Obituaries from February 2003

Leon Ray "Red" Hiatt died Thursday (Jan. 30, 2003) at McCook Community Hospital. He was 64 years old. Red was born Dec. 7, 1938, at Cambridge, to Ruby Helen (Renniker) and Oscar Wayne Hiatt. He attended school at Cambridge Public Schools. He married Dixie Lee Stagemeyer in 1956, and to this union four sons were born...

BENKELMAN -- Della F. Roundtree, 80, formerly of Benkelman, died Friday (Jan. 31, 2003) at the Beatrice Community Hospital in Beatrice. She was born Aug. 22, 1922, in Dundy County, to Ash Jehu and Nellie Lorena (Hester) Roundtree.  For the last 25 years, she was a resident of the Martin Luther Home in Beatrice.  Before moving to Beatrice, she lived in Hastings and North Platte...

Darin E. Koetter, 34 of McCook, died Thursday, (Jan. 30, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born March 14, 1968, to Richard and Marilyn (McKillip) Koetter. He attended country school at District 41 through eighth grade and graduated from McCook High School in 1986. He made his home in McCook working on the family farm and with various local business owners...

Carl V. Smock, 56, died Sunday (Feb. 2, 2003) at his home south of McCook. He was born May 12, 1946, to Oran Alfanso and Grace (Heine) Smock at Lexington. He grew up in Cozad and graduated from Cozad High School in 1964. He was the 1963 Heavyweight State Wrestling Champion. He attended Kearney State College from 1964-68 and graduated with a bachelor of science degree. He earned his masters degree from Kearney State College in 1982...

BRIGHTON, Colo. -- Robert "Bob" D. Hickert, 61, died Thursday (Jan. 30, 2003) at his home in Brighton, Colo., after a short illness. He was born Jan. 5, 1942, at the family farm in Decatur County, to Albert and Amanda (Gilleece) Hickert. He attended New Almelo Grade School and Jennings High School...

Laura C. Manker, 81, died Sunday (Feb. 2, 2003) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born Nov. 8, 1921, in Hillview, Ill., to Harvey and Ruby Helen (Price) Schutz. She grew up at Hillview and graduated from Whitehall High School at Whitehall, Ill., in 1940. She graduated from business college at St. Louis, Mo., and worked for Darcy Advertising Company for five years...

DRESDEN -- John L. Spresser, 72, died Sunday (Feb. 2, 2003) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born March 10, 1930, on a farm south of Dresden, to John "Jack" and Katherine (Kamphaus) Spresser. He was raised on the family farm. He attended Green Valley Grade School and graduated from Leoville High School...

STRATTON -- Marjorie S. Rath, 84, died Saturday (Feb. 1, 2003) at Presbyterian -- St. Luke's hospital in Denver, Colo. She was born Feb. 16, 1918, at Sutton, to Hall E. and Mabel C. (Chambers) Beattie. At the age of 14 months, following the death of her mother, she went to live with her aunt and uncle, Cora and Victor Anderson, who raised her as their own in their home at Ragan...

BEAVER CITY -- Alfred Thomas Bly, known as Al Bly, 77, died Saturday (Feb. 1, 2003) at his home in Beaver City. He was born Dec. 21, 1925, at Beaver City to Guy and Retta (Thomas) Bly. He was a lifelong resident of Beaver City. He graduated from Beaver City High School with the class of 1943. He worked for Everett Gentry Farms for a while...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Ruth E. Price, 88, died Monday (Feb. 3, 2003) at St. Joseph Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. She was born Oct. 2, 1914, in McCook to Adam and Mary Baker. In 1937, she married A.L. Price of St. Francis. They then moved to Kansas City...

Beverly Arlene J. Smith, 77, of McCook, died Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2003) at the Littleton Adventist Hospital in Littleton, Colo. She was born June 27, 1925, to Harley and Ina (Eggers) Jones in Spencer, Iowa. She attended school in Spencer and received nurse's training in Chicago, ill...

James Raymond Trupp, 58, of Imperial, died Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2003) at his home following a short but courageous battle with cancer. Jim was born March 22, 1944 in McCook, to Raymond and Elsie (Foster) Trupp. He attended country school at District 8 through eighth grade, graduating from McCook High School in 1962 and McCook Community College in 1964. He then attended Chadron State College...

Opal Ellen McKillip, 95, died Sunday (February 9, 2003) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born August 3, 1907, in rural McCook, to Ora Troy and Ethel Alice (Smith) Kelley. On Oct. 18, 1924, she married Nile V. McKillip at Oberlin. They farmed most of their married life. ...

