Obituaries from December 2004

Jan. 8, 1954-Dec. 1, 2004 ARAPAHOE -- Georgia Grace Esslinger, 50, died Wednesday (Dec. 1, 2004) at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege. She was born Jan. 8, 1954, in Oxford to Earl "Bill" and Grace C. (Bowen) Land. She graduated from Oxford High School in 1972...

May 30, 1952-Nov. 30, 2004 Ronald J. Coleman, 52 of McCook died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2004, at the St. Joseph Hospital in Omaha. He was born to Wilbur M. and Hilda Olga (Prochaska) Coleman on May 30, 1952, in David City. He graduated from David City Aquinas High School in 1970. ...

June 28, 1962-Dec. 2, 2004 Dennis J. Kennedy, 42, died Thursday (Dec. 2, 2004) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center Clarkson Hospital in Omaha. He was born June 28, 1962, to Howard and Wanda (Carter) Kennedy in McCook. He grew up in McCook and graduated from McCook High School in 1980. He received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Nebraska at Kearney...

May 4, 1918-Dec. 2, 2004 Patrick Joseph Flaherty, 86, died Thursday (Dec. 2, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born May 4, 1918, in Lawrence to John and Mary (Baune) Flaherty. He graduated from Indianola High School in 1936. On Oct. 13, 1942, he married Frances M. Sullivan at McCook. To this union three children were born. They made their home for several years north of Indianola, then moved to the McCook area in 1947 and continued in farming until the present time...

May 10, 1928-Dec. 1, 2004 CULBERTSON -- Arthur Raymond Stock, 76, died Wednesday (Dec. 1, 2004) at his rural Culbertson home. He was born May 10, 1928, in Hitchcock County to William Winton and Erma Fern (Matson) Stock. He graduated from Culbertson High School in 1946 and attended Veteran's Agriculture School in Hayes Center...

ATWOOD -- Irene E. (Zwickle) Rummel, 95, died Friday (Dec. 3, 2004) at the Good Samaritan Center in Atwood, Kan. Services are Monday, 2 p.m., at Williams Funeral Chapel in Atwood. Interment will be in Fairview Cemetery in Atwood. Visitation is Sunday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., at the funeral home...

Dec. 16, 1920-Dec. 4, 2004 BURLINGTON, Colo. -- Estaleene "Estie" Carter, 83, died Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004, at Burlington Hospital in Burlington, Colo. She was born Dec. 16, 1920, to Lewis (Brack) Haley and Ona Anders Haley in Schuyler County, Mo. She moved with her aunt in Wray, Colo., in 1936. She graduated from Wray High School in 1940...

July 13, 1930-Nov. 30, 2004 Harold Blaine "Jiggs" Summers died on Nov. 30, 2004, at the Legacy Meridian Park Hospital in Tualatin, Ore., after a short illness related to Parkinson's Disease. He was 74 years old. He was born on July 13, 1930, on a farm in Frontier County near Cambridge. ...

July 8, 1932-Dec. 6, 2004 GRAND ISLAND -- Catherine Shirley Jurgensen, 72, died Monday (Dec. 6, 2004) at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. She was born July 8, 1932, to Henry C. and Hilda M. (Brenning) Harsch. She attended elementary school in Lebanon and graduated from McCook High School in 1950...

Oct. 18, 1935-Dec. 6, 2004 Marvin Dean Greenlee, 69, of McCook, died Sunday (Dec. 6, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born Oct. 18, 1935, to Marion Grant and Marjorie Gladys (Hall) Greenlee in Stockville. He graduated from Red Willow High School on May 13, 1954...

Jan. 19, 1951-Dec. 5, 2004 TOPEKA, Kan. -- Robert Lyle Crawford, 53, of Topeka, Kan., died Sunday (Dec. 5, 2004) of a massive stroke while visiting his parents in Kansas, Okla. He was born Jan. 19, 1951, in Oberlin. He graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1969. He worked for Haliburton Oil Company in Oberlin. He then worked as an over-the-road truck driver in Topeka...

