Obituaries from February 2005

Aug. 9, 1926-Jan. 30, 2005 HOLDREGE -- Mable A. Johnson, 78, died Sunday (Jan. 30, 2005) at her home in Holdrege. She was born Aug. 9, 1926, south of Oil Center, Okla., to Neal and Addie Mae (Cook) MacDonald. She attended Vanoss High School in Oklahoma, graduating in 1945...

July 14, 1946-Jan. 29, 2005 Terry Wayne Dyer, 58, of McCook died Saturday (Jan. 29, 2005), at Premier Estates Senior Living in North Platte. He was born July 14, 1946, at Dennison, Texas, to Elbert Washington and Virgie Ethel (Foxx) Dyer. On Oct. 10, 1975, he married Dixie L. Matson at Guyman, Okla. They moved to the McCook community in 1998. Terry was a self-employed handyman doing such jobs as painting, mowing, janitor work, mechanic and truck driving...

Oct. 19, 1907-Jan. 31, 2005 Emma Stewart Martin died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, upon arrival at McCook Community Hospital in McCook at the age of 97. She was born Oct. 19, 1907, in Culbertson, the daughter of the late Frank and Anna (Wittwer) Miller. She grew up in Culbertson where she graduated from Culbertson High School in 1924. She attended Kearney State Teachers College where she received her teaching certificate. She taught school in Dickens...

Jan. 19, 1961-Jan. 29, 2005 ATWOOD -- Williams C. "Bill" Weishapl, 44, died Saturday (Jan. 29, 2005) at his home of natural causes. He was born Jan. 19, 1961, to Linus and Rosemary (Simminger) Weishapl. He graduated from Atwood High School in 1979. In 1984, he enlisted in the U. ...

Feb. 5, 1920-Feb. 1, 2005 BENKELMAN -- Margurete B. Donohue, 84, died Tuesday (Feb. 1, 2005) at Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. She was born Feb. 5, 1920, in Dundy County to Fay and Della (Gagnon) Louch and attended school near her home...

April 30, 1923-Feb. 1, 2005 Agnes Louise Real, 81, of McCook, died Tuesday evening (Feb. 1, 2005) at McCook Community Hospital. She was born April 30, 1923, to Milton Reed and Gladys Viola (White) Witt in Cedar Bluffs, Kan. She grew up on the family farm near Cedar Bluffs. She graduated from Decatur County High School in Oberlin in 1940 and did post graduate work in business. She then moved to Denver where she worked for the National Biscuit Company...

WAUNETA -- Otto Bartