Obituaries from May 2004

Feb. 17, 1907-May 1, 2004 Jewel Troy Kief died Saturday, May 1, 2004, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook at the age of 97. She was born Feb. 17, 1907, in Hartville, Mo., the daughter of the late James Bradley and Addie (Rose) Fletcher. Her family moved to Arapahoe where she graduated from high school...

July 28, 1913-May 2, 2004 Earl W. Bruening, 90, died Sunday (May 2, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born July 28, 1913, to Richard and Mary Ann (Martin) Bruening in Hendley. He grew up in Hendley and graduated from Hendley High School in 1933...

Oct. 30, 1925-May 2, 2004 Marvin F. Lindsey, 78, died Sunday (May 2, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born Oct. 30, 1925, to Arlo J. and Vernell (Reed) Lindsey in Stockville. He graduated from Stockville High School. He received his bachelor's and master's degree at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. He received his doctorate degree at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, S.C. After graduation he returned to a position at the University of Nebraska...

Jan. 8, 1933-May 3, 2004 Ethel Ellen Peterson, 71, died Monday (May 3, 2004) in hospice care in McCook. She was born Jan. 8, 1933, to Homer and Mabel (Dack) Vaughn in McCook. She grew up in McCook and graduated from McCook High School in 1950. She graduated from McCook Junior College and Kearney State College in Kearney with a bachelors degree in business...

July 28, 1939-May 3, 2004 TOPEKA, Kan. -- Honorable Robert J. Lewis, Jr., 64, died Monday (May 3, 2004) in Topeka, Kan. He was born July 28, 1939, in Atwood to Robert J. and Marvel (Hotchkiss) Lewis. He graduated from Atwood Community High School in 1957...

July 28, 1913-May 2, 2004 Earl W. Bruening, 90, died Sunday (May 2, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born July 28, 1913, to Richard and Mary Ann (Martin) Bruening in Hendley. He grew up in Hendley and graduated from Hendley High School in 1933...

Oct. 13, 1931-May 5, 2004 HITCHCOCK COUNTY -- Donald Edward Vrbas, 72, died Monday (May 5, 2004) east of Trenton due to a motor vehicle and train accident. He was born Oct. 13, 1931, to Stanley M. and Alby (Chvatal) Vrbas in Stratton. He grew up in Stratton and attended Stratton High School...

DENVER -- Rita Conner, 72, died Friday (April 30, 2004) at Presbyterian St. Luke's Hospital in Denver, Colo. Survivors include her step-mother, Lois Kanost of Wauneta; three sons, David Boyd and wife, Barbara of Colorado Springs, Colo., Dan Boyd of New Orleans, La., and Bill Worske of Florida; aunt, Neva Kanost of Arapahoe; two grandsons; one granddaughter; and several great-grandchildren...

June 15, 1926-May 1, 2004 Alice May Jewell Coyle was born to Zelotus G. Jewell and Alice V. Nickles Jewell June 15, 1926, in McCook. She passed away at her home on the farm north of McCook, where she had lived all her life, on Saturday, May 1, 2004, at the age of 77. She was the only surviving child in her family. Alice May's mother died six days after her birth and Almira Jewell, her grandmother, came to help her father raise her...

July 24, 1914-May 5, 2004 Marguerite D. Hansen, 89, of Curtis, died May 5, 2004, at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis. She was born July 24, 1914, to Andrew H. and Ella Nelsen Sowle in Lincoln County. She moved to Redding, Calif., until she was 11 years of age. She moved back to Snell Canyon Government Pocket in Lincoln County, until her marriage...

Cleotta Koester Scott, 64, of Boise, Idaho died Thursday, April 29, 2004, at her home. Funeral services were Wednesday, May 5, 2004, at Cloverdale Funeral Home, 1200 North Cloverdale Road, Boise. Burial was in Terrace Lawn Memorial Gardens in Meridian, Idaho. Arrangements were under the direction of Cloverdale Funeral Home in Boise...

Dec. 31, 1910-May 7, 2004 NELSON -- Sydney E. Schoeni, 93, of Nelson, died Friday (May 7, 2004) in Nelson. She was born Dec. 31, 1910, to Art and Alice (Reynolds) Chase in Holdrege. She graduated from Elwood High School in 1929. She moved to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska to earn a bachelor of science degree in biology and English...

Jan. 16, 1916-May 8, 2004 LINCOLN -- Ellen Gladys Alberts, 88, died, of Oxford, died Saturday (May 8, 2004) at Bryan LGH East Hospital in Lincoln. She was born Jan. 16, 1916, to LeRoy and Bertha (Gose) Brown in Trenton. She attended school in Trenton and graduated from Trenton High School in 1934. She received her teaching certificate in McCook and at Kearney State Teachers College. She taught school in Hitchcock and Red Willow Counties for over 25 years...

Aug. 13, 1943-May 11, 2004 OMAHA -- Francis Eugene Jorgensen, 60, of Cambridge, died Tuesday (May 11, 2004) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha after battling cancer and Parkinson's disease. He was born Aug. 13, 1943, to Lars Alfred and Mable Luceal (Foster) Jorgensen in Sidney. ...

March 30, 1907-March 24, 2004 NORTH PLATTE -- Pearl R. Roggensees, 96, died March 24, 2004, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. She was born March 30, 1907, to William and LuEmma LaMoure Robeson in Furnas County. On June 27, 1923, she married A.F. ...

May 16, 1938-May 5, 2004 Richard "Dick" Wagner, 65, passed away May 5, 2004, in Kearney of unexpected heart failure. He was born May 16, 1938, in Culbertson to Wanda and Arthur Wagner. He was born and grew up on the family farm, one of five children, and completed 12 years of schooling...

Aug. 9, 1913-May 13, 2004 ATWOOD -- Mildred Elaine Knapp, 90, died Thursday (May 13, 2004) at Atwood Good Samaritan Center in Atwood. She was born Aug. 9, 1913, to Chester and Ethel (Beeson) Phipps. She attended school in McDonald and graduated from McDonald Rural High School in 1932...

May 8, 1938-May 8, 2004 John Fidler passed away May 8, 2004, while vacationing with his wife, Peggy, in Nice, France. He was born May 8, 1938, in Cambridge, beloved son of the late E.H. and Elizabeth Fidler. John held a bachelor of science degree in chemistry from the Black Hill State University in Spearfish, S.D., a master's degree in microbiology from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and a MBA in hospital administration from the University of Florida at Gainsville...

May 28, 1922-May 13, 2004 BENKELMAN -- Melba B. Loker, 81, died Thursday (May 13, 2004) at her home in Benkelman. She was born May 28, 1922, to James Edward and Lola Ann (Hendrix) in Dundy County. She attended country school near her home. After completing 8th grade, she helped her family with the farm and later moved to Kansas City, Kan., where she worked for a short time...

Jan. 21, 1923-May 13, 2004 BENKELMAN -- Adalaide "Addie" Pursley, 81, died Thursday (May 13, 2004) at the K.C. Stout Assisted Living Center at Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. She was born Jan. 21, 1923, in Cheyenne County to Will and Mary (Cavanaugh) Syme and attended Riverside country school through the 8th grade. She graduated from Cheyenne County High School in 1941. She attended commercial school in Denver, Colo...

March 14, 1921-May 13, 2004 LONGMONT, Colo. -- Dr. Lawrence T. "Larry" Burns, 83, died Thursday (May 13, 2004) in the Hospice Care Unit of McKee Medical Center in Longmont, Colo. He was born March 14, 1921, in Crookston, Minn., to Leo and Margaret (Abernathy) Burns...

Dec. 9, 1985-May 15, 2004 Lacey D. Lynn Brunswick died Saturday, May 15, 2004, as a result of a car accident. She was 18 years old. Lacey was born to Robert Eugene and Larena Lea (Kirby) Brunswick in McCook on Dec. 9, 1985. She attended McCook Public Schools and was a member of the senior graduating class of 2004...

March 8, 1984-May 16, 2004 Jessie J. Mowry, 20, died Sunday (May 16, 2004) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital as a result of an automobile accident. He was born March 8, 1984, to Rick and Jan (Witt) Mowry in Jacksonville, N.C. He was a graduate of Cambridge High School. While in high school he participated in football and wrestling and qualified for the state wrestling tournament his senior year...

Oct. 8, 1978-May 15, 2004 HERNDON -- Nick Hilton, 25, died Saturday (May 15, 2004) in Herndon. He was born Oct. 8, 1978, to Robert Anderson and Connie Hilton in McCook. He was raised in McCook and attended McCook grade schools and McCook High School...

June 20, 1931-May 14, 2004 Victor Milton Glick, 72, died Friday (May 14, 2004) at his home in McCook. He was born June 20, 1931, at Ringgold County, Iowa to Milton Dority and Pearl Racheal (Fanning) Glick. He attended school in Ellston, Iowa. On Oct. 20, 1951, he entered the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged on Oct. 14, 1955...

Dec. 18, 1937-May 17, 2004 Darrell Eugene Dow, 66, of Hayes Center died Monday, May 17, 2004, at Community Hospital. He was born Dec. 18, 1937, in Burr Oak, Kan., to Lyle Merritt and Nellie Lucile (Simpson) Dow. He graduated from Red Cloud High School in 1955...

July 30, 1942-May 15, 2004 Dr. Robert L. Baltzell "Dr. Bob", age 61, died May 15, 2004, at Community Hospital in McCook, following a two year battle with cancer. Dr. Baltzell was born July 30, 1942, in Charles City, Iowa to Dr. Winston C. Baltzell and Virginia (Hampton) Baltzell. ...

June 8, 1922-May 14, 2004 Doris A. Lehr, after a giving life of 81 years, passed away May 14, 2004. The daughter of Charles and Leona (Reinhold) Stauder, she was born June 8, 1922, in Los Angeles, Calif. Doris spent her early and teenage years in McCook. ...

Funeral services for Mrs. Ruth Crocker Goen, of Fort Valley, Ga., were Saturday, May 15, 2004, 1:30 p.m., at First Baptist Church in Fort Valley, with burial in Oaklawn Cemetery. Mrs. Goen passed away peacefully on May 13, 2004, at the age of 82. Born in McCook, she was a graduate of Red Willow High School. ...

Sept. 14, 1919-May 20, 2004 CAMBRIDGE -- Bernard Allen Corder, 84, died Thursday (May 20, 2004) at Cambridge Manor in Cambridge. He was born Sept. 14, 1919, to Donald and Lottie (Decker) Corder in north of Cambridge. He graduated from Cambridge High School in 1939...

April 27, 1947-May 21, 2004 Loy Raymond Hodson, 57, died today (May 21, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook . He was born April 27, 1947, to Donald and Maxine (Leitner) Hodson in McCook. He grew up on a farm south of McCook and graduated from the Herndon High School in Herndon in 1966...

July 21, 1928-May 19, 2004 Charlotte A. Wyss, 75, of Stratton, died Wednesday (May 19, 2004) at Community Hospital in McCook. She was born July 21, 1928, to Elmer and Nova (Danielson) Dailey on the family's farm north of Stratton. She attended school near her home.She attended and graduated from Stratton High School. After high school, she attended college for two years before returning to the Stratton area where she taught school for a short time...

Sept. 28, 1905-May 6, 2004 NORTHGLENN, Colo. -- Lydia Sinner, 98, died Thursday (May 6, 2004) at the Northglenn Nursing Home in Northglenn, Colo. She was born Sept. 28, 1905, to Mannuel and Marie Katherina (Schneider) Sinner in Culbertson. She grew up in Culbertson where she received her education...

Feb. 12, 1912-May 14, 2004 Eugene Samuel Hall died May 14, 2004, in Cave City, Ark., at the age of 92. He was born Feb. 12, 1912, in Bennett, the son of the late James Samuel and Mary Edith (Gochnaur) Hall. At the age of eight his family moved to a farm where he grew up in Frontier County. He attended Havanna School and Red Willow where he graduated from high school...

Sept. 14, 1970-May 22, 2004 Michael Jay Hall, 33, of McCook died Saturday, May 22, 2004 at Community Hospital. He was born Sept. 14, 1970 to Jerry Wayne and Linda Lee (Tirrill) Hall at McCook. He graduated from McCook Senior High in 1990. He played Legion baseball, wrestled in high school and was an avid pool player. He worked for Sitel for around seven years...

Oct. 1, 1904-May 22, 2004 SIDNEY -- Esther Elbert, 99, died Saturday (May 22, 2004) at Memorial Extended Care in Sidney. She was born Oct. 1, 1904, to George and Olive (Townsend) Elbert at McCook. She grew up and was educated in McCook. She worked for the McCook Daily Gazette, Brook's Jewelry Store and Cottingham's Dress Shoe;...

Jan. 2, 1910-May 21, 2004 ATWOOD -- Nelly Beverly (Barnes) Higley died Friday (May 21, 2004) at her home in Atwood. She was born Jan. 2, 1910, to Josephine Adeline (Hamilton) and Lorenzo Hugh Barnes in Oberlin. She graduating from Decatur Community High School in 1928. She then went to Atwood to work in the Henneberger Hospital...

March 31, 1939-May 23, 2004 BENKELMAN -- Marlin Eugene Gunther, 65, died Sunday (May 23, 2004) at his home in Benkelman. He was born March 31, 1939, to Harry F. and Wilma F. (Pettit) Gunther in Benkelman. He attended Benkelman schools. He graduated in 1957 from Benkelman High School. After high school he worked for several farmers and ranchers and later moved to Arkansas. After a short time he returned to Benkelman...

LINCOLN -- Frances (Ring) Lyons, 83, died Monday (May 24, 2004) in Lincoln. She was born in a sod house in Hayes County. On Feb. 11, 1941, she married LaVern Lyons at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hayes County. The couple farmed in Hayes County until 1964 and farmed in Saunders county until 1969. They then moved to Lincoln. She worked at Lincoln General Hospital and Bryan Hospital with 20 years of services in the medical records department...

Nov. 11, 1939-May 24, 2004 OMAHA -- Donald August Rome, 64, of Funk, died Monday (May 24, 2004) at the VA Medical Center in Omaha. He was born Nov. 11, 1939, to August and Barbara (Rohr) Rome in Menlo, Kan. He attended school in Selden, Kan., and graduated from Selden High School in 1957...

March 27, 1935-Aug. 20, 2003 MANVEL, Texas -- Jerry Lee Wagner, 68, of Manvel, Texas died Aug. 20, 2003. He was born March 27, 1935, to Dr. John S. and Verna R. (Hutchinson) Wagner. He was raised in Holbrook and attended local schools. He graduated from high school in 1952...

April 3, 1929-Nov. 25, 2003 MANVEL, Texas -- Mary Mae Wagner, 74, of Manvel, Texas, died Nov. 25, 2003. She was born April 3, 1929, to George F. and Virginia C. (Morey) Ebert in Kansas City, Mo. She was raised in Missouri and Colorado. She attended Colorado A&M (now Colorado State University) receiving degrees in English and Music in 1951. She accepted a teaching position with Holbrook High School...

Jan. 7, 1929-May 26, 2004 NORTON, Kan. -- Darlene Gladys (Boxberger) Veh, 75, died Wednesday (May 26, 2004) at Norton County Hospital in Norton, Kan. She was born Jan. 7, 1929, to Henry Jr. and Grace Frances (Spena) Boxberger in Wakeeney, Kan. She lived with her family in Wakeeney before moving to Norton in 1941. She attended public schools in Wakeeney and Norton and received her bachelor's of music degree from Bethany College and master's of education degree from Fort Hays State University...

Feb. 24, 1958-May 26, 2004 Rose Marie Christner, 46, died Wednesday, May 26, 2004 in Palisade. Rosie was a long time resident of Southwest Nebraska living in Hayes Center, Wauneta, Champion, Imperial, Alliance and Palisade. She was born Feb. 24, 1958, to James M. and Pearl (Hicks) Andrew at Cabool, Mo. She accepted Jesus as her savior at an early age. She attended school in Hayes Center and Palisade...