Obituaries from November 2001

Elsie M. Peterson ATWOOD -- Elsie M. Peterson, 86, of Atwood, died Tuesday (Oct. 30, 2001) at the Cedar Living Center in Oberlin. She was born Nov. 22, 1914, in a sod house in Union Township in Rawlins County, Kan., to Axel Gerion Albin and Beda Victoria (Peterson) Peterson. ...

James 'Jim' J. Rutt James "Jim" J. Rutt, 52, died Saturday (Oct. 13, 2001) at his home in McCook. He was born Jan. 7, 1949, at St. Catherine's Hospital in McCook, to Dick and Lee Rutt. He grew up and attended school in McCook, graduating from McCook High School in 1967. ...

Robert 'Bob' E. Rasser Robert "Bob" E. Rasser, 86, died Wednesday (October, 31, 2001), at McCook Community Hospital. He was born Nov. 8, 1914, at Red Cloud to Benjamin and Hazel (Rust) Rasser. The family moved to Gillete, Wyo., when he was two years old, and homesteaded there. They returned to Red Cloud when he was six years old. He graduated from Red Cloud High School in 1933...

William 'Bill' Bryan Hanthorn INDIANLOLA -- William "Bill" Bryan Hanthorn, 86, of Indianola, died Friday (November 2, 2001) at Hillcrest Nursing Home. He was born June 16, 1915, in Frontier County to James and Margaret (Powers) Hanthorn. He attended rural school District No. 37 in Frontier County, and had started attending Havana High School when he left to help his father on the farm. In 1945, he purchased the family farm and he and his sister, Georgia, made their home there...

Leonard Leland Calhoon LENORA, Kan. -- Leonard Leland Calhoon, 91, of Lenora, died Wednesday (Oct. 31, 2001) at the Graham County Hospital in Hill City, Kan. He was born Feb. 20, 1910, at Phillipsburg, Kan., to Lee and Edna (Ross) Calhoon. He was raised in Phillips County, Kan. He attended Harmony School in rural Phillips County...

Selma Tressia (Pingetzer) Thomas ST. FRANCIS, Kan. -- Selma Tressia (Pingetzer) Thomas, 93, died Saturday (Nov. 3, 2001) at the Good Samaritan Village in St. Francis. She was born Sept. 23, 1908, in Rawlins County, Kansas, near Herndon, to Michael Z. and Marie Selma (Zieibig) Pingetzer. She was a registered nurse...

Delbert Lynn Hardy AKRON, Colo. -- Delbert Lynn Hardy, 74, of Akron, died Thursday (Nov. 1, 2001) at the Sterling Regional Medical Center in Sterling, Colo. He was born Aug. 5, 1927, at Stratton to Frank and Lola (Henderson). He grew up in the Stratton area, completing eight years of school at the Eden school, and graduating from Stratton High School. ...

Keith Edward Ells MANKATO, Kan. -- Keith Edward Ells, 69, of Mankato, died Sunday (Nov. 4, 2001) at Bryan Memorial Medical Center, East Campus LGH, in Lincoln. He was born June 17, 1932, at Benedict to Edward and Aleta (Marlow) Ells. On Jan. 27, 1952, he married Eunice Andres at Hebron. ...

Dorothy A. Dybdahl BENKELMAN -- Dorothy A. Dybdahl, 84, of Benkelman, formerly of Curtis, died Monday (Nov. 5, 2001) at Benkelman. She was born Oct. 20, 1917, at Smithfield to Clarence and Rosie (Stark) Littell. She lived on the family farm until her early teens when she moved to Maywood and worked for many people in the surrounding communities...

Julie Ann Buturlia OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Julie Ann Buturlia, 42, died Saturday (Nov. 3, 2001) at Overland Park. She was born Nov. 15, 1958, at Oberlin to Johnnie and Christine (Ricketts) Richards. She was raised in Oberlin and Atwood. She graduated from Atwood High School in 1976. She was a graduate of the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan...

E. Evelyn Martin E. Evelyn Martin, 76, died Wednesday (Nov. 6, 2001) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Oct. 21, 1925, at Lawrence to Alfred and Jane (Hannum) Roth. The family moved to Frontier County in 1932. She graduated from the Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis and McCook College. She taught school for more than 20 years...

