Obituaries from June 2002

Homer C. Ruppert, 70, of rural McCook, Neb., died Thursday (May 30, 2002) on his farm in Frontier County doing his life's work. He was born July 20, 1931, to Jay and Doris (Meissner) Ruppert at Quick, Neb. He grew up working on the farm and attended school in Frontier County through the 8th grade. As a youth he accepted the Lord and continued serving him until his death...

OBERLIN -- Elton "Tony" R. Sebaugh, 83, died Saturday (June 1, 2002) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born April 30, 1919, to Edward and Pearl (Stapp) Sebaugh at Norcatur. He attended Blue Star School until the 8th Grade and graduated from Norcatur High School in 1937...

Wilma Vaye Ginther, 85, of McCook, died Friday (May 31, 2002) at the Cambridge Hospital. She was born January 30, 1917, to Edward S. and Grace Esther (Shrock) Shaw at Cherryvale, Kan. She lived in Cherryvale where her father worked for the railroad until she was 11 years old and her family moved to Wilsonville...

Marjorie Vant, 100, died Thursday (May 30, 2002) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born Sept. 3, 1901, to John and Barbara (Chairs) Lutin in Sterling, Colo. She attended public schools in Sterling and two years at business school in Sterling...

HENDERSON, Nev. -- John Barratt died Sunday (May 12, 2002) at his home in Henderson, Nev. after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born Sept. 14, 1937, to Gerald I. and Ida Barratt in Oberlin, Kan. John moved together with his family to McCook in 1945, where he attended McCook City schools. ...

CURTIS -- Paulyne DeNio Wilkinson, was born Margaret Paulyne DeNio on July 19, 1915, in Salina, Kan., the fourth child of Elizabeth Maude Boyle DeNio and Benjamin DeNio. Her best friend and loving husband Robert "Scott" Wilkinson, was waiting for his "Poll" when she awoke in the arms of our Lord and Savior on June 1, 2002...

EVANS, Ga. -- Roger Allen Kidd, 64, died Sunday (May 26, 2002) at his home in Evans, Ga. He was born Nov. 17, 1937, to Ned and Alma Jo Kidd at Trace Branch, Ky. where he spent his childhood. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1960 to 64. On Aug. 22, 1964, he married Alice Mary Ruzicka in Denver, Colo. ...

Dorothy Jean (Richey) Robinson SUN LAKES, Ariz. -- Dorothy Jean (Richey) Robinson, 71, died Wednesday (May 29, 2002) at her home. She was born Jan. 6, 1931, in Curtis to Jim D. and Martha Richey. She married Arthur Jensen, they lived in Remer, Minn. ...

Nina Searles Jackson Smith, formerly "Schmitz" and "Breedlove" both from McCook. Nina was born in Greeley, Colo., April 12, 1912, and passed away June 5, 2002, at the age of 90. Nina is survived by her husband, Merlin Smith of McCook. In addition to a half-brother, Amsi J. ...

CAMBRIDGE -- Mildred Viola Rupp, 93, died Sunday (June 9, 2002) at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. She was born Oct. 12, 1908, to John and Francelia (Crapser) Johnson in Cambridge. She graduated from Cambridge High School in 1930. On Nov. ...

OBERLIN -- Don W. Leffler, 83, died Friday (June 7, 2002) at the Decatur County Hospital. He was born July 12, 1918, to Selar and Claira (Nielson) Leffler at Geneva. He grew up in Hayes Center and attended Hayes Center schools. He served in the U. S. Army, 335th Infantry Division in the European Theater in Germany during World War II from 1940 to 1945...

Mabel McDermed, 92, died Sunday (June 9, 2002) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Sept. 22, 1909, at Moline, Neb., to David and Louisa (Nissen) Rhoades. She moved with her parents at an early age to a farm North of Culbertson, and into the town of Culbertson in 1919, where she has since resided. She graduated from Culbertson High School with the class of 1926...

RED LODGE, Mont. -- Lidya "Lela" Klein, 98, died Wednesday (Jan. 16, 2002) at the Cedar Wood Villa in Red Lodge, Mont. She was born Jan 22, 1903, to Conrad and Marie Amen Bauer in McCook. When she was young, the family moved to Colorado where they farmed...

OBERLIN -- Amelia "Millie" Sulzman, 79, died Tuesday (June 11, 2002) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born July 31, 1922, to Peter D. and Margaret A. (Duesberg) Pauls in Leoville, Kan. She was raised in the Leoville and Selden communities and graduated from Selden Rural High School. She later graduated from St. John's School of Nursing in Salina, Kan...

FREMONT, Calif. --  Doris Marie Thompson, 97, formerly of McCook, died Wednesday (June 5, 2002) at Washington Hospital in Fremont, Calif. She was born May 25, 1905, at Bladen, to William and Nancy (Lewis) Fassler. She grew up in Culbertson and graduated from Culbertson High School. She graduated from Kearney State Teachers College. She taught at the Perry School District and the East Ward school in McCook prior to her marriage...