TRENTON -- Raymond W. Frakes, 90, died Saturday (Feb. 8, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born July 5, 1912, in Hitchcock County, to William L. and Kittie P. (Thomas) Frakes. He grew up in Hitchcock County and graduated from Atwood High School in 1930...

Lena F. Harris, 85, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at her home in McCook. She was born Jan. 29, 1918, at Marion, to Lewis and Agnes (Shewmaker) Hornkohl. She grew up at Marion where she graduated from Marion High School. On March 11, 1946, she married Lyle Kilpatrick. She spent her adult life in McCook where she was employed by F.W. Woolworth for 18 years before working in the McCook Public Schools cafeteria for eight years. She retired in 1997...

Lena F. Harris, 85, died Friday (Feb. 7, 2003) at her home in McCook. She was born Jan. 29, 1918, at Marion, to Lewis and Agnes (Shoemake) Hornkohl. She grew up at Marion where she graduated from Marion High School. On March 11, 1946, she married Lyle Kilpatrick. She spent her adult life in McCook where she was employed by F.W. Woolworth for 18 years before working in the McCook Public Schools cafeteria for eight years. She retired in 1997...

SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- LaVonne Gail "Vonnie" Sappenfield, 58, formerly of Atwood, died Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2003) in San Antonio, Texas. She was born July 26, 1944, at Kansas City, Kan., to Delbert Fay "D.F." and LaVergne (King) McClelland. She graduated from Atwood Community High School in 1961. ...

MAYWOOD -- Velma Carr, 86, died Sunday (Feb. 9, 2003) at her home in Maywood. She was born April 7, 1916, in a sod house north of Paxton, to Clayton and Lucy (Prosise) Bussard. On Jan. 15, 1935, she married Glenn Carr at Trenton. They farmed at Palisade and Hayes Center for many years before moving to Maywood in 1971...

Lydia M. Webster died Sunday (Feb. 9, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born March 17, 1901, in Cheyenne County near St. Francis, to Peter and Mary Catherine (Wagner) Freehling. Lydia was the oldest living child of Peter and Mary, having eight sisters and one brother to share the family home with...

James Raymond Trupp, 58, of Imperial, died Wednesday (Feb. 5, 2003) at his home following a short but courageous battle with cancer. Jim was born March 22, 1944, in McCook, to Raymond and Elsie (Foster) Trupp. He attended country school at District 8 through eighth grade, graduating from McCook High School in 1962 and McCook Community College in 1964. He then attended Chadron State College...

STRATTON -- Leland W. Dicke, 80, died Monday (Feb. 10, 2003) at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. He was born Nov. 16, 1922, in Hitchcock County, south of Palisade, to Frederick William and Eunice Mae (Baughman) Dicke. He attended country school near his home through the eighth grade in District 13, and went on to attend high school in Stratton where he was a member of the graduating class of 1940. After graduation, he farmed with his father...

Margaret Ann Stritt Haag died Monday (Feb. 10, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was 79 years old. Margaret was born Aug. 10, 1923, on a farm south of Indianola, to John and Anna Bridget (Lalley) Stritt. She graduated from Indianola High School in 1939...

NORTH PLATTE -- Madeline Coder, 92, formerly of Wellfleet, died Monday (Feb. 10, 2003) at Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte. She was born March 23, 1910, at Cambridge, to Henry L. and Mabel Mousel. She graduated from Cambridge High School...

TRENTON -- Lauri Lou Dore, 45, died Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2003) at her home in Trenton. She was born June 12, 1957, to Louis and Mary (Moore) Hrouda in Golden, Colo. She grew up in Golden and graduated from high school in Lakewood, Colo. On Nov. 8, 1975, she married Kevin S. ...

Violette M. "Jackie" Burgoon, 86, died Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2003) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born June 12, 1916, in Prairie City, Iowa, to Elmer Richard and Vera Edna (Garrison) Barter. She graduated from McCook High School in 1934...

FARNAM -- Harold Bick, 75, died Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2003) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born Aug. 29, 1927, to Arthur Henry and Edna Marie (Gaibler) Bick in Farnam. He graduated from Farnam High School in 1945. He served in the Army in Korea from 1951 to 1953...

LONGMONT, COLO. -- Ronald W. "Ron" Glanzer, 67, died Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2003) at Longmont United Hospital in Longmont, Colo. He was born March 15, 1935, to George and Bertha (Riepe) Glanzer in Waterville, Kan. He was a graduate of Arapahoe High School...

OAK LAWN, ILL. -- Frank C. Hejl, 81, died Saturday (Feb. 1, 2003) at his home in Oak Lawn, Ill. He was born April 24, 1921, to Frank John and Lillian (Ondock) Hejl in Chicago, Ill. He was in World War II from 1942 to 1946. He was a military policeman stationed at the Indianola Prisoner of War camp from 1943-44...

FORT DODGE, Iowa -- Mildred Ellen (Metheny) Waterman, 95, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, passed away on Feb. 8, 2003, at her home. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., today, Feb. 14, 2003, at Bruce's Funeral Home Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Evelyn Lewiston officiating. Burial will be at North Lawn Cemetery. Visitation was today prior to services. Memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church of Fort Dodge and/or the American Cancer Society...

Kenneth Leroy Ebert, 67, died Wednesday (Feb. 12, 2003) at his home in McCook. He was born Aug. 8, 1935, to Eric A. and Pearl M. (Alley) Ebert in McCook. He attended McCook Public Schools. On Jan. 21, 1977, he married Annabelle E. Bailey in Oberlin. He lived in McCook most of his life. He worked for the City of McCook Water Department for 20 years. He owned A&E Taxi Service...

Emma Atkins died Wednesday (Feb. 12, 2003) at McCook Community Hospital. She was 84 years old. Emma was born on Jan. 16, 1919, at Filley, Neb., to William W. and Hinderika (Menninga) Johnson. She attended Hanover Lutheran School. On March 26, 1940, she married Albert Parde at Filley. To this union four children were born. He preceded her in death on Aug. 13, 1959. She later married Bruce Atkins on June 19, 1967, at Juarez, Mexico...

ATWOOD -- Bernard Gabriel Sis, 74, of Atwood, died Saturday (Feb. 15, 2003) at his home following a short battle with cancer. He was born Jan. 24, 1929, to Joseph and Anastasia "Daisy" (Sabatka) Sis at his home. He attended country school at Prairie View through the eighth grade...

BOUNTIFUL, UTAH -- Vada Naomi Wolfe Groothuis, 88, died Wednesday (Feb. 12, 2003) at Rocky Mountain Care of Bountiful, Utah. She was born April 7, 1914, near Bird City to Sherman and Emma Rosella (Van Guilder) Wolfe. On May 16 , 1937, she married Ed Groothuis in Culbertson. He died in 1991...

BEAVER CITY -- Linda M. Wederski, 54, died Monday (Feb. 17, 2003) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She was born May 8, 1948, to Raymond and Velma (Tracy) Wederski in Benkelman. The family moved from Edmonds, Kan., in the early 1950s to Beaver City. She graduated from Beaver City High School in 1968...

OBERLIN -- Fay M. Ginther, 90, died Monday (Feb. 17, 2003) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born May 29, 1912, to Charles and Estella (McNeal) Magers in Jamestown, Kan. She was raised in the Traer community and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1931...

Clifford Leroy Ruppert, 95, died Saturday (Feb. 15, 2003) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. He was born May, 15, 1907, to Henry Charles and Katherine (Nussbaum) Ruppert in Quick. He attended rural District No. 101 school. On Dec. 15, 1928, he married Nellie Agnes Boson in Oberlin. The couple made their home on a farm north of McCook until their retirement...

OSWEGO, KAN. -- George W. Stull, 65, died Monday (Feb. 17, 2003) at his home in Oswego, Kan. He was born Oct. 9, 1937, to Russe D. and Helen (Walsh) Stull in Atchison, Kan. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. On Nov. 3, 1979, he married Carolyn Reser in Leavenworth, Kan. He was a banker for 36 years...

OBERLIN -- Anna Gillespie, 96, died Tuesday (Feb. 18, 2003) at Cedar Living Center in Oberlin, Kan. She was born Sept. 19, 1906, to George and Annie (Barnett) McChesney in Norcatur. She was raised near Norcatur and attended Republic County Schools and Highland School in Norton...

OBERLIN -- Howard Banta, 98, died Monday (Feb. 17, 2003) in Oberlin. He was born Feb. 24, 1904, to Harlan Quincy and Mary (Chenoweth) Banta in Oberlin. He was raised in Oberlin and graduated from Decatur County High School in 1922 and graduated from Kansas State University in 1926 with a bachelor of science degree. He worked as a chemist in Dallas, Texas for Stannard Tilton Milling Co. In 1930, he moved back to Oberlin...

