Carole Caviness

A Funeral Service for Carole Caviness, age 72, of Spirit Lake will be held on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at 11:00am at Crosswinds Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will take place on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, from 5:00-7:00pm at the Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Spirit Lake and prior to the service from 10:00-11:00am at the church. Burial will be held at a later date. 

Carole Rae (Davis) Caviness, age 72, of Spirit Lake, Iowa, passed away on January 2, 2025. She was born on June 19, 1952, in Springfield, South Dakota, to Ivan Dale and Marjorie (Creppon) Davis.

Carole spent her early years in Scotland, South Dakota, where she attended Scotland Community Schools. At just 17 years old, her determination and ambition led her to pursue a career in broadcasting by enrolling at Brown Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This step marked the beginning of a remarkable radio career, starting in Appleton, Wisconsin, and ultimately bringing her to Fort Dodge, Iowa, where she met the love of her life, Gary Caviness. The couple was united in marriage on August 18, 1973, in Scotland, South Dakota, and built a life together filled with love and shared faith.

Carole and Gary made their home in several communities, including Fort Dodge, Eagle Grove, Mitchell, and Ethan, before settling in Spirit Lake in 1982. Carole remained active in radio broadcasting throughout the years, both before and after becoming a mother. When KUOO Radio first launched, she began working on the air before transitioning to an office role. After 11 years at KUOO, she joined the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce in 1996, where she worked until her retirement in 2014. Her contributions were instrumental in organizing events like Walleye Weekend and the Winter Games, always with a welcoming smile and unwavering commitment to her community.

A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Carole cherished her family above all else. She was proud of her children, Shelly and Nathan, instilling in them values of love, resilience, and faith. Her grandchildren brought immense joy to her life, and she delighted in supporting their endeavors and milestones.

Carole’s faith in Jesus Christ was a cornerstone of her life. She and Gary were active members of Crosswinds Church in Spirit Lake, where they faithfully served in the AWANA Cubbies program for over two decades, nurturing the spiritual growth of countless children.

In the face of challenges, Carole demonstrated remarkable courage and grace. Diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma in 2002 and later with Lewy Body Dementia in 2021, she remained steadfast in her faith and love for her family. Throughout her journey, Carole was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, always willing to go above and beyond for the people she loved and cherished.

Carole is survived by her beloved husband of 51 years, Gary Caviness; her children, Shelly (Wayne) Walstead of Hartford, SD, and Nathan (Carrie) Caviness of Gilbert, AZ; her cherished grandchildren, Erin Walstead (Leighton Blum) of Flandreau, SD, Nicholas Walstead (Dana Voss) of Granite Falls, MN, and Ethan, Isaac, and Caleb Caviness of Gilbert, AZ. She is also survived by her siblings, Eileen Elliott of Vancouver, WA, Sharon (Jerry) Kost of Olivet, SD, and Gordon (Betty) Davis of Wessington, SD; mother-in-law, Donna Caviness of Spirit Lake, IA; brothers-in-law, Pat (Mary) Caviness of Nevada, MO, Tom (Lisa) Caviness of Sioux Falls, SD, and Mike (Janet) Caviness of Miller, SD; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Carole was preceded in death by her parents, Ivan Dale and Marjorie Davis, father-in-law, Clifford Caviness and sisters-in-law, Betty Louscher and Shirley Caviness.