May 5, 1963-Dec. 6, 2004 CHANHASSAN, Minn. -- Keith Allen Fearing, 41, died Monday (Dec. 6, 2004) in Chanhassan, Minn. He was born May 5, 1963, to Bruce J. and Joan (McWalters) Fearing in Minneapolis, Minn. In 1979, he moved to McCook. He graduated from McCook High School in 1982...

Jan. 10, 1907-Nov. 27, 2004 MINNEOLA, Kan. -- Darline Meredith-Sparks, 97, died Nov. 27, 2004, at Minneola Long Term Care Unit in Minneola, Kan. She was born Jan. 10, 1907, to George and Minnie Gray in Towanda, Kan. On Dec. 24, 1924, she married Ruel Meredith. He preceded her in death Jan. 1, 1973...

July 21, 1911-Dec. 8, 2004 ATWOOD -- Gordon Minney, 93, of Atwood, died Wednesday (Dec. 8, 2004) at Prairie Senior Living Center in Colby, Kan. He was born July 21, 1911, to Wilbert B. and Hallie Minney in Rawlins County. He graduated from Atwood High School and then entered a military academy...

Aug. 14, 1929-Dec. 10, 2004 GRANT -- Lois Bishop, 75, died Friday (Dec. 10, 2004) at her home in Grant. She was born Aug. 14, 1929, to Samuel and Anna Jader Ferguson in Hamlet. She grew up in Palisade and graduated from high school in 1947. She attended Kearney State for two years before starting her career in teaching...

Dec. 31, 1912-Dec. 9, 2004 TRENTON -- Nellie Seybold, 91, died Thursday (Dec. 9, 2004) at El Dorado Manor in Trenton. She was born Dec. 31, 1912, to George Washington and Ida Belle (Ridgley) Ridgley in Bloomington. She grew up in Naponee and attended school in rural Hayes County...

Aug. 5, 1913-Dec. 8, 2004 CAMBRIDGE -- Alfred G. Rikli, 91, died Wednesday (Dec. 8, 2004) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. He was born Aug. 5, 1913, to William Edward and Marie Fredricka (Merkel) Rikli in South Bend. He attended school in the area and graduated from Murdock High School in 1931. He attended Phillips University in Enid, Okla., for two years and later attended business college...

Aug. 19, 1915-Dec. 11, 2004 John Francis Helm, 89, died Dec. 11, 2004, in Citizen Medical Center in Colby, Kan. John was born Aug. 19, 1915, to Walter H. Helm and Susie M. Malleck Helm at Red Willow Station, Red Willow County. They moved to a farm near Bartley in 1920. John attended Bartley schools and graduated with the class of 1933...

March 3, 1936-Dec. 10, 2004 NORTH PLATTE -- Glen Buker, 68, died Friday (Dec. 10, 2004) at his home in North Platte. He was born March 3, 1936, to Guy S. and Della Castor Buker in Freedom. He graduated from Stockville High School in 1953. On Aug. 18, 1957, he married Marilyn Roggensees in Curtis. ...

July 1, 1935-Dec. 14, 2004 CULBERTSON -- Icyle Yvonne Wright, 69, died Tuesday (Dec. 14, 2004) at her home in Culbertson. She was born July 1, 1935, to William and Stella (Hewitt) Sayre in Evans, W.V. She grew up in Wonderland, Ohio where she attended high school...

April 27, 1924-Dec. 14, 2004 Minnie Marie Huff, 80, died Tuesday (Dec. 14, 2004) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She was born April 27, 1924, to Isaac Johnathan Delroy and Leila Dayle (Barton) Hoschouer in Maywood. She graduated from Maywood High School in 1942...

IMPERIAL -- Margaret L. Greeley, 88, died Tuesday (Dec. 14, 2004) at Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial.

