Obituaries from April 2003

Dolores Theobald Mohler passed away peacefully at her home in Colorado Springs, Colo., the morning of Wednesday, March 26, 2003, at the age of 91. She had been living in Colorado Springs since the late spring of 2000. Dolores was born in Yuma, Colo., on Sept. ...

OBERLIN -- John D. Shirley, 73, died Monday (March 31, 2003) at his home in Oberlin. He was born June 24, 1929, in Frontier County, to Walter Edward and Marie (Waggoner) Shirley. He was raised in McCook and attended McCook Schools. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II...

Mary Ann Christner, 69, died Thursday (March 27, 2003) at her home in McCook. She was born Jan. 26, 1935, at Oxford, to Cleatus Andrew and Annette (Swanson) Wasson. She graduated from Oxford High School and attended Hastings College. On Nov. 8, 1953, she married Kenneth D. Christner. To this union three children were born. She was employed for many years in public relations with the Denver Seminary...

GOODLAND, Kan. -- Lyle L. Smith, a longtime insurance agent and civic leader in Sherman County, Kan., died Sunday (March 30, 2003) at Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital in Denver, Colo. Mr. Smith was born April 26, 1929, at Beardsley, Kan., the son of Ethel (Lavell) and John J. Smith, and grew up on the family's wheat and milo farm. He graduated from high school in Stratton, and attended McCook Junior College at McCook for one year...

Alice Julia (Kompus) Hutfles was born Dec. 5, 1912, to Joseph and Lena (Toth) Kompus at LaMoure, N.D. She passed away March 23, 2003, at the Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, at the age of 90 years, three months and 18 days. As an infant, the family moved to a farm nine miles northwest of Herndon. She attended the one room Walsh country school for eight years, walking more than two miles with her sisters...

Funeral services for Joy L. Smith will be conducted from the United Methodist Church in Oxford on Saturday, 10 a.m., with the Rev. Theta Dame and the Rev. Hyeongdong Baek officiating. Interment will be in the Oxford Cemetery. Joy Lynne Smith, 46, of Arapahoe, passed away Monday (March 31, 2003) at the Clarkson Hospital in Omaha, following many years of heart disease. ...

Memorial services for Linda C. Jackson will be conducted from the Nelson-Harris Funeral Home in Holdrege on Saturday, 10 a.m., with the Rev. Murray Jones officiating. Inurnment of the ashes will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege. Linda Carol Jackson, 56 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday (April 2, 2003) at her home. ...

ATWOOD -- Steven C. Horinek, 88, died Tuesday (April 1, 2003) at the Prairie Living Senior Center in Colby, Kan. He was a lifetime resident of Rawlins County. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, 10 a.m., at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Atwood with the Rev. Damian Richards as celebrant. Interment will be in the Mount Calvary Cemetery in Atwood...

OBERLIN -- Irene Marie Corcoran, 77, died Tuesday (April 1, 2003) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born Sept. 17, 1925, in Hays, Kan., to George and Adeline (Bufort) Keisner. She was raised in Hays, Lexington and Norton, Kan., before moving to Oberlin in 1935. She graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1943...

Angie L. Puelz, 95, died Thursday (April 3, 2003) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born Feb. 15, 1908, to Charles Stanley and Amanda (Walters) Thompson at Indianola. She attended Indianola Public Schools and graduated in 1926. She also attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and graduated in 1932. She taught drama and history for 42 years in secondary education...

ATWOOD -- Steven Charles Horinek, 88, died Tuesday (April 1, 2003) at the Prairie Living Senior Center in Colby, Kan. He was born Dec. 22, 1914, to Rudolph Egnac and Agnes (Janousek) Horinek on the family farmstead northwest of Atwood. As a young boy, he attended country school at Queen of Driftwood District No. 96...

ATWOOD -- Steven Charles Horinek, 88, died Tuesday (April 1, 2003) at the Prairie Living Senior Center in Colby, Kan. He was born Dec. 22, 1914, to Rudolph Egnac and Agnes (Janousek) Horinek on the family farmstead northwest of Atwood. As a young boy, he attended country school at Queen of Driftwood District No. 96...

INDIANOLA -- Judith Darlene Malleck-Keith, 57, died Friday (April 4, 2003) at the Great Plains Medical Center in North Platte. She was born Jan. 28, 1946, at McCook to James John and Genevieve Elizabeth (Powers) Malleck. She graduated from Indianola High School in 1964 and from McCook Beauty Academy in 1986...

LUDELL -- Josephine Catherine Schmaderer, 80, died Thursday (April 3, 2003) at the Good Samaritan Center in Atwood. She was born Dec. 9, 1922, near Herndon, to Aloys and Catherine (Baum) Schmaderer. She attended a country school in Nebraska and completed her freshman year at Saint Mary's in Herndon. ...

Gary K. Berry, 58, died Monday (April 7, 2003) at Bryan LGH East Hospital in Lincoln. He was born May 16, 1944, in McCook, to Carroll E. and Clara E. (Ruby) Berry. He grew up in McCook where he completed his junior year in high school before entering the U.S. Army. In 1984, he received his General Equivelency Diploma from Colby Community College...

Richard Levi Phares was born April 5, 1918, to Ruben and Anna Phares in Palisade, where he grew up with his three brothers on the farm. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937. Shortly after, he met and married Wilma M. Bridgman, also from Palisade, on April 5, 1942, in Yuma, Ariz. They were blessed with two wonderful children...

Funeral services for Donald Lee Bilsing, 74, of Lubbock, Texas, were Wednesday (March 19, 2003) in Resthaven's Abbey Chapel with the Rev. Ken Horn officiating. Interment was at Resthaven Memorial Park under the direction of Resthaven Funeral Home. He died Saturday (March 15, 2003) in Lubbock. ...

AURORA, Colo. -- Paul Robert Bartels, 44, died March 31, 2003, in Aurora, Colo. He was born Nov. 15, 1958, to Robert and Marilyn Bartels. He grew up in Imperial and graduated from Chase County High School in 1977. He attended the University of Nebraska. He also graduated from aviation mechanic school...

HAYS, Kan. -- Darrel L. Purvis, 71, died Saturday (April 5, 2003) at his home in Hays, Kan. He was born April 4, 1932, at Atwood, to Ray and Naida (Koskie) Purvis. He attended elementary school in Northwest Kansas and graduated from Bird City High School. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict, he attended Fort Hays State University in Hays...

SANTA FE, N.M. -- Matthew J. McCann, 32, died Friday (April 4, 2003) at his home. He was born April 4, 1971, at St. Paul, to Bob Lee and Ruth Yvonne (Birginal) McCann. He grew up in St. Paul and attended St. Paul Public Schools. He graduated in 1989 from St. ...

Mary B. Bustamante, 78, died Saturday (April 4, 2003) at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis. She was born Feb. 1, 1925, in Los Angeles, Calif. Her early years were spent in Los Angeles and she grew up at Sioux City, Iowa. On Oct. 11,1986, she married Eulalio Bustamante at Colorado Springs, Colo. ...

WAUNETA -- Mildred Brill, 95, died Wednesday (April 9, 2003) at the Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home in Wauneta. She was born March 10, 1908, to Chester and Nellie (Beard) Decker, on a farm near Oberlin. In 1920, she moved with her parents to a farm west of Wauneta. She attended school in the area and graduated from Wauneta Rural High School in 1927. In 1928, she went to Imperial where she was employed as Deputy County Treasurer for 10 years...

JENNINGS -- Jim Foster, 43, died Wednesday (April 9, 2003) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born July 11, 1959, at Norton, Kan., to Kenneth and Alice (Germeroth) Foster. He grew up in the Jennings area where he attended Jennings Grade School and graduated with the Jennings High School class of 1977. He then resided in Dodge City, Kan., where he worked as a meat processor at High Plains Dressed Beef. He later moved back to Jennings...

G.B. Crapson was born Oct. 10, 1930, in Wauneta, to Roy L. and Edith W. (French) Crapson. As a youngster, he attended school in Wauneta and country school District No. 14 in Hayes County, northeast of Palisade. Jiggs continued his education in Wauneta, graduating from Wauneta High School in 1956. ...

CAMBRIDGE -- Donna Rae Keefer, 69, died Wednesday (April 9, 2003) at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital. She was born Nov. 20, 1933, in Albion, to Ray and Senada (Redler) Wheeler. She attended school in Columbus and graduated from St. Bonaventure in 1951...

