Obituaries from November 2004

March 21, 1923-Oct. 29, 2004 RENTON, Wash. -- Erma Leona (Ebert) Nokes, 81, died Friday (Oct. 29, 2004) at the Gentle Care Family Home in Renton, Wash. She was born March 21, 1923, to Erich Alvin Ebert and Pearl May Alley in Wray, Colo. On July 20, 1941, she married Howard Winfred Nokes in McCook. In 1957, she moved to Seattle, Wash., with her family. She became a hairdresser and later an instructor in that field. During her retirement, the couple traveled through all 50 states...

Jan. 28, 1917-Oct. 28, 2004 BENKELMAN -- Harry Harold Steier, 87, died Thursday (Oct. 28, 2004) at the Hester Memorial Nursing Home in Benkelman. He was born Jan. 28, 1917, to Paul and Lizzie (Zwiekl) Steier in Herndon. After completing his education, he assisted his parents on the farm and hired out to other farmers in Kansas and Nebraska. In the fall, he would travel to pick corn by hand...

Sept. 18, 1956-Nov. 1, 2004 Jeffery James Sughroue, 48, died Monday (Nov. 1, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born Sept. 18, 1956, in McCook to James F. and Leah C. (Allen) Sughroue. He graduated from Chase County High School in Imperial in 1976...

Oct. 28, 1919-Nov. 1, 2004 HERNDON -- Chauncey Glenn Hafner, 85, died Monday (Nov. 1, 2004) at Rawlins County Hospital in Atwood. He was born Oct. 28, 1919, to Michael and Mary (Runyan) Hafner in Rawlins County. He was raised on the family farm southeast of Herndon. He attended Herndon Grade School and graduated from Herndon High School in 1937...

Dec. 21, 1915-Oct. 31, 2004 COLBY, Kan. -- Neva Elaine Rhamy, 88 of Lanter Park in Colby, Kan., died Sunday (Oct. 31, 2004) at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kan. She was born Dec. 21, 1915, to Don and Lela Kyte near McDonald. She was a homemaker and retail sales clerk for Prideaux Liquor Store in Atwood for many years. She was a former resident of the McDonald and Atwood area...

Jan. 31, 1918-Nov. 2, 2004 Marie Bradley, 86, of Mitchell, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at the Mitchell Care Center. In keeping with her wishes, her remains were cremated, and services will be held at a later date in Oberlin, Kan. Memorials in her name may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, in care of Jones Mortuary, P.O. Box 235, Mitchell, NE 69357. Jones Mortuary is assisting the family with the arrangements...

Dec. 5, 1928-Nov. 3, 2004 Richard J. Crockett, 75, died Wednesday (Nov. 3, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born Dec. 5, 1928, in Elk City, Kan., to Ernest E. and Mattie M. (Martin) Crockett. He entered the U.S. Armed Services Military Police in January of 1951 being stationed at Fort McAurther and was honorably discharged in February of 1953...

July 26, 1922-Nov. 3, 2004 BENKELMAN -- Merle Wallace, 82, died Wednesday (Nov. 3, 2004) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. He was born July 26, 1922, to George Washington and Iva Marie (Starling) Wallace in Tarkio, Mo. In 1937, the family moved from Missouri to Kanarado, Kan., and from there to Benkelman...

Feb. 7, 1909-Nov. 4, 2004 HOXIE, Kan. -- Bertha "Betty" Sulzman, 95, died Thursday (Nov. 4, 2004) at Sheridan County Hospital in Hoxie, Kan. She was born Feb. 7, 1909, to Frank and Martha (Fetcke) Zodrow in Sheridan County, Kan. She was raised in Sheridan County and attended school at Leoville Rural High School, graduating in 1926...