July 22, 1939-Dec. 14, 2004 Gordon James Bennett, 65, of Lexington, died Tuesday (Dec. 14, 2004) at his home in Lexington. He was born July 22, 1939, in Red Willow County to Harold Scott and Hazelle Hildred (Broomfield) Bennett. Gordon grew up with his three brothers on his parents farm and graduated from Danbury High School, Danbury with the class of 1957...

July 23, 1909-Dec. 17, 2004 Vernice Mary Weskamp, 95, died Friday (Dec. 17, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born July 23, 1909 to Henry Joseph and Mabel (Williams) Weskamp at Indianola. She graduated from Danbury High School in 1927 and lived in this area all her life...

Aug. 29, 1912-Dec. 17, 2004 INDIANOLA -- Nellie J. Newberry, 92, died Friday (Dec. 17, 2004) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge. She was born Aug. 29, 1912, to Paul and Charlotte (Crocker) Jussel in Red Willow County. She attended Red Willow School and lived all her life in this area...

March 15, 1946-Dec. 17, 2004 HEBRON -- Patricia A. Ireland, 58, formerly of Benkelman, died Friday (Dec. 17, 2004) at Thayer County Health Services in Hebron. She was born March 15, 1946, in Benkelman to Charles A. and Donna A. (Hofer) Morrison and attended school in Benkelman...

Dec. 13, 1921-Dec. 19, 2004 IMPERIAL -- V. Jean Stute, 83, formerly of Benkelman, died Sunday (Dec. 19, 2004) at Chase County Hospital in Imperial. She was born Dec. 13, 1921, in Stratton to Lee and Hannah (Russell) Maxwell. She attended Stratton High School where she was a member of the graduating class of 1940...

Nov. 2, 1924-Dec. 16, 2004 ATWOOD -- Cecil Max Tumblin, 80, died Thursday (Dec. 16, 2004) at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kan. He was born Nov. 2, 1924, in Grand Island to Ray J. and Elizabeth A. (Blevins) Tumblin. He served in the Navy during World War II...

June 18, 1909-Dec. 17, 2004 OBERLIN -- Neva J. Townsend, 95, died Friday (Dec. 17, 2004) at Decatur County Good Samaritan Center in Oberlin. She was born June 18, 1909, to Clare G. Crook and Himla Gusafson in Ainsworth. She was raised in Brown County and then moved to Decatur County. She attended Mount Center country school in Sherman Township and Danbury High School...

Aug. 22, 1933-Dec. 19, 2004 Walter R. "Pinky" Warburton, 71, died Sunday (Dec. 19, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. On Aug. 22, 1933, he was born to Fred Alton and Goldie Mae (Larreau) Warburton in Oberlin. He attended McCook Public Schools. He served in the National Guard for a number of years...

Jan. 17, 1929-Dec. 15, 2004 CRESTVIEW, Fla. -- Dale Eldon Porter, 75, died Wednesday (Dec. 15, 2004) at his home in Crestview, Fla. He was born Jan. 17, 1929, on a farm southwest of Maywood. He was a retired technical sergeant of the U.S. Air Force who served for 21 years...

May 28, 1917-Dec. 19, 2004 Funeral services for A. Marie Fowler will be conducted from the First Baptist Church in Holdrege on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Dr. Gary Winget officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege...

Jan. 26, 1903-Dec. 20, 2004 OBERLIN -- Catharine L. Munson, 101, died Monday (Dec. 20, 2004) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born Jan. 26, 1903, to Parry W. and Charlotte (Featherstone) Laport in Cottonwood Falls, Kan. She was raised in Cottonwood Falls and attended grade school there. She graduated from Chase County High School and attended Emporia Normal School in Emporia, Kan., for two years...

Oct. 3, 1916-Dec. 20, 2004 Kenneth Harold Christian, 88, died Monday (Dec. 20, 2004) at his home in McCook. He was born Oct. 13, 1916, in Aurora, Ill., to Harold and Edna (Balfour) Christian. He graduated from Aurora East High School, in 1934. On Aug. 3, 1940, he married Arlene E. Northrup at Aurora. To this union three sons were born...