EDISON -- Charlie Park, 58, died Tuesday (Feb. 18, 2003) at his home in Edison. He was born Feb. 11, 1945, to Bennie and Nettie (Penrod) Park in Danbury. He lived in a number of communities in Nebraska and Colorado while growing up. On May 21, 1965, he married Jeri Bash of Alma in Phillipsburg, Kan. ...

STRATTON -- Cynthia J. Cleveland, 44, died Monday (Feb. 17, 2003) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. She was born March 18, 1958, to Leroy and Betty (Biodrowski) Trainor in Colorado Springs, Colo., and graduated from Aurora Central High School in Aurora, Colo. After graduation she worked with Wackenhut Security for several years...

BEAVER CITY -- Faye Killough, 75, formerly of Red Cloud, died Tuesday (Feb. 18, 2003) at Christian Homes in Holdrege. She was born Nov. 26, 1927, to Floyd and Zola (Ingram) Corbett in Red Cloud. She spent her early years in Webster County. She graduated from Jewel County High School in Kansas in 1945. She attended Kansas Wesleyan College in Kansas. She taught school for several years...

Robert Michael Scott, 46, died Wednesday (Feb. 19, 2003) in McCook. He was born Aug. 3, 1956, to James Alvin and Cora Ann (Turpin) Scott in Oberlin. He attended Wahoo-Newman Catholic High School and Central Tech College in Grand Island. On Nov. 8, 1975, he married Kathy Stock in Trenton...

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. -- John "Breeze" Hudson, daddy of Shelby Marie and Haley Elizabeth Hudson, passed away Feb. 1, 2003, in Sevierville, Tenn. He was born Feb. 2, 1955, to Leoland and Marjorie Hudson in Baltimore, Md. Breeze lived in the Oberlin-McCook area for several years before moving to Tennessee. He enjoyed riding, motorcycles, horses and fishing. Most of all, he loved spending time with his children...

STRATTON -- Wayne Marley, 81, died Wednesday (Feb. 19, 2003) in Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. He was born Sept. 15, 1921, to George and Florence (Benesheck) Marley at Roxborough, Penn. He attended Roxborough High School. After graduation he enlisted in the Army Air Corp and served in World War II in the 8th Air Force in Europe and North Africa. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross...

BENKELMAN -- Cody Alan Mahan, 23, died Saturday (Feb. 22, 2003) near Ainsworth from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born May 16, 1979, in Chadron, to Dale Wayne and Merry (McGrew) Mahan. In 1994, he moved with his family to Benkelman, Nebraska, where he attended Benkelman High School and was a member of the graduating class of 1998. ...

Irene Inez Gettman, 87, died Saturday (Feb. 22, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. Irene was born July 11, 1915, in the depot at Imperial, to Albert C. and Jennie M. (Marvin) Norman. She spent her life from second grade until death in McCook. She graduated from McCook High School in 1932. She was employed for a time by Chitwood Haddock Grocery Wholesale and then Northwestern Bell Telephone Company...

CURTIS -- Robert J. Russell, 77, died Friday (Feb. 21, 2003) at his home in Curtis. He was born April 22, 1925, north of Curtis, to Benjamin and Ellen Jensen Russell. He graduated from the Nebraska School of Agriculture in 1944. He entered the U.S. Army in September 1944 and served until November 1946. He was wounded during the battle of Okinawa and received the Purple Heart...

Margaret L. Lepper, 87, died Saturday (Feb. 22, 2003) at her home in McCook. She was born Oct. 23, 1915, at Nelson, to Wilbur L. and Bertha A. (Enearl) Portwood. She grew up at Nelson where she graduated from Nelson High School in 1933. She attended Hastings College. In 1934, she began working for the Federal Emergency Relief Administration while taking her Civil Service Exam and working for the Farm Security Administration...

MAYWOOD -- Mary Jane (Gandy) Littell, 58, died Sunday (Feb. 23, 2003) at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. She was born March 10, 1944, at Jackson, Miss., to Jesse Albert and Martha Jewel Batton Gandy. She graduated from high school in Atwood in 1962...

ARAPAHOE -- Donald Howard Andrews, 72, died Sunday (Feb. 23, 2003) at Bryan LGH East in Lincoln. He was born Nov. 16, 1930, at Cambridge, to Donald C. and Nina E. (Baker) Andrews. He attended rural country school southwest of Holbrook and graduated from Holbrook High School with the Class of 1948. He attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln...