Leona Bolliger OBERLIN -- Leona Bolliger died Sunday (Nov. 4, 2001) at Cedar Living Center of Oberlin. She was born July 15, 1910, at Scandia, Kan., to Mike and Inga (Hugos) Cuthbertson. She was raised in Norway, Kan., Oronoque, Kan, and Norton County, Kan. She graduated from Norton High School in 1930. She earned her teacher's certification. She taught in rural schools near Oronoque, Aurora, Kan., and Highland, Kan...

Norris O. Enders OMAHA -- Norris O. Enders, 89, died Monday (Nov. 5, 2001). He was born June 23, 1912, at Ponca to John and Amelia (Buettner) Enders. He graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1933. He taught school at Gandy, Stratton and Curtis...

Bertha (Matheny) Burg HURST, Texas -- Bertha (Matheny) Burg, 84, died Sunday (Nov. 4, 2001) at Hurst. She was born Nov. 30, 1916, at Norton, Kan. On Jan. 30, 1933, she married Albert Burg at Norton. She was a homemaker and a farm wife. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Albert in 1981; four brothers, Kenneth, Keith, Enoch and Cecil Matheny; one sister, Idella Foster; one great-grandson, Caleb James Robinson; and one granddaughter-in-law, Sherry Simpson...

Thelma Ann Ham GREELEY, Colo. -- Thelma Ann Ham, 81, of Benkelman, died Wednesday (Nov. 7, 2001) at the Northern Colorado Medical Center in Greeley. She was born Feb. 8, 1910 in Rawlins County, Kan., to Oscar and Ida Belle (Burkey) Mann, and attended school in Beardsley, and McDonald, Kan. She went on to attend the Capital Beauty School in Omaha with her degree in Cosmetology in 1938...

Loyall W. Nicholson Loyall W. Nicholson, 93, died Friday (Nov. 9, 2001) at his home in McCook. He was born July 14, 1908, at Cambridge to James and Wealtha (Humbert) Nicholson. He grew up in several communities, and graduated from high school at McCreadie, Mo., in 1926...

Delbert R. Eklund Delbert R. Eklund, 73, died Thursday (Nov. 8, 2001) at Community Hospital in McCook. He was born July 14, 1928, at Des Moines, Iowa, to Helena (Moore) and Daryll D. Eklund. He graduated from Council Bluffs High School in 1946. He attended college at the University of Nebraska in Omaha...

George Henry Beims ATWOOD -- George Henry Beims, 76, died Wednesday (Nov. 7, 2001) at the Decatur County Good Samaritan Center in Oberlin. He was born April 20, 1925, at Ludell, Kan., to Henry William and Rose Ethel (Burst) Beims. He attended grade school in Ludell and Atwood, and Atwood High School...

Donald D. Harris HOLDREGE -- Donald D. Harris, 56, died Wednesday (Nov. 7, 2001) at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. He was born Aug. 29, 1945, at McCook to Ed and Bernie (Wilcox) Harris. He attended school at Holdrege and graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1963...

Mary Ann Richards HAYES CENTER -- Mary Ann Richards, 64, died at her home Friday (Nov. 9, 2001). There will be a private family funeral service and burial on Tuesday in Hayes Center. The family will be receiving extended family and friends at the Hayes Center Legion Hall Tuesday, 6 p.m., and a meal will be provided. A eulogy will be read and there will be a time of memory sharing...

Carol F. Wolcott WAUNETA -- Carol F. Wolcott, 67, died Saturday (Nov. 10, 2001) at the Heritage of Wauneta after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was born Aug. 27, 1934, at Palisade to Ted and Erma (Miley) Schreiber. She graduated from Wauneta High School in 1952, and from Rockmont Bible College in 1956...

Gail Elaine (Crowell) Sitzman WAUNETA -- Gaile Elaine (Crowell) Sitzman, 78, formerly of Culbertson, died Tuesday (Nov. 6, 2001) at Wauneta. She was born Nov. 30, 1924, at Guide Rock to James and Blanche Crowell. She was baptized on April 1, 1956. She graduated from Culbertson High School in 1944. She obtained a teaching certificate through normal training, and taught country school...

Lowell A. Stacey OBERLIN -- Lowell A. Stacey, 88, died Thursday (Nov. 8, 2001) at the Cedar Living Center at Oberlin. He was born Dec. 28, 1912, at Scottsville, Kan., to Clarence and Jessie (Shunn) Stacey. He was raised in the Jennings, Kan., area and graduated from Jennings High School in 1932. On July 30, 1965, he married Mary Lee Whitmer at Rapid City, S.D. They lived in the Jennings and Clayton, Kan., area. He was a farmer...

