Obituaries from August 2003

NORTH PLATTE -- Donald B. Hudson, DVM, of North Platte, died Tuesday (July 30, 2003) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman at the age of 71. He was born Oct. 25, 1931, to Byron and Betty (Shelly) Hudson in Arvada, Wyo. He attended primary school in Cheyenne Wells, Colo. ...

BROKEN BOW -- Hubert L. Hutt, 81, died Thursday (July 31, 2003) at the Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Broken Bow. He was born Dec. 19, 1921, to George Edward and Maude Mae (Whipple) Hutt near Anselmo. After graduating from Broken Bow High School in 1940, he attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln...

BEAVER CITY --  Margaret Irma "Marie" Davis, 85, died Thursday (July 31, 2003) at St. John's Good Samaritan Center in Kearney. She was born Jan. 3, 1918, to William David and Rachel (Marble) Perkins near Precept. She attended rural school in District 9 in Furnas County until 1932 and graduated from Beaver City High School in 1936. ...

LUDELL -- Gertrude B. (Vrbas) Havel, 85, died Thursday (July 31, 2003) at Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center in Denver, Colo. She was born Oct. 16, 1917, to Frank J. and Mary Margaret (Bartosovsky) Vrbas in Newkirk, Okla. She grew up on a farm and attended school near Beardsley, Kan...

OXFORD -- Delbert E. "Shine" Riepe of Oxford, 65, died Sunday (Aug. 3, 2003) at Veteran's Administration Hospital in Omaha. He was born July 12, 1938, to Harry and Ella M. (Fletcher) Riepe in Arapahoe. He grew up in Arapahoe and attended school there...

DENVER, Colo. -- Maxine Jo Bowers, 76, died Sunday (Aug. 3, 2003) at St. Anthony's North Hospital in Denver, Colo. She was born Jan. 3, 1927, to Oscar and Rosa May (Bunny) Irelan in Arapahoe. She grew up in Arapahoe and attended Arapahoe Public School...

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. -- Melvin L. Dunn, 79, of Commerce City, Colo., died July 17, 2003, of cancer. He was preceded in death by his wife Roberta. He is survived by his son, Ronnie Dunn and wife, Gail; his daughter, Glenna Sheader and husband, Denny; two brothers, Harvey Dunn and Harold Dunn; two sisters, Ruth Brown and Norma Lund; and nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren...

CAMBRIDGE -- Wilma Rose Seybold, 70, died Wednesday (Aug. 6, 2003) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. She was born July 17, 1933, to Charlie and Minervie (Lewis) Seymour in Hayes County. She attended school at White Eagle District Six, Alma High School, Hayes Center High School and Culbertson High School. She graduated from Culbertson High School in 1951. After graduation she attended McCook Junior College and graduated from Kearney State College in 1968...

LONGMONT, Colo. -- Helen Ann Schwarz, formerly of McCook, died Sunday (Aug. 10, 2003) in Longmont, Colo. at the age of 89 years old. She was born in Herndon, Kan., on the family farm, eight miles south of Herndon on July 13, 1914. Her parents were Paul and Eilzabeth (Zwiekl) Steier. Her parents were first generation immigrants to the United States...

RICHLAND, Wash., -- Don Leroy Haegen, 61, of Kennwick, Wash., died Thursday (Aug. 7, 2003) in Richland, Wash., as a result of an accident. He was born March 21, 1942, in McCook to Noble and Nellie Haegen. He was raised in Trenton and served as Chief of Police in Trenton from 1979 until 1986. He served as a military policeman in the Vietnam War from January 1964 until his honorable discharge in November 1967. He and his wife Carole moved to Benton City, Wash., in 1986 and Kennewick in April 2001...

HOLDREGE -- G. Loaraine Schleicher, 88, formerly of Wilsonville, died Friday (August 9, 2003) at Bryan East Hospital, Lincoln. She was born April 7, 1915, at Hendley to Ray and Grace (Loar) Little. She was baptized at the First Christian Church of Beaver City and later transferred her membership to the Christian Church of Wilsonville. ...

CURTIS -- Ada M. Watkins, 96, died Saturday (Aug. 9, 2003) at Sunset Haven Nursing Home. She was born June 22, 1907, to James Edward and Lillian Mae (West) Ryan in Indianola. In December 1927, she married Clarence "Mike" Wesley Watkins in Oberlin...

CULBERTSON -- Darold Willard Schlegel, 75, died Sunday (August 10, 2003) at his home in rural Hitchcock County after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born June 6, 1928, to Willard Clinton and Helen Irene (Nelson) Schlegel in Red Willow County, and was known as "Dutch" to many of his friends. He attended school at District No. 29 and then McCook Senior High School. He graduated in 1946...

OXFORD -- Dorothy M. Loper, 86, died Tuesday (Aug. 12, 2003) at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. She was born May 16, 1917, to Blaine and Nellie (Norman) Hervey in Oxford. She attended school in Oxford and graduated from Oxford High School in 1934...

SALINA, Kan. -- Mary Ann B. Vahling, 87, died Tuesday (Aug. 14, 2003) at Kenwood View Nursing Home in Salina, Kan. She was born Aug. 2, 1916, to John G. and Frances A. (Swingler) Vahling in Angelus, Kan. She was raised on a farm near New Almelo, Kan. She attended St. Joseph Catholic School in New Almelo. She was a housekeeper for the Rev. Edward Sanders and Monsignor Michael Moran for 50 years in New Almelo...

BENKELMAN -- Velda Ruth Steele, 76, of Benkelman, died Thursday (August 14, 2003) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. Graveside services are Monday, 10 a.m. (MST), at the Benkelman Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Sander officiating.  There will be no visitation. Forch Funeral Chapel of Benkelman is in charge of the arrangements...

Kenneth B. Stevenson, 73, died Thursday (Aug. 14, 2003) at his home in McCook. Services are Monday, 10:30 a.m., at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook with the Rev. Daniel Spearow officiating. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemtery in McCook...

RAYTOWN, Mo. -- Robert Kent Lehmer, 33, died Friday (August 15, 2003) at his home in Raytown, Mo. He was born Sept. 2, 1969, in Stratton to James Richard and Nici J. (Nicholson) Lehmer. He moved with his family at an early age to the Kansas City, Mo., area where he lived most of his life, and was employed as a computer programmer...

OSHKOSH -- Douglas Charles "Fitz" Simmons, 58, died Friday (August 15, 2003) at his home. He was born Jan. 5, 1945, in Limon, Colo., to Ruleiph Charles and Fannie Caroline (Tracy) Simmons. He grew up and received his education in Agate, Colo., graduating in 1963. ...

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Shayleen Jo (Wederski) Brown, 33, died Friday (Aug. 15, 2003) at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan, Kan., following an extended battle with cancer. She was born Aug. 3, 1970, to Carl and Cheryl (Grabenstein) Wederski in Colby, Kan. She resided in Manhattan since 1989. She graduated from Atwood High School in 1989. She graduated from Kansas State University in 1994 with her bachelor of science degree in biology and chemistry...

Rose Mary Stritt, 41, of Oberlin, died Friday (August 15, 2003) at Bryan LGH Medical Center West in Lincoln as a result of a motorcycle accident. She was born on Oct. 5, 1961, to Donald Ray and Charlotte Rose (Sayer) Myers at St. Francis, Kan. She attended school at Benkelman and then Wauneta graduating in 1980. ...

BENKELMAN -- Mabel N. Hansen, 85, died Thursday (August 14, 2003) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. She was born Jan. 28, 1918, to Frank and Gladys (Williamson) Little on their farm north of Doane. She attended school at District 36 near her home. She graduated from Benkelman High School in 1937...

McDONALD -- Harvey A. Black, 85, died Monday (Aug. 18, 2003) at his home in rural McDonald. He was born April 11, 1918, to Earl and Elizabeth (Breford) Black in Alva, Okla. He served in the 41st Division of the Army from Oct. 1941-Nov. 1945. On Jan. 30, 1948, he married Frieda S. Antholz in Denver, Colo. Since 1950, the couple lived on a farm 2 1/2 miles north of McDonald. He was a farmer and a custom harvester...

OSHKOSH -- Maxine "Mickey" Mintling, 82, died Monday (Aug. 18, 2003) at the Garden County Nursing Home in Oshkosh. She was born Oct. 2, 1920, to Clara and Selar Leffler in Geneva. She moved with her family to Hayes Center in 1930. She graduated from Hayes County High School in May 1937 and attended Kearney Teachers College for two years. Afterwards, she taught in a one-room school for four years...

CULBERTSON -- Paul R. "Butch" Ross, 65, died Tuesday (August 19, 2003) at his home in Culbertson as a result of cancer. He was born Jan. 11, 1938, to Daniel and Vesper (Roberts) Ross at the St. Catherine's Hospital in McCook. He attended country school until the 5th grade and finished his elementary and high school education at Culbertson Public School in 1955. He attended the University of Kearney for a semester...

CULBERTSON -- Marvin Glen Schleeman, 69, died Tuesday (August 19, 2003) at his home in Culbertson after a long battle with cancer. He was born Jan. 22, 1934, to Richard C. and Bessie Marie (Robinson) Schleeman in Frontier County. He graduated from UNSA at Curtis in 1952, attended Fairbury Jr. College graduating in 1954, then attended Kansas State in Manhattan, Kan...