Sept. 7, 1912-Dec. 21, 2004 Pauline A. Coghill, 92, died Tuesday (Dec. 21, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born Sept. 7, 1912, to Clark A. and Clara (Beckman) Beaty in Ossian, Ind. She attended schools in Nebraska, Indiana, Kansas and Colorado and taught elementary school for four years in Kansas. She was postmaster in Cedar Bluffs, Kan., for two years...

Nov. 14, 1902-Dec. 21, 2004 Dorothy Ada Kuhn, 102, died Tuesday (Dec. 21, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born Nov. 14, 1902, to Nelson and Jenny (Palmquist) Vossler in Lincoln. She was preceded in death by three sons, Alan Tuttle, Kenneth Tuttle and Leigh Tuttle; one daughter, Vivian Yost; one brother, Edward Vossler; three sisters, Mary Vossler, Edith Vossler and Martha Tuttle...

April 2, 1960-Dec. 20, 2004 COZAD -- Rod Palmer, 44, formerly of Cozad, died Monday (Dec. 20, 2004) in Holdrege. He was born April 2, 1960, to Larry and Opal Hoover Palmer. He attended school in Wilsonville and did farm working the Wilsonville area. He later did over the road truck driving. He had made his home in Cozad from 1987 until 1997, when he moved to Holdrege...

June 23, 1919-Nov. 27, 2004 SWEET HOME, Ore. -- Charles A. "Charlie" Hutto, 85, of Sweet Home, Ore., died Nov. 27, 2004, at Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital. He was born June 23, 1919, in Fromberg, Mont., to Charles L. and Dora E. (Colyer) Hutto...

ATWOOD -- C. Wayne Harper, 86, died Wednesday (Dec. 22, 2004) at his home in Atwood. Services are Monday, 10:30 a.m., at the United Methodist Church in Atwood with the Rev. Terry McGuire officiating. Interment will be in the Grace Cemetery in McDonald, Kan. There will be military honors...

Dec. 26, 1934-Dec. 21, 2004 OBERLIN -- Franklin Urban, 69, died Tuesday (Dec. 21, 2004) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born Dec. 26, 1934, to Ralph and Eleanor (Kundysek) Urban on a farm southeast of Atwood. He was raised in rural Atwood and attended country school...

Oct. 11, 1910-Dec. 21, 2004 LEXINGTON -- Wilma H. Sanderson, 94, of Lexington, formerly of Arapahoe, died Tuesday (Dec. 21, 2004) at Tri-County Area Hospital in Lexington. She was born Oct. 11, 1910, to George and Hattie (Chitwood) Carpenter in Franklin. ...

July 2, 1931-Dec. 21, 2004 ORLEANS -- Leonard E. Slade, 73, died Tuesday (Dec. 21, 2004) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born July 2, 1931, to Guy and Fern (Ridlane) Slade in Benkelman. He was raised in Benkelman. He lived in several places including Colorado, Palisade, Enders and Indianola before moving to Orleans about four years ago. He worked on farms and had been a truck driver at one time...

May 24, 1923-Dec. 22, 2004 HERNDON -- Anna Mae (Wolfram) Ketterl, 81, died Wednesday (Dec. 22, 2004) at her home near Herndon. She was born May 24, 1923, to George and Edith (Klient) Wolfram on a farm north of Herndon. She attended Pleasant View No. 76 school and graduated from Herndon High School. She also graduated from Fort Hays State University...

July 28, 1917-Dec. 22, 2004 Doris Opal Stewart, 87, died Wednesday (Dec. 22, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born July 28, 1917, to Orin and Opal (Troedson) Ely in Sutton. On July 8, 1939, she married Dale E. Bridgmon. To this union two children, Ramona and Ronald, were born...

Oct. 2, 1920-Dec. 21, 2004 Mildred A. "Millie" Stratman, 84, died Tuesday (Dec. 21, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home. She was born Oct. 2, 1920, to Louis John and Susan Anna (O'Dea) Colling in McCook. She graduated from Red Willow High School in 1938. She lived in this area all her life...

