Ramona “Mona” Lynn Bedford, 46, of Eldon, IA passed away Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at the Ottumwa Region Health Center. Visitation, with the family present, will be Sunday, January 25, 2015 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Kremer Funeral Home in Eldon. Funeral services will be Monday, January 26, 2015 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at the Living Hope Bible Church in Eldon. Burial will be held in the Eldon Cemetery immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Eldon Opera House. Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.kremerfh.com.

Ramona Lynn Bedford, daughter of Leonial and Mary (Fitzgerald) Troxel, was born October 22, 1968 in Ottumwa, IA. She was raised in Eldon, and was the youngest of five children. Mona attended Cardinal High School and graduated with the class of 1987. She entered the working world while still in high school. At the age of sixteen she began working as a Nurses Aid at the Keosauqua Good Samaritan and later at Cedar Creek Rest Care. On August 1, 1992 she was united in marriage to Jim Bedford at the Living Hope Bible Church in Eldon. They soon became the loving parents to a daughter, Samantha. From the first time she saw Samantha, until the last, she loved being her mom. Her role as a mother extended beyond her own child, as she had several others she would willingly consider as her own. Mona was an excellent house keeper who put those skills to work for others. She cleaned houses for many years while also providing in home care for close family friends and the elderly. In 2010, she joined the custodial staff at the Cardinal Schools where she was currently employed. When Mona had some down time, you could find her keeping tabs on Dale Jr. and Tony Stewart in the NASCAR race, cheering on the Denver Broncos, or watching the Chicago Cubs or the Iowa Hawkeyes. When you look at Mona’s life, there was a theme. She cared. She cared about those she worked with, those she looked after, her friends, and above all, her family. Ramona was a truly loving person with an ornery streak that was evident to those who knew her best. Mona had a big heart and a personality to match. She will be deeply missed.

Ramona was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Sharon Thompson.

Left to honor her memory is her husband, Jim Bedford; her daughter Samantha (Kyle Osborne) Bedford of Eldon, IA; two brothers, Michael (Judith) Troxel of Fairfield, IA and Patrick (Mary) Troxel of Birmingham, IA; a sister, Winnie (Dave) Albert of Eldon, IA; a close friend, Kim Steen of Eldon; as well as many friends and several “kids” she thought of as her own, Montgomery Laughlin, Nicole Bedford, Seth Steen, Shelby Steen, Kyleigh Kern, Katie Snyder, and Kasandra Buckman..