOWATODAY@GMAIL.COM. This is a free service.