EMMA HODGE, 84, of New Brighton, Minnesota, formerly of Pierson, Iowa passed away Saturday afternoon, February 21, 2009.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 25th, at 10 a.m. at the Meadow Star United Methodist Church at rural Washta, Iowa. Pastor Bill Cotten will officiate and burial will be in the Grand Meadow Cemetery. There will be a family prayer service at 9:45 a.m. at the church on Wednesday. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. with the family present from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Emma was born on May 13, 1924 at Schleswig, Iowa to Herman & Marie (Bohrnsen) Petersen. She attended school in the Schleswig area. She was married to Marlin R. Hodge on April 6, 1947 at Marshalltown, Iowa. She had worked in the Telephone Office in Pierson, Iowa for several years and had been a homemaker. She was a member of the Meadow Star United Methodist Church. She belonged to the Siouxland Mended Hearts and the Senior Congregate Meals. Emma enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, needle point, sewing, cross stitch and trivia. She had been a resident of Pierson, Iowa until 2004, when she moved to New Brighton, Minnesota to live with her daughter and son-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her step-father Herman Delfskamp, her husband Marlin Hodge on November 14, 1998; 2 brothers-in-law Paul Hodge and Glenn Hegre.

She is survived by her three children: Joyce Gokey and her husband John of New Brighton, Minnesota; Dean Hodge and his wife Pam Schilling of Little Falls, Minnesota; Colleen Hodge of Kimberling City, Missouri; 3 grandchildren: Thomas Gokey and his wife Margaret Backus; Peter Gokey and his wife Terrilyn; Elizabeth Gokey; 2 step-grandchildren and 4 step-great grandchildren; two sisters: Helen Hodge of Washta, Iowa; Garnet Hegre of Grovetown, Georgia; also several nieces and nephews.