Yvonne Marie Cole CURTIS -- Yvonne Marie Cole, 69, died Monday (Nov. 12, 2001) at the Immanuel Medical Center in Omaha. She was born Au. 19, 1932, north of Moorefield to Ray and D. Marie (Lawrence) Sears. She attended school in Curtis and graduated from NSA-Curtis in 1950...

Hazel L. Nicodemus OBERLIN -- Hazel L. Nicodemus, 88, died Saturday (Nov. 10, 2001) at her home in Oberlin. She was born March 16, 1913, at Pritchell, Colo., to John and Gertrude (Cardiff) Evans. She was raised in Colorado and Oklahoma. She married Tom Nauer in June 1938. He preceded her in death. On May 28, 1970, she married Keith Nicodemus at Las Vegas, Nev. She was a homemaker...

Bettie June Owens TRENTON -- Bettie June Owens, 70, died Tuesday (Nov. 13, 2001) at her home in Trenton. She was born July 29, 1931, at Syracuse, Kan., to Roy and Elizabeth (Hendricks) Shoup. She grew up in the Lamar and Denver, Colo., areas, and attended high school in Denver...

Parmer 'Skeeter' Curtis Webb TRENTON -- Parmer "Skeeter" Curtis Webb died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was 64 years old. Skeeter was born Nov. 15, 1936, at Clovis, N.M., to Clementine (Messina) and Tom Edward Webb. He graduated from Fort Sumner, N.M. in 1954...

Ray Search TRENTON -- Ray Search, 99, of McCook, died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at El Dorado Manor in Trenton. He was born Nov. 12, 1902, at Wymore to Morton and Marian (Spire) Search. In 1908 the family moved to McCook where he grew up and graduated from McCook High School in 1923...

Mabel L. Ritchie BENKELMAN -- Mabel L. Ritchie, 99, of Stratton, died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. She was born Sept. 30, 1902, at Stratton to Joseph Aaron and Laura Alice (Rickard) Cowen. She attended school in Stratton and was a graduate of Stratton High School...

Leone R. Smith CURTIS -- Leone R. Smith, 98, died Friday (Nov. 16, 2001) at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis. She was born Oct. 13, 1903, in Frontier County to Leo and Sophia (Siegel) Dold. She graduated from Curtis High School. She married Don "Rock" Smith. ...

Daisy A. McMichael HOLDREGE -- Daisy A. McMichael, 95, of Holdrege, formerly of North Platte, died Monday (Nov. 12, 2001) at Holdrege. She was born June 9, 1906, at Maywood to Clyde and Edith (Doudna) Cowman. She graduated from Maywood High School in 1924...

Lloyd Walter 'Clark' Hoagland WATSONVILLE, Calif. -- Lloyd Walter "Clark" Hoagland, 86, of Watsonville, formerly of McCook, died October 29, 2001, at Watsonville. He was born Nov. 13, 1914, in Red Willow County to Wareham Bartlett Clark and Augusta (Morosic) (Clark) Hoagland. He was raised in the McCook area...

Eileen Leora West CAMBRIDGE -- Eileen Leora West, 80, of Cambridge, formerly of McCook, died Thursday (Nov. 15, 2001) at the Tri Valley Hospital in Cambridge. She was born March 7, 1921, at McCook to Arthur and Hannah (Swedberg) West. She graduated from Maywood High School in 1940...

Janet S. Latimer WICHITA, Kan. -- Janet S. Latimer, 67, died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at her home in Wichita. She was born March 29, 1934, at Denver, Colo., to Gurney and Florence (Lancaster) Hinshaw. She grew up in Denver, graduating from Denver East High School, and Rockmount Bible College. She has lived in Rexford, Kan., Colorado, California, Indonesia, Africa, and Wichita, Kan. On Aug. 11, 1956, she married Gerald Latimer at Denver. She was a homemaker...

Viola Madsen Vap BOULDER, Colo. -- Viola Madsen Vap, 87, died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at Boulder Community Hospital in Boulder. She was born June 29, 1914, at McDonald, Kan., to Edward and Mathilda (Hokenson) Madsen. After her high school graduation she moved to Herndon where she taught school...