Dec. 3, 1911-Nov. 5, 2004 OBERLIN -- Charlotte Catherine Macfee, 92, died Friday (Nov. 5, 2004) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born Dec. 3, 1911, to Walter and Catherine (Sanders) Joyce in Clay County. She grew up in Harvard where she graduated from Harvard High School in 1930. She and her twin sister, Loretta, came to Southwest Nebraska where they taught school for several years...

Sept. 24, 1960-Oct. 31, 2004 GREELEY, Colo. -- Deborah J. Dorwart-Lopez, 44, died Sunday (Oct. 31, 2004) in Greeley, Colo. She was born Sept. 24, 1960, to John and Marilyn Hirlinger Dorwart in McCook. She grew up in North Platte and attended schools there...

Sept. 6, 1912-Nov. 6, 2004 COLBY, Kan. -- Velma C. Rogers, 92, died Saturday (Nov. 6, 2004) at Citizen's Medical Center in Colby, Kan. She was born Sept. 6, 1912, to Lewis "Ed" and Kittie (Smith) Temple in Norton County, Kan. She was raised in the Norcatur area and attended grade school there. In 1932, she graduated from Norcatur High School...

May 24, 1912-Nov. 7, 2004 Eva E. Relph, 92, died Sunday (Nov. 7, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born May 24, 1912, in Hebron to Alonzo P. and Nina (Snider) Iler. She attended rural school north of McCook. On July 13, 1933, she married James W. Relph. Eva worked many years for Ideal Laundry until her retirement. She then worked at Electric Hose and Rubber Plant for several years...

1926-2004 Formerly of Oelrichs, S.D., Raymond was called home to be with his Heavenly Father on Nov. 5, in the year of our Lord 2004. At the time of his passing, he resided at Ponderosa Villa in Crawford. He was born in Blair, Wis., and is a veteran of the United States Navy...

Dec. 27, 1945-Nov. 7, 2004 ATWOOD -- William M. "Bill" Ruda, 58, died Sunday (Nov. 7, 2004) at Lakeside Hospital in Omaha. He was born Dec. 27, 1945, to Victor J. and Vaneta E. (Passell) Ruda in Colby, Kan. He grew up on the family farm near Atwood. ...

April 6, 1929-Nov. 10, 2004 WAUNETA -- Elnora Mae Kitt, 75, died Wednesday (Nov. 10, 2004) at her home south of Wauneta. She was born April 6, 1929, to Harry and Thelma (Irelan) Cushing in Stratton. She was raised on a farm south of Stratton and graduated from Stratton High School in 1946...

Dec.30, 1953-Nov. 10, 2004 STRATTON -- Gregory A. Downing, 50, died Wednesday (Nov. 10, 2004) at his home in Stratton. He was born Dec. 30, 1953, to Kermit and Mary (Vachuta) Downing in Atwood. He graduated from McDonald High School in 1972. In 1974, he graduated from NW Kansas Area Vo-Tech School after a course of education in farm mechanics...

March 10, 1909-Nov. 11, 2004 Carl F. Grill, 95, died Thursday (Nov. 11, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. He was born March 10, 1909, in Traer to John H. and Lena (Schissler) Grill. He received degrees from the University of Nebraska and Columbia University...

May 7, 1905-Nov. 11, 2004 OBERLIN -- Amy L. (Rohan) Kincaid, 99, died Thursday (Nov. 11, 2004) in Oberlin. She was born May 7, 1905, to Charles F. and Eva (Salisbury) Wennihan in Altory Township of Decatur County. She was raised in Decatur County. On Jan. 22, 1928, she married Harvey Rohan in Norton...

Sept. 6, 1954-Nov. 13, 2004 JENNINGS -- Dennis Edward Bader, 50, died Saturday (Nov. 13, 2004) at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kan. He was born Sept. 6, 1954, to Erwin E. and Frances (Coleman) Bader in Wichita, Kan. He was raised in Jennings and attended school there and in Norton. He graduated from Norton High School in 1972...

July 23, 1917-Nov. 12, 2004 OBERLIN -- Dorothy M. Davis, 87, died Friday (Nov. 12, 2004) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born July 23, 1917, to Edgar James and Ellen Ruth (Harris) Keenan in Jennings. She was raised in Jennings and attended school there. She graduated from Jennings High School...

Aug. 21, 1923-Nov. 11, 2004 STRATTON -- Edith M. Robbins of Stratton, died Thursday, Nov. 11, 2004, at the Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman at the age of 81 years, 2 months, and 15 days. She was born Aug. 21, 1923, in Vandergrift, Pa., to Edward and Beatrice (Griffiths) McArthur and attended school in Vandergrift. ...

Oct. 30, 1937-Oct. 30, 2004 LAFAYETTE, Colo. -- Virginia "Ginni" Speaker, 67, of Lafayette, Colo., died Saturday, Oct. 30, 2004, in Lafayette. She was born Oct. 30, 1937, to Charles Isaac Larreau and Ruby Alice Parkhurst Larreau in Oberlin. On Aug. 27, 1955, she married Richard L. Speaker in Georgetown...

June 11, 1926-Nov. 11, 2004 The only daughter of the founders of the McCook Daily Gazette, Harry and Arlene Strunk, died last week in Arizona where she had resided for the last quarter century. Shirley Margaret Strunk Powell, 78, died Nov. 11, 2004, at Sun City, a retirement suburb of Phoenix. She suffered many years with crippling arthritis and recently with cancer...

Feb. 26, 1917-Nov. 15, 2004 TRENTON -- Frances Elenora "Fuzzy" Blue, 87, died Monday (Nov. 15, 2004) at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. She was born Feb. 26, 1917, to Enos Taylor and Katherine (Walters) Blue in Broughton, Kan. As a child, her family moved to Trenton, where she grew up and attended Trenton High School...

June 13, 1921-Nov. 16, 2004 Marie Jeanne "Betty" Stensvad, 83, died Tuesday (Nov. 16, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home of McCook. She was born June 13, 1921, to John Franklin and Marie Charline Souillart Bullis in Lille, France. She came to America with her mother in May of 1923 and grew up in Gothenburg. She graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1939...

June 20, 1953-Nov. 10, 2004 DES MOINES, Iowa -- Lea Ann Hertz, 51, died Nov. 10, 2004, in Des Moines, Iowa. She was born June 20, 1953, to John and Marva (Moore) Teter at the Millington Naval Hospital in Millington, Tenn. She resided in Bartley for a short while, but spent the majority of her childhood in Holdrege. ...

Oct. 4, 1908-Nov. 16, 2004 ATWOOD -- Ben A. Harwerth, 96, died Tuesday (Nov. 16, 2004) at Rawlings County Health Center in Atwood. He was born Oct. 4, 1908, at St. Libory, Ill. He was a farmer. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred R. (Heaton); and grandson, Mark J. Sramek...

Feb. 27, 1942-Nov. 14, 2004 GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. -- Caroline Marie Hughes, 62, died Sunday (Nov. 14, 2004) at her home in Grand Junction, Colo. She was born Feb. 27, 1942, to Earl and Leona (Spoeneman) Hughes in North Platte. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Maywood High School in 1960. She then attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for one year and then enrolled at Mercy School of Nursing in 1961. She graduated from nurse's training in 1964 as a registered nurse...

Jan. 15, 1935-Nov. 16, 2004 CAMBRIDGE -- Keith Mowry, 69, died Tuesday (Nov. 16, 2004) at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital. He was born Jan. 15, 1935, to James and Freda (Randolph) Mowry in Lucerne, Kan. The family moved to the Wilsonville area where he attended school. He graduated from Wilsonville High School in 1952...

IMPERIAL -- Wilma "Ruth" Wittwer, 82, died Sunday (Nov. 14, 2004) at the Nebraska Heart Hospital in Lincoln. Survivors include her husband, Art of Imperial; daughters, Marcia Fowler and husband, Duane of Imperial and Susan Oman and husband, Craig of Callaway; son, Clark Wittwer and wife, Judi of Lincoln; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild...