BEAVER CITY -- Eunice E. Skinner, 88, died Sunday (Aug. 17, 2003) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born July 26, 1915, to Perly and Clara (Bishop) Maybon in rural Beaver City. She attended country school at District 86. She graduated from Beaver City High School in 1933. She attended Kearney State Teachers College for two years...

LOVELAND, Colo. -- Max Gordon Lienemann, 69, died Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003, at the Hospice Care Center in Loveland, Colo., of lung cancer. He was born June 11, 1934, to Fred and Charlotte (Ruhs) Lienemann in Leoti, Kan. He graduated from Wilsonville High School in 1951...

HOLBROOK -- Jerry L. Wagner, 68, died Wednesday (Aug. 20, 2003) in Houston, Texas of cancer. He was born March 27, 1935, to Dr. John Sidney Wagner and Verna Ruth (Hutchinson) Wagner in rural Holbrook. In 1961, he married Mary Mae Ebert. The couple lived most of their lives in Avis, Pa. He spent many years with Piper Aircraft in Lock Haven, Pa., and was project engineer on the Piper Turbo Prop Program which involved Piper Cheyenne Aircraft...

HAYES CENTER -- Nettie May Lawson, 95, died Wednesday (August 20, 2003) at the Great Plains Medical Center. She was born May 1, 1908, to Ralph Dean and Effie Starling in Cambridge. She lived with her grandparents in Cambridge during her early years following the death of her mother...

Kenneth Brenning, 76, died Friday (Aug. 22, 2003) at his home in rural McCook. He was born May 27, 1927, to John and Katherine (Walters) Brenning in McCook. He attended school in Indianola and Culbertson, where he graduated from Culbertson High School in 1945...

HOLBROOK -- Rhonda Arlene Brown, 48, died Saturday (Aug. 23, 2003) at her home after a long illness. She was born Jan. 15, 1955, to Richard and Loretta (Cochran) Morgan in Norton, Kan. She grew up in the Norton area. She worked for the family owned cafe, The Lucky Strike Grill, from age 14-22...

BENKELMAN - Mabel J. Hansen, 90, died Friday (Aug. 23, 2003). She was born May 13, 1913, to Elmer and Pearl (Paul) Edwards in Benkelman. She was a graduate of Benkelman High School. On March 22, 1936, she married Thomas J. Hansen at the Willard Croft residence in Benkelman. The couple made their home on a farm northwest of Benkelman. In 1990, after suffering from the effects of a stroke, she moved to Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home...

CAMBRIDGE -- Opal Lena Appleyard, 75, died Friday (August 22, 2003) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. She was born Jan. 24, 1928, to Michael George and Rozella (Wolfe) Truck in Yuma County, Colo. She graduated from Indianola High School in 1946. She continued her education at the University of Vienna in Austria and graduated with an English major from El Camioro College in 1963...

Marjorie R. Knedlik, 85, died Friday (Aug. 22, 2003) at Bryan LGH East Hospital in Lincoln. She was born July 31, 1918, to August and Margaret (Janmes) Schattenburg in Riley, Kan. She grew up in Riley where she graduated from high school in 1934. She graduated from Kansas State College in Manhattan, Kan. She taught in Woodruff, Kan. During World War II, she worked for Trans World Airlines. She returned to teaching in Greenleaf, Kan...

OBERLIN -- Lester L. Chambers, 88, died Monday (Aug. 25, 2003) at Decatur County Good Samaritan Center.He was born March 20, 1915, to Arthur and Mary (Warner) Chambers in Decatur County, Kan. He attended Lyle school and graduated from Norcatur High School in 1932.He served in the Army during World War II.On Oct. ...

OBERLIN -- Lenore Carlisle, 76, died Monday (Aug. 25, 2003) at Via Christi-Saint Joseph Hospital in Wichita, Kan.She was born July 27, 1927, to Leonard and Anna Fern (Messuer) Hochmeister in rural Danbury. She was raised in Danbury and graduated from Danbury High School.On Sept. ...

INDIANOLA -- Paula Gay (Meader) Walz, 51, died Wednesday (Aug. 27, 2003) at Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.She was born Oct. 7, 1951, in St. Catherine's Hospital in McCook, to Paul and Esther (Ruf) Meader. She attended school in Wilsonville and graduated from Wilsonville High School in 1971. ...

Laura Uehling, 86, died Wednesday (Aug. 27, 2003) at her home in Grant.She was born Nov. 18, 1916, to Emil and Mattie (Nigh) Pankonin in Grant. She attended rural school and later graduated from Perkins County High School in 1934.On Oct. ...