Dorothy Elizabeth Leibrandt Albers, 77, died Wednesday (June 12, 2002) at Hillcrest Nursing Home. She was born May 7, 1925, to Walter John and Rosine Carolina Pauline (Breitling) Esch in Red Willow County. On Jan. 12, 1947, she married Samuel Leibrandt at Ash Creek Lutheran Church. She later married Clarence Albers...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Dennis Hart Townsend, 53, died June 4, 2002, at the Sienna Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was born March 28, 1949, to Loren and Gwendolyn (Coyle) Townsend in Scottsbluff. He moved with his family to McCook where he graduated with the Class of 1967. He served in the Vietnam War as a Crew Chief on the KC-135 Ariel Tanker...

CURTIS -- Doris Gladus Petersen McKinney, 83, died Wednesday (June 12, 2002) at her home in Curtis. She was born Dec. 15, 1918, to Nels and Dorthea (Jensen) Petersen in Curtis. In 1943, she married John Y. McKinney. Before she retired in 1982, she held various positions including a rural school teacher, a secretary, bookkeeper, a furniture salesperson and interior decorator...

BENKELMAN -- Francis Edward Neville, 87, died Thursday (June 13, 2002) at the Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. He was born Dec. 14, 1914, to William and Jane (Wallace) Neville in Eddyville. He completed school through the eighth grade in Eddyville before the family moved to Haigler...

Melba L. Huckfeldt, 81, died Saturday (June 16, 2002) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born July 3, 1920, to Lloyd and Susan (Carter) Haney in Gosper County. She grew up in Elwood where she graduated from Elwood High School in 1937. On Sept. ...

BOISE, Idaho --  Retired Major Donald D. Mues, 74, beloved husband, father, and grandfather passed away one day short of his seventy-fifth birthday on Monday (June 10, 2002) at St. Luke's Hospital in Boise, Idaho. He wrestled with a lengthy illness of which he never stopped battling. Memorial Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday (June 17, 2002) at the Cloverdale Funeral Home in Boise, Idaho...

OBERLIN -- John W. Barrett, 80, died Sunday (June 16, 2002) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born Dec. 29, 1921, to Harold and Mary Elizabeth (Ireland) Barrett at Oberlin. He attended Addleman School and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1939. He worked for Boeing in Wichita during World War II before moving to Oberlin...

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Helen I. Carlson, 75, died June 5, 2002, in Portland, Ore. She was born Sept. 19, 1926, in Lindsay, Calif., to Louis and Vera Quinlan. She graduated from Richmond High School in 1944. The same year, she moved to Portland to attend Pacific Bible College which later became Warner Pacific College...

CASPER, Wyo. -- Geraldine "Geri" Mae Rouse, 71, died Saturday (June 15, 2002) at Bryan LGH East in Lincoln. She was born April 3, 1931, to Matthew and Sybil (Dayton) Mericle at Fort Dodge, Iowa. She graduated from Norfolk Junior College in 1949. She began her teaching career in Oakdale, Neligh, Ewing and Elgin...

LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- Janet M. Felker, 61, died Wednesday (May 22, 2002) at Lutheran Hospital in Lakewood, Colo. She was born Nov. 5, 1940, to F. Forest and Virginia (McKillip) Felker. She grew up on a farm east of Hayes Center and graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1958. She also attended McCook College and Kearney State College...

Bernice Lucille Vaughn, 76, died Tuesday (June 18, 2002) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Aug. 30, 1925, at Indianola to Ivan H. and Matilda Mary (Colling) Quigley. She graduated from Indianola High School in 1942, and continued her education, earning a teaching certificate. She taught in several rural schools near Indianola and McCook. She was also employed as a telephone operator for Northwestern Bell for some time after high school graduation...

Theresa Margaret Schmidt, 87, died Monday (June 17, 2002) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Oct. 15, 1914, at Indianola to Joseph and Mary (Malleck) Fidnarik. She lived all of her life in the Indianola and McCook communities. On July 30, 1933, she married Marion Adolph Schmidt. She was employed as a clerk for more than 24 years with the Woolworth Store...

ST. PAUL, Minn -- Astre G. Johnson, 87, died Friday (June 21, 2002) in Minnesota. She was retired from School District No. 622 in Minnesota after 17 years of service. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth. Survivors include three daughters, Barbara and husband, Gerald Michaelis of McCook, Sandra Kennedy and Cynthia Berry; three sons Charles and wife, Susan, George and wife, Mary, Gregory and wife, Leslee; one brother, Norman and wife, Charlotte Larsen; two sisters, Catherine Frazier and Evelyn Williams; 15 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.. ...

TRENTON -- Olive D. Trusty, 90, died Friday (June 21, 2002) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Sept. 11, 1911, to Oscar and Lela Mae (Day) Keller in Callaway. She graduated from rural school in Fort Morgan, Colo. In 1925, she married Edward C. Smith. He preceded her in death in 1951...