Nov. 18, 1940-Nov. 17, 2004 Sara L. Reiners entered her heavenly home Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004, at Community Hospital of McCook after a year and a half long courageous battle with cancer. Sara was born on Nov. 18, 1940, in Hayes Center to Donald Allen and Dorothy Jean (Counce) Rathbun. ...

Aug. 25, 1914-Nov. 17, 2004 Lydia Marie Ruf diedWednesday, Nov. 17, 2004, at the Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook at the age of 90. She was born Aug. 25, 1914, on the family farm in the Tyrone Precint of Red Willow County. She was the daughter of the late Henry and Mary (Amen) Ruf Sr. ...

June 4, 1917-Oct. 7, 2004 LAKIN, Kan. -- Rollo V. Brown, 87, of Kendall, Kan., died Oct. 7, 2004, at High Plains Retirement Village in Lakin, Kan. He was born June 4, 1917, in Danbury to Victor and Etta (Winters) Brown. He graduated from Danbury High School in 1934...

Sept. 9, 1922-Nov. 14, 2004 IMPERIAL -- Wilma "Ruth" Wittwer, 82, died Sunday (Nov. 14, 2004) at the Nebraska Heart Hospital in Lincoln. She was born Sept. 9, 1922, to Elmer and Ethel Wilson in rural Hayes County. She attended school in Hayes Center and graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1940...

Dec. 23, 1926-Nov. 19, 2004 CURTIS -- Ivan Guy Schultz, died Friday, Nov. 19, 2004, at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis at the age of 77. He was born Dec. 23, 1926, at Beaver City to Emmil August and Jesse Marie (Coykendall) Schultz. He attended grade school in Moorefield until 1935 when he moved with his family to a farm north of Moorefield. He finished elementary school at District 48 north of Moorefield and graduated from Moorefield High School in 1942...

Jan. 27, 1940-Nov. 21, 2004 Barbara J. (Vontz) Teel, 64, died Sunday (Nov. 21, 2004) at her home. Barb was born in Hastings to Raymond and Vera (Chenoweth) Vontz. She grew up in Indianola and the surrounding area. She graduated from Indianola High School in 1958. She attended McCook Community College the following year...

June 11, 1926-Nov. 20, 2004 Bonnie June Lafferty, 78, died Saturday (Nov. 20, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born June 11, 1926, to Herbie and Clara (Wyatt) Watkins in Decatur County, Kan. She grew up in Decatur County and graduated from Oberlin High School in 1944...

Nov. 17, 1919-Nov. 20, 2004 PAXTON -- Hubert Bernard Kildare, 85, of Paxton, died Saturday (Nov. 20, 2004) at Centennial Park Retirement Village of North Platte. He was born Nov. 17, 1919, to Hubert L. and Christine (Meyer) Kildare in Paxton. He attended Paxton school and graduated from Regis College with honors. He later received a degree from Harvard University...

April 23, 1926-Oct. 6, 2004 ECKERTY, Ind. -- Herbert Newton, 78, died Wednesday (Oct. 6, 2004) as a result of an auto accident. He was born April 23, 1926, to Scott and Sophia (Jones) Newton in Crawford County, Ind. On Oct. 17, 1946, he married Betty Jean Esch at St. John's Lutheran Church southeast of McCook. The couple farmed until 1970, when they moved to Eckerty, Ind., where they spent the remainder of their lives...

May 22, 1915-Nov. 23, 2004 Wilford George Hardwick was born May 22, 1915, in Dundy County. He was the fourth child of Thomas and Myrtle Hardwick. He died peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 23, 2004, in Bethany, Okla., at the age of 89. He joined the Army Air Force (which later became the United States Air Force) in September of 1941. ...