CULBERTSON -- Henry Schlager, 96, died Sunday (April 13, 2003) at the El Dorado Manor Home in Trenton. He was born Oct. 4, 1906, in Neu Denhoff, Russia, to Henry and Elizabeth (Rutz) Schlager Sr. The Schlager family came to the United States in 1913. ...

ATWOOD -- Bernita A. (Prideaux) Porter Most, 78, died Sunday (April 13, 2003) at the Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood. She was born Sept. 17, 1924, south of Atwood in Rawlins County, to John Henry and Bertha (Threlkel) Prideaux. On April 23, 1944, she married Russell R. Porter at Oberlin. He preceded her in death on March 31, 1973...

OBERLIN -- Alvin C. Uehlin, 83, died Tuesday (April 15, 2003) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born Aug. 18, 1919, in rural Oberlin, to Charles C. and Julia May (Tacha) Uehlin. He was raised on a farm northeast of Oberlin. He attended Vallonia Country School and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1937...

Wilma Alice (Farr) Ward was born Dec. 12, 1948, at Cambridge, to Albert and Doris (Houser) Farr. She passed away April 16, 2003, after a short bout with cancer. During her childhood years she lived north of Cambridge on her parents' farm. She attended Prairie Bell School District No. ...

Wilma Alice (Farr) Ward was born Dec. 12, 1948, at Cambridge, to Albert and Doris (Houser) Farr. She passed away April 16, 2003, after a short bout with cancer. During her childhood years she lived north of Cambridge on her parents' farm. She attended Prairie Bell School District No. ...

Duane Kenneth Meyers, 75, died Thursday (April 17, 2003) at Willow Ridge Retirement Home in McCook. He was born Oct. 28, 1927, at North Loup, to Harry William and Grace Mae (Wilkie) Meyers. He graduated from North Loup High School in 1947 and later from Milford Trade School with a degree in small engine repair...

STRATTON -- Lylas E. Hudson, 72, formerly of Benkelman, died Wednesday (April 16, 2003) at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. Funeral services will be Saturday, at 9:30 a.m. (MDT), in the Forch Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bernard Lorenz officiating.  Interment will follow services at the Palisade Cemetery at Palisade...

STRATTON -- Lylas Elaine Hudson, 72, died Wednesday (April 16, 2003) at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. She was born March 18, 1931, in Wauneta, to Frank and Meta (Christiansen) Norman, and later moved with her family to their farm near Hayes Center. She was a graduate of Hayes Center High School...

MUSKEGO, Wis. -- Donald Yost, 86, died Thursday (April 17, 2003). He was born May 30, 1916, in Sutton, to Louie and Ida (Neunschwander) Yost. He spent most of his youth in McCook before the family moved back to Sutton where he graduated. He graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1939. He was a JC Penney manager in Escanaba, Mi., until he retired in 1972...

Nola B. Appleyard, 87, died Thursday (April 17, 2003) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born April 24, 1915, in Simela, Colo., to Harry V. and Myrtle (Bales) Stone. She grew up in McCook where she graduated from McCook High School. She attended McCook Junior College. She began teaching rural school in Frontier County...

Duane Kenneth Meyers, 75, died Thursday (April 17, 2003) at Willow Ridge Retirement Home in McCook. He was born Oct. 28, 1927, at North Loup, to Harry William and Grace Mae (Wilkie) Meyers. He graduated from North Loup High School in 1947 and later from Milford Trade School with a degree in small engine repair...

INDIANOLA --  Robert "Bob" V. Buschkoetter, 70, died Saturday (April 19, 2003) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. He was born Nov. 30, 1932, at Lawrence, to Anton J. and Rose Mary (Blume) Buschkoetter. He attended Sacred Heart Parochial School in Lawrence...

SELDEN -- Laura Mary Berls, 89, died Sunday (April 20, 2003) at St. Luke's Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. She was born June 10, 1913, in rural Leoville, Kan., to George and Louise (Meitl) Schroer. She was raised in the Leoville and Selden areas and graduated from Leoville High School in 1931...

WAUNETA -- Theron Kitt, 24, died Tuesday (April 22, 2003) at the Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial. Survivors include his fiancee, Brittany DeVall of Bassett; a daughter, Bailey DeVall also of Bassett; his father, Kirby Kitt and wife, Mary of Wauneta; his mother, Polly and husband, Al Gunther of Bloomfield; sisters, Kristi and husband, Alex McNair of Imperial and Beth Kitt of Kearney; brothers, Kallan Kitt of Kearney and Will Engell of Bloomfield; and grandmothers, Donnaline Kitt of Wauneta and Shirley Rothwell of Arthur.. ...