Ray Search TRENTON -- Ray Search, 99, of McCook, died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at El Dorado Manor in Trenton. He was born Nov. 12, 1902, at Wymore to Morton and Marian (Spire) Search. In 1908 the family moved to McCook where he grew up and graduated from McCook High School in 1923...

Parmer 'Skeeter' Curtis Webb TRENTON -- Parmer "Skeeter" Curtis Webb died Wednesday (Nov. 14, 2001) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was 64 years old. Skeeter was born Nov. 15, 1936, at Clovis, N.M., to Clementine (Messina) and Tom Edward Webb. He graduated from Fort Sumner, N.M. in 1954...

Orba L. Campbell Orba L. Campbell, 87, died Friday (Nov. 16, 2001) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born April 29, 1914, to Dexter Warren and Elizabeth (Weekly) Dodge at Bartley. In 1930, she married John "Jack" H. Sheldon at Laird, Colo. On Nov. 18, 1967, she married Harold Campbell at Colby, Kan. She was a member of the Christian Church in Wray, Colo. She had lived in McCook since 1956...

Freda Cecelia Nokes OBERLIN -- Freda Cecelia Nokes, 87, died Saturday (Nov. 17, 2001) at Cedar Living Center in Oberlin. She was born Oct. 30, 1914, at Herndon to Stephen and Mary Marla (Pringetzer) Goltl. She was raised north of Herndon, and attended North Rural country school...

Thaine Maurice Crown Sr. IMPERIAL -- Thaine Maurice Crown Sr., 81, died Saturday (Nov. 17, 2001) at his home in Imperial. He was born May 28, 1920, at Gretna, Kan., to Noah and Hazel (King) Crown. He grew up and attended school near Agra, Kan. He served in World War II, being inducted into the U.S. Army Air Force on March 16, 1942. He served in the North African and European Theaters and was honorably discharged on Sept. 15, 1945...

Leone R. Smith CURTIS -- Leone R. Smith, 98, died Friday (Nov. 16, 2001) at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis. She was born Oct. 3, 1903, in Frontier County to Leo and Sophia (Siegel) Dold. She graduated from Curtis High School. She married Don "Rock" Smith. ...

Ernest E. Melchert Ernest E. Melchert, 74, died Tuesday (Nov. 20, 2001) at his home in McCook. He was born Sept. 27, 1927, at Stratton to Oscar F. and Esther (Bauerle) Melchert. He grew up at Stratton where he received his elementary education. He farmed for a short time in Kansas before going to work for Romanoff Packing Company. ...

Randall 'Randy' Wayne Stewart KEARNEY -- Randall "Randy" Wayne Stewart, 51, formerly of McCook, died Monday (Nov. 19, 2001) at his home in Kearney. He was was born Sept. 9, 1950, at Alliance to William Arthur and Bettye Anne (Solace) Stewart. He graduated from McCook High School in 1969...

Norma Peterson HAYES CENTER -- Norma Jean Nitsch was born at White on July 10, 1932, to Carl L. and Leona E. (Lewin) Nitsch. She attended elementary school in rural Hayes County and graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1949. Norma lost a courageous battle with cancer on Wednesday (Nov. ...

Luella M. Schmidt CAMBRIDGE -- Luella M. Schmidt, 75, of Bartley, died Friday (Nov. 23, 2001) at the Cambridge Manor. She was born Aug. 26, 1926, at Cambridge to Charles and Agnes (Karash) Purvis. She grew up at Cambridge. On April 5, 1943, she married Kenneth Schmidt at Oberlin. They made their home farming north of Indianola, and retired to Bartley in 1975...

Carl H. 'Shippee' Welborn NORTON, Kan. -- Carl Hugh "Shippee" Welborn died Thursday, (Nov. 22, 2001) at the Andbe Home in Norton. He was born Feb. 24, 1919, at Lebanon to Lawrence M. and Auretta (Daffer) Welborn. He was raised on the family farm east of Lebanon, attended elementary school at District 5 and graduated from Lebanon High School...

Herbert Vaughn OBERLIN -- Herbert Vaughn, 86, died Thursday (Nov. 22, 2001) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born March 27, 1915, in Sheridan County, Kan., to William Howard and Nellie E. (McClain) Vaughn. He was raised in Hoxie, Kan., and graduated from Hoxie High School in 1935. On March 3, 1935, he married Nelda L. Rhodes at Oberlin. They lived in Selden, Kan., Hoxie, Dresden, Kan., and Oberlin. He was a farmer...

