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Mona Karlene (Hendricks) Mason, 72, of Sioux City, formerly of Storm Lake, passed away surrounded by the love of her family.
Funeral services will take place Thursday, March 12, at 5 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake. Burial will be in Storm Lake Cemetery. Visitation will take place Thursday, March 12, from 3:30-5 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake.
Mona was born on Aug. 5, 1953, in Emmetsburg to William Wayne and Elnora (Johnson) Hendricks. She spent her early childhood in Plover before moving with her family to Laurens. After the death of her father in 1962, her mother began working at Methodist Manor in Storm Lake, where Mona continued her schooling and made the community her lifelong home.
She graduated from Storm Lake High School in May 1972. That fall, she enrolled at Iowa Lakes Community College in Emmetsburg, earning her degree in 1973. Mona began her career with Bankers Life in Des Moines before returning to Storm Lake to work in the tax field. She later joined Buena Vista County Public Health, where she faithfully served as assistant administrator until her retirement in February 2019. During her many years of service, she was an active member of both the safety and wellness committees, always dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of her coworkers and community.
On Jan. 27, 1978, Mona was united in marriage to Randall Ray Mason. Together they built a life grounded in faith, family and community, and were blessed with two children, Joshua Lee Mason and Ashley Lynn (Mason) Lihs.
Mona was raised in the Church of Christ in Storm Lake, where she was baptized. She later became a member of Church of Christ in Alta, where she taught Sunday School and helped with youth programs, faithfully sharing her beliefs and guiding younger generations. Mona’s greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted and enthusiastic supporter of her children, rarely missing a game, concert or school event. Whether it was baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, football, band or music performances, she could always be found cheering from the stands and treasuring every moment.
For more than 10 years, she also volunteered as a girls’ softball coach, sharing her love of sports and encouraging young athletes. Her pride only deepened as she watched her grandchildren participate in a variety of sporting activities. She was a passionate supporter of collegiate athletics following the Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones and Michigan Wolverines.
She also had a love for shopping — especially for shoes, purses, jewelry and clothes. Socks were never on her shopping list, and she happily traded winter boots for sandals as soon as the snow melted. With a smile, she often said she hoped to “shop in heaven” one day.
Following retirement, Mona and Randy enjoyed camping and spending their winters in Mesa, Ariz., making special memories together in their well-earned time of leisure.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William Wayne and Elnora (Johnson) Hendricks; her siblings: Janet Glasgow, Shirley Marie (Hendricks) Johnson, Sherlyn Arlene Hendricks Schnetter, Danny Eugene Hendricks and two infant twin sisters; and her nieces, Tammy Marie Schnetter and Shelley Kaye Hendricks.
Left to cherish her memory, Randall Mason, her loving husband of 48 years; her son Joshua and his wife Becca Mason of Chandler, Ariz., and their children Peyton, Parker and Pryce; her daughter Ashley and her husband Ryan Lihs of Sioux City, and their children Aaron and Austin; her brother Kermit Hendricks of Sioux City; along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members and dear friends.
Mona will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Her steadfast faith, joyful spirit and unwavering devotion to her family will remain her lasting legacy.