LEANDER, Texas -- Judy Annette Fries of Leander, Texas passed away Saturday, June 22, 2002. She was born on April 13, 1944, to Ray and Ruth Reiter in Kearney. She graduated from Kearney High School and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney in June 1966 and began a teaching career in Gothenburg. She married U.S. Navy Ensign Wayne Fries on June 19, 1970, in Kearney, and they moved to San Diego, Calif...

TRENTON -- Olive D. Trusty, 90, died Friday (June 21, 2002) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Sept. 11, 1911, to Oscar and Lela Mae (Day) Keller in Callaway. She graduated from rural school in Cozad. In 1925, she married Edward C. Smith. He preceded her in death in 1951...

Barbara Jean (Bartak) Harrison, 58, died Saturday (June 22, 2002) at her home in rural Stratton. She was born March 12, 1944, San Diego, Calif. to Filbert F. and Celestine A. (Kloke) Bartak. Shortly after her birth, she moved with her mother to live with her grandparents in Madison while her father served during World War II near Okinawa in Japan. ...

Lucille Gammill Kleesick was born June 28, 1910, in a sod house on her Grandfather Gammill's ranch in Frontier County. She was the eldest child of Elwood and Nellie (Fisher) Gammill. Her fondest childhood memories were going with her father to deliver mail from Freedom to Stockville with the horse and buggy and playing in her Grandfather James Gammill's log house located near the Medicine Creek...

KEARNEY -- Esther E. Boyle, 92, died Monday (June 24, 2002) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She was born Aug. 9, 1909, to Fred and Cecile (Murtha) Grovert on the Carmody homestead in Hitchcock County. She graduated from Trenton High School in 1927...

Elwin Hansen, 87, died Tuesday (June 25, 2002) at his home north of McCook. He was born June 12, 1915, to M. Peter and Georgia (Cramer) Hansen in Frontier County. He graduated from the Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis in 1933. On May 17, 1944, he married Dorothy Klooz at Oberlin. They spent their married lives farming in Red Willow and Frontier counties. He was a seed corn representative for several companies. In 1988, he received the Pioneer Farm Award from Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha...

Donald Rea Matson, 59, died Tuesday (June 25, 2002) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born July 21, 1942, at Wauneta, to Barton Rea and Grace Lucille (Fuqua) Matson. He entered the U. S. Army in 1964, serving during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1966, and served in the Reserves until 1970...

Elwin Hansen, 87, died Tuesday (June 25, 2002) at his home north of McCook. He was born June 12, 1915, to M. Peter and Georgia (Cramer) Hansen in Frontier County. He graduated from the Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis in 1933. On May 17, 1944, he married Dorothy Klooz at Oberlin. They spent their married lives farming in Red Willow and Frontier counties. He was a seed corn representative for several companies. In 1988, he received the Pioneer Farm Award from Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha...

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- Mary Genevieve (Bell) Volentine was born Sept. 12, 1913, in Plainview, Texas to Marcus F. and Emma Bell. She passed away June 23, 2002, at her home in Santa Barbara, Calif. On Nov. 10, 1935, she married Myatt Wesley Volentine in McCook. They lived in McCook for several years before moving to California...

NORTON, Kan. -- Harold L. Frack, 78, died Monday (June 17, 2002) at the Andbe Nursing Home in Norton. He was a former resident of Hendley. He was born Oct. 1, 1923, to Claude and Josephine (Herhahn) Frack at Hendley. He graduated from Holbrook High School in 1941. He attended McCook College for 1 year. He served in the U. S. Army for a short time and then was employed at the Hastings Ammunition Depot at Hastings...

BEAVER CITY -- Randal D. Bates, 41, died Sunday (April 21, 2002) at a hospital in Memphis, Tenn. He had been a resident of Moscow, Tenn. He was born April 2, 1961, to Verlyn and Ila (Burton) Bates at McCook. He graduated from Beaver City High School in 1979. He graduated from Doane College in 1983. Following college graduation he moved to Lincoln for three years before moving to Tennessee in 1986. He was a supervisor for the Technicolor Corporation...

EL CAJON, Calif. -- Marjorie Burton Fletcher, 94, died Wednesday (June 19, 2002) in El Cajon, Calif. She was born July 18, 1907, to Charles and Margaret (Hayes) Burton in Franklin. She received her education in Rural School Districts 68 and 2, graduating from Franklin High School in 1925. She taught in one room schools in Franklin and Chase Counties...

SELDEN, Kan. -- Blanche L. Cheney, 78, died Thursday (June 27, 2002) at Presbyterian St. Lukes Hospital in Denver. She was born May 22, 1924, to Joseph and Avis (Phillips) Turrell in Rexford. She was raised on a farm north of Rexford and attended Hopewill Country School...

DENVER --  Russell D. Vernon, 76, died Tuesday (June 25, 2002) at Portercare Hospital in Denver. He was born March 10, 1926, to Roscoe and Mabel (Holben) Vernon in Decatur County. He graduated from Decatur Community High School and was in the Army. He also served in World War II European Theater...