Wanitta R. Williams, 79, died Thursday (Feb. 20, 2003) at her home in McCook. She was born May 12, 1923, to Charles William and Hazell (Rosefield) Cheever at North Platte. She attended school at North Platte. On March 14, 1942, she married William B. Williams in Lexington. She has lived in McCook since 1990...

ATWOOD -- Mamie Marie (Capps) Wohlrab, 90, formerly of Belleville, Ill., died Tuesday (Feb. 25, 2003) at the Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood. She was born April 25, 1912, in Benton, Mo., to Raymond S. and Flora (Boyd) Capps. She attended St. Theresa's Academy in East St. Louis, Ill...

Margaret L. Lepper, 87, died Saturday (Feb. 22, 2003) at her home in McCook. She was born Oct. 23, 1915, at Nelson, to Wilbur L. and Bertha A. (Enearl) Portwood. She grew up at Nelson where she graduated from Nelson High School in 1933. She attended Hastings College. In 1934, she began working for the Federal Emergency Relief Administration while taking her Civil Service Exam and working for the Farm Security Administration...

OBERLIN -- Loretta "Rita" Nelson, 87, died Monday (Feb. 24, 2003) at the Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kan. She was born Sept. 27, 1915, in Sheridan County, to Eliphalet J. and Cinda Ellen (Reed) Foster. She grew up in Sheridan and Decatur Counties. She attended Green Valley School, O'Toole School and Decatur Community High School...

OBERLIN -- Leona C. Glenn, 94, died Saturday (Feb. 22, 2003) at Oberlin. She was born April 21, 1908, in Courtland, to Andrew and Elise (Steinkuhler) Spanjer. She and her family moved to Logan County, Kan., where she attended Dailey Grade and High Schools, having graduated in 1925. After graduation she passed a test and became a teacher at a one room country school southeast of Haxtun, Colo...

Chester L. Clapp died Tuesday (Feb. 25, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was 78 years old. Chester was born Sept. 7, 1924, at McCook, to John W. and Sylvia (Painter) Clapp. He attended school in Weldona, Colo. In 1940, he returned to the McCook community. On May 10, 1943, he entered the US Army and served during World War II. He was honorably discharged on April 19, 1946...

GOODLAND, Kan. -- Clarence H. Heyen, 91, died Tuesday (Feb. 25, 2003) at the Good Samaritan Center in Goodland, Kan. He was born Aug. 20, 19911, to Fritz and Minnie (Somfleth) Heyen in Bedford, Kan. He grew up in the Oakley, Kan., and Stafford, Kan., area and attended school in Stafford...

WAUNETA -- Lena Jean Vlasin, 80, died Sunday (Feb. 23, 2003) at the home of her daughter in Wauneta. She was born Nov. 5, 1922, in Imperial, to Henry J. and Dessie Gay (Smith) Felt. She attended school in Champion and was one of the first students to be enrolled in the Alpha Rural High School in Champion...

LUDELL -- John J. Pettera, 81, died Wednesday (Feb. 26, 2003) at his home in Ludell. He was born Oct. 22, 1921, in Herndon, to Amelia (Vap) and Joseph Pettera. As a boy, he attended country school, St. Mary's School and graduated from Herndon High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942-43, and was honorably discharged...

CAMBRIDGE -- Ann M. Deaver, 41, died Wednesday (Feb. 26, 2003) at Bryan LGH East Medical Center in Lincoln. She was born Nov. 7, 1961, in Grand Island, to Gail and Norma (Heesch) Wert. She graduated from Aurora High School in 1979. She attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln on a three-year program majoring in Life Sciences, transferring to the University of Nebraska Medical College in Omaha to finish a two-year program, receiving a degree in Medical Technology...

LaVerne Louise Tirrill, 78, died Thursday (February 27, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Oct. 25, 1924, at McCook to Darrell F. and Lila F. (Huet) Lytle. She graduated from McCook High School in 1943. On March 2, 1946, she married Lester M. Tirrill at McCook. To this union three children were born. She was employed with the Agricultural Soil Conservation Services Office for 23 years...

Cleo Mae (Macy) Childers, 81, died Wednesday (Feb. 26, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook after a lengthy battle with emphysema. Cleo was born April 24, 1921, on a farm in Nebraska near Cedar Bluffs, Kan., to Ezra Carl and Bessie Bell (Austin) Macy...

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Edna Lois Pierce, 81, died Tuesday (Feb. 25, 2003) in Albuquerque, N.M. She was born Jan. 25, 1922, at Stratton, to Gustaf and Hazel (Wollam) Miller and grew up on her family's farm south of Stratton. On July 19, 1942, she married Dwight E. ...