Josephine Eunice Leibrandt TRENTON -- Josephine Eunice Leibrandt, 88, died Thursday, (Nov. 5, 2001) at El Dorado Manor in Trenton. She was born Jan. 31, 1913, at Hastings to Jacob and Clara (Trupp) Wagner. The family moved to McCook when she was eight years old. She graduated from McCook High School in 1931...

Clifford Wayne Tourtellotte Clifford Wayne Tourtellotte, 77, died Saturday (Nov. 24, 2001) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born Feb. 21, 1924, at McCook to Harold O. and Margaret Susanne (O'Brien) Tourtellotte. He began working with his father at a very young age. He was designated a professional mechanic at age 15 and quit school, completing 10th grade. He worked at his father's garage until his father died in 1969...

Norma Peterson HAYES CENTER -- Norma Jean Nitsch was born at White on July 10, 1932, to Carl L. and Leona E. (Lewin) Nitsch. She attended elementary school in rural Hayes County and graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1949. Norma lost a courageous battle with cancer on Wednesday (Nov. 21, 2001)...

Steven J. Birkmann KEARNEY -- Steven J. Birkmann, 58, of Kearney, died Friday (Nov. 23, 2001) at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born April 5, 1943, at Lincoln to Elmer F. and Savilla Marie (Myer) Birkmann. He graduated from University High School at Lincoln in 1961. He attended the University of Nebraska until 1964 when he entered the service...

Lonnie Kevin Cafferty Lonnie Kevin Cafferty, 57, died Sunday (Nov. 25, 2001) at the Good Samaritan Home in Arapahoe. He was born June 23, 1944, at Macon, Ga., to Donald and Lois Elaine (Smith) Cafferty. He attended Indianola Schools. On Nov. 9, 1998, he married Susan "Sue" Gonzales at McCook. He was employed by Harmon Grain for many years. He played guitar in the band Lonnie And The Seeing Eye Dogs...

Lawrence A. Jurey WILSONVILLE -- Lawrence A. Jurey, 69, died Tuesday (Nov. 27, 2001) at his home in Wilsonville. He was born April 4, 1932, in Norton County, Kan., to Edmund and Geneva (Alkire) Jurey. He attended country school in Norton County. On April 26, 1952, he married Marilyn Catt. ...

Teresa (Dozbaba) Beamgard ATWOOD -- Teresa (Dozbaba) Beamgard, 68, died Tuesday (Nov. 27, 2001) at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kan. She was born Dec. 23, 1932, at Stratton to Joseph and Rosa (Chvatal) Dozbaba. She graduated from Atwood High School in 1951...

Donald Eugene Berry ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Donald Eugene Berry, a resident of Albuquerque, passed away suddenly on Oct. 7, 2001. He was born to Clyde and Bessie (Stiner) Berry on Oct. 3, 1927, in Oberlin, Kan. He graduated from Decatur County High School...

C.V. 'Babe' Fidler GRANT -- C.V. "Babe" Fidler, 81, died Wednesday (Nov. 28, 2001) at the Perkins County Community Hospital in Grant. He was born Oct. 13, 1920, at Freedom to Merle and Louise (Koltch) Fidler. He grew up in McCook and graduated from McCook High School in 1940. ...

Joe Erwin Singletary Joe Erwin Singletary, 81, died Thursday (Nov. 29, 2001) at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. He was born May 4, 1920, at Beckville, Texas to Joe and Parlee Singletary. He graduated from Beckville High School and attended the University of Maryland...

Ida Mary Brown OBERLIN -- Ida Mary Brown, 85, died Thursday (Nov. 29, 2001) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born May 31, 1916, in rural Decatur County to Ora Leroy and Minnie Lois (Kettels) Montgomery. She attended Rural Liberty Grade School...

Willard 'Willie' Leon Lorimer Willard "Willie" Leon Lorimer, 64, of McCook, died Thursday (Nov. 29, 2001) at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born March 24, 1937, at McCook to Elmer Edward and Virginia Ellen (Troxell) Lorimer. He attended McCook Public Schools and graduated from Milford Community College in 1962...

Jeremy Dean Hunkins TRENTON -- Jeremy Dean Hunkins, 17, died Thursday (Nov. 29, 2001) at his home in Trenton. He was born Feb. 5, 1984, to Gary D. and Jeanne L. (Hanes) Hunkins at Benkelman. He had lived his entire life in Trenton. He was a senior at Lakeside Central High School...