Rella Zoe Southard

Rella Zoe Southard, 98, of Cedar Falls, died at NewAldaya Lifescapes on Sunday, July 7, 2024. She was born in Mt. Ayr, Iowa, on March 6, 1926, daughter of Earl and Hazel (Straight) Saltzman. On February 6, 1942, Rella married Delmar William Southard in Grant City, Missouri. They relocated to the Cedar Falls area where Rella worked as a Nurse's Assistant at NewAldaya Lifescapes for 43 years. She was also a longtime member of the Cedar Falls Gospel Hall.

Rella loved to spend time outdoors gardening and taking walks. She especially loved to read. Rella enjoyed traveling as well, taking bus tours with her sisters in particular. She was also a skilled quilter and could sew just about anything.

Rella is survived by her daughters, Diane Searcy of Georgia, Marilyn (Dennis Larson) Southard of Decorah, and Marsha (Richard Frickson) Kloster of Waterloo; 7 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; her sister, Rhea June Neighbors of Cedar Falls; and daughter-in-law, Jayne Southard of Canon City, CO; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Hazel Saltzman; husband, Delmar Southard; sons, Gary Southard and Gene Southard; grandchild, Tony Searcy; brothers, Evan Saltzman, Leslie Saltzman, and Arden & Arthur Saltzman in infancy; and sisters, Wilma Cox-Loomis, Caryl Jeanes, Emma Morgansen and Lois Litchfield.

Rella's visitation will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2024 from 5-7pm at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home. Her funeral service will be held at 10:30am on Friday, July 12 at the Cedar Falls Gospel Hall with visitation an hour prior. Memorials in Rella's memory may be directed to the Cedar Falls Gospel Hall, 1302 Walnut St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613.