May 21, 1913-Nov. 24, 2004 Beaulah Lorraine Weber, 91, died Wednesday (Nov. 24, 2004) at McCook Community Hospital in McCook. She was born May 21, 1913, to Arthur Allarick and Rachel Armillie (Cary) Edgett in Bird City. The family moved to McCook, where she grew up and attended school...

Sept. 27, 1917-Nov. 24, 2004 SELDEN -- Bertha M. Bruggeman, 87, died Wednesday (Nov. 24, 2004) at her home in Selden. She was born Sept. 27, 1917, to Tony and Margaret (Wolf) Bruggeman in rural Selden. She attended Cresco County schools and graduated from Selden Rural High School in 1935. She attended Marymount College in Salina...

May 19, 1913-Nov. 22, 2004 TUCSON, Ariz. -- Lucille R. (Ball) McBee, 91, died Monday (Nov. 22, 2004) in Tucson, Ariz. She was born May 19, 1913, in Danbury to Thomas and Alma (Hayes) Ball. She attended school in Danbury. She married Ora Franklin McBee Oct. 10, 1936. The couple farmed north of Culbertson. They moved to McCook in 1985. She moved to Arizona in 1994...

July 15, 1917-Nov. 25, 2004 McDONALD, Kan. -- Elmer Burke Cooper, 87, died Thursday (Nov. 25, 2004) at Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis, Kan. He was born July 15, 1917, in rural Rawlins County to Clermon Chester and Gertie (Bentz) Cooper. On June 15, 1947, he married Lova Berdes Fisher...

April 6, 1937-Nov. 27, 2004 HERNDON -- Gary Gene Soderlund, 67, died Saturday (Nov. 27, 2004) at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born April 6, 1937, at Kanona, Kan., to Frank and Doretta (Butler) Soderlund. He was raised in Decatur County, attended Kanona Grade School and Decatur Community High School. He graduated in 1955...

Aug. 1, 1910-Nov. 26, 2004 Velma Evelyn Matz, 94, died Friday (Nov. 26, 2004) at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Syracuse. She was 94 years old. She was born on Aug. 1, 1910, to Allen Henry and Vevia C. (Turner) Poush at Memphis. She grew up in Cambridge and attended Cambridge Public Schools. She came to McCook in 1941 and was employed at Woolworth's and Schuering's Bakery...

Dec. 23, 1945-Nov. 26, 2005 Paul Dean Miner, 68, died Friday (Nov. 26, 2004) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born Dec. 23, 1935, to Cecil Thompson and Mary Etta (Stitzel) Miner on the family farm south of Cambridge. He attended school in Wilsonville...

Nov. 7, 1924-Nov. 28, 2004 NORTH PLATTE -- Robert "Dennis" Chilcott, 80, of North Platte, died Sunday (Nov. 28, 2004) at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. He was born Nov. 7, 1924, to Harry Charles and Helen Marie Shirley Chilcott in Freedom. He grew up in the Freedom area and graduated from Havana High School in 1942...

Nov. 26, 1933-Nov. 28, 2004 ATWOOD -- Keith D. Ross, 71, died Sunday (Nov. 28, 2004) at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood. He was born Nov. 26, 1933, to Eddie Edward and Doris Irene (Walkey) Ross in Cheyenne County. He was a longtime resident of Atwood...

IMPERIAL -- Marvin Bischoff, 77, died Monday (Nov. 29, 2004) at Chase County Community Hospital of Imperial. Survivors include his wife, Arlene of Imperial; daughters, Jolee Stebbins and husband, Mike of Lawrenceville, Ga., Deann Markley and husband, James of Gilbert, Ariz., Marilou Bischoff of Imperial and Valjean Boe of Pierre, S.D.; two sons, Michael Bischoff and wife, Mitzi of Montgomery, Mich., and Jason Bischoff of Pierre; sister, Shirley Gardner and husband, Larry of Imperial; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.. ...