Mervin R. “Dusty” Rhoads, 94, Oregon, died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012 at Pinecrest Manor, Mt. Morris.
 
He was born May 22, 1918 in Rudd, Iowa the son of John A. and Lola (Whitaker) Rhoads.

He graduated from Oregon High School where he was active in football and basketball.

Dusty was the last surviving member of the 1936 high school basketball conference championship team.

He attended Cornell College where he was also active in sports.

He married Janet Lou Smith on Sept. 27, 1941 in Mankato, Minn.; she died in 1999.
He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.

He managed lumber yards in Luana, Iowa, Primghar, Iowa, and Glencoe, Minn. before returning to Oregon in 1952.

Mervin and Charles Mongan formed Ogle Lumber Company, which he managed until the business was sold to J.H Patterson Compnay in the late 1970s.

He belonged to the Oregon Lions Club and was a 60-year Mason.

He also served on the Oregon Planning Commission and was a founding member of St. Bride’s Episcopal Church.

He enjoyed fishing in Minnesota, golf, yard work, and his cats.

Mervin and his family appreciated the care he received from the staff at Pinecrest over the last 4 years.

He is survived by son, Richard (Mary Ann), Oregon; daughters, Betsy (Tom) Read, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Mary Alice Wilson, Rockford; 6 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was also preceded in death by older brothers, Alton and Darrell; and son-in-law, Jim Wilson.

Memorial funeral services will be held on Saturday, Jan. 5 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Bride’s Episcopal Church, Oregon, with Father Robert Cristobal, vicar, officiating.

No visitation will be held. Interment will be at St. Bride’s Church Cemetery.

Memorials to St. Bride’s Episcopal Church would be appreciated.

Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, 110 S. Seventh St., Oregon assisted the family with arrangements.