LITTLETON, Colo. -- Theron W. Rehn, 88, died Sunday (April 20, 2003) at Porter Hospice at the Johnson Center in Littleton, Colo. He was born July 10, 1914, in Campbell, to Fred and Maria (Koch) Rehn. He grew up at Campbell where he received his education...

LITTLETON, Colo. -- Theron W. Rehn, 88, died Sunday (April 20, 2003) at Porter Hospice at the Johnson Center in Littleton, Colo. He was born July 10, 1914, in Campbell, to Fred and Maria (Koch) Rehn. He grew up at Campbell where he received his education...

Emerald "Leon" Larrington died April 19, 2003, at the Ainsworth Care Center at the age of 89 years. He was born April 1, 1914, at Laird, Colo. He was the fifth of six children of Robert Larington and Lillie (Minton) Larington. At the age of four years, Leon moved with his parents to Red Willow County. His youth was spent in the rural McCook area. He graduated from Red Willow High School in 1932...

STRATTON -- Wilma E. Schleeman, 90, died Friday (April 25, 2003) at her home in Stratton. She was born Sept. 19, 1912, in Kremling, Colo., to Herman and Nettie (Wessel) Ahrens. On July 6, 1927, she married George Schleeman. They spent most of their lives in McCook. She was a homemaker...

LINCOLN -- Vernon L. Nissen, 84, died Saturday (April 26, 2003). He was born Aug. 9, 1918, to Adolph and Marie (Hinrichsen) Nissen. He was a mechanical engineer for Con Agra. He was a member of the Eastridge Presbyterian Church. Survivors include his wife, Mary Nissen of Lincoln; one son, Howard Nissen and wife, Marla of Lincoln; two daughters, Janelle and husband, Clifford Johnson of Trenton and Damaris and husband, Mike Schaneman of Thornton, Colo.; sisters, Ruthann Rosenbach of DuVall, Wash., and Harriet Elliasson of Milford, Iowa; brothers, Victor Nissen of Hardington and Russell Nissen of Wisner; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.. ...

Theron Dale Kitt was born Aug. 2, 1978, to Kirby and Polly Kitt in Benkelman. Theron attended grade school at Wauneta Public Schools and graduated high school from Wauneta-Palisade Schools. During his high school years he was involved in many sports activities. ...

TRENTON -- Irene N. Davis, 92, died Saturday (April 26, 2003) at the El Dorado Manor in Trenton. She was born Aug. 2, 1910, in Harrisonberg, Va., to Jeremiah and Ann (Webb) Wean. She grew up in Virginia where she received her education. On Aug. 11, 1926, she married Wilbert Alexander Davis and they spent most of their lives in Virginia before moving to Culbertson in 1969...

Thomas "Tom" Wayne Fawver, 52, died Friday (April 25, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born Aug. 3, 1950, at Eugene, Ore., to Donald Wayne and Helen E. (Vessells) Fawver. He attended school at Belle Fourche, S.D. He came to the McCook community in 1992. He was a self-employed craftsman...

OBERLIN -- Wendell T. Frickey, 85, died Saturday (April 26, 2003) at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kan. He was born Aug. 30, 1917, in Decatur County, to John and Elizabeth (Pauley) Frickey. He was raised in Kanona, Kan. He was an Air Force Medical Technician during World War II...

WINONA, Kan. -- Quaid Collyer Huelsman, 3, died Friday (April 25, 2003) at his home in rural Winona. He was born Oct. 23, 1999, in Colby, Kan., to Michael K. Huelsman and Delores Alison Siruta both of Winona. They lived southeast of Atwood and later moved to Winona...

BENKELMAN -- Reinhardt August Heinrich Lunzmann, the fifth child of Gustav Fred and Frieda Emma (Oeastmann) Lunzmann was born in Nemaha County on Dec. 24, 1916, and passed away at his rural Dundy County home on April 26, 2003. Reinhardt was baptized at St. Paul's (Hickory Grove) Lutheran Church in the rural Auburn area on Jan. 10, 1917...