Nov. 18, 1913-Dec. 23, 2004 OBERLIN -- Veda May (England) Pingetzer, 91, died Thursday (Dec. 23, 2004) in Oberlin. She was born Nov. 18, 1913, in Red Willow County to Matt and Eva (McCreary) England. She was raised in Red Willow County and attended rural school there...

Sept. 25, 1908-Dec. 24, 2004 Sarah Jane Beneda, 96, died Friday (Dec. 24, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born Sept. 25, 1908, to Robert and Bessie (Goodenberger) Kennedy in Decatur County, Kan. She grew up in Cedar Bluffs, Kan., and graduated from Decatur County High School in Oberlin in 1930. She began teaching in rural schools in Decatur County...

May 10, 1920-Dec. 27, 2004 NORTH PLATTE -- Elwyn H. Hansen, 84, died Monday (Dec. 27, 2004) at his home in North Platte. He was born May 10, 1920, to Hans and Mary Wilgus Hansen south of North Platte. He graduated from North Platte High School with the class of 1937. During high school and following he worked for the University of Nebraska Experimental Station...

Feb. 12, 1928-Dec. 27, 2004 McDONALD -- Norman Lavell Mears, 76, of McDonald, Kan., died Monday (Dec. 27, 2004) at Life Care Center in Aurora, Colo. He was born Feb. 12, 1928, in Cheyenne County, Kan. He was a farmer/rancher. Survivors include his wife, Ivalee M. ...

Aug. 28, 1912-Dec. 27, 2004 Frances M. Trail, 92, died Monday (Dec. 27, 2004) at Hillcrest Nursing Home. She was born Aug. 28, 1912, to Lynn Bartlett and Helena Margaret (Hellriegel) Hoyt in Hitchcock County in her grandparents home. She attended District 68 School and graduated from McCook High School in 1930. She also attended McCook Junior College and much later graduated from McCook Community College in 1977...

Feb. 13, 1919-Dec. 27, 2004 McDONALD -- Dorothy Faye (Archer) Pickett, 85, died Monday (Dec. 27, 2004) at the Sutherland Care Center in Sutherland. She was born Feb. 13, 1919, to Major William and Clara (Ough) Archer in Strang. She attended elementary school and was a graduate of McDonald High School. After her mother's death, she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Otis and Ellen Archer...

April 6, 1945-Dec. 27, 2004 ATWOOD -- Mary Ann (Ryan) McMillin, 59, died Monday (Dec. 27, 2004) at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood. She was born April 6, 1945, to Mark J. and Mary Adeline (Mentlick) Ryan in Colby, Kan. She attended grade school at White Dove No. 86 in Rawlins County and middle school in parochial school in Sequin, Kan. She graduated from DeSalles High School in Walla Walla, Wash., in 1963. She attended one year of college at Seattle University in Seattle, Wash...

Nov. 10, 1912-Dec. 28, 2004 BENKELMAN -- Velma Mabel Hansen, 92, died Tuesday (Dec. 28, 2004) at Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. She was born Nov. 10, 1912, in Dundy County to Emery and Bertha (Rickard) Miller. She attended schools in Dundy County and was the salutatorian of the 1932 graduating class of Benkelman High School. After high school, she was an elementary teacher for one year at District No. 21 in Dundy County...

PALISADE -- Edward L. Maloof, 61, of Palisade, died Tuesday (Dec. 28, 2004) at Community Hospital of McCook. A private inurnment will be at a later date. Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.

Nov. 7, 1919-Dec. 28, 2004 Donald D. Lehl, 85, died Tuesday (Dec. 28, 2004) at his home in McCook. He was born Nov. 7, 1919, to Conrad and Katie (Arndt) Lehl in Fort Morgan, Colo. Since 1922, he had lived mainly in McCook. He attended McCook High School and graduated with the class of 1937. He attended the University of Iowa...