Rhonda McClelland, 70

Rhonda Lee (Watkins) McClelland, daughter of Lewis and Evelyn Faye (Parks) Watkins was born on Feb. 29, 1956, in Clarinda. She passed from this life at Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs on Sept. 11, 2026.
Rhonda graduated from Clarinda High School in 1975. Following graduation, Rhonda moved to Glenwood, where she lived the remainder of her life (except for two years in Ames, early in her marriage). Rhonda’s work history while living in Glenwood included the Glenwood State Hospital School, Kaiman’s Supper Market, Lewis Central Middle School, and Glenwood’s Northeast Elementary School.
Rhonda loved working with special needs children and greatly enjoyed eating out and shopping (especially for things red, white and blue). She loved her Shih Tzu dogs (Minga and Tu), raised from puppies.
Rhonda married Larry Austin McClelland on Sept. 6, 1980, at Nodaway Valley Park in Page County near Clarinda. Together they enjoyed Iowa and Nebraska high school girl’s athletics and UNL women’s volleyball where they were season ticketholders for 19 years. They also enjoyed their annual two-week vacation trips to visit former Glenwood friends in Utah and Idaho. Rhonda also accompanied Larry on business trips to San Francisco; Mankato, Minn.; Jackson, Wyo.; Garden City, Kan.; and Hayes, Kan..
Preceding Rhonda in death were her parents (Lewis Harold Watkins and Evelyn Faye Watkins), sister-in-law (Liz Watkins), two nephews (Jason and Billy Watkins) and two nieces (Mellisa and Melinda Watkins).
Left to remember Rhonda are her husband of 46 years, Larry McClelland; siblings, Don Watkins of Texas, Wanda Farquhar and husband Curt of Red Oak; Sue Draper and husband Tom of Sutherland; Nancy Hatcher of Clarinda; and many nephews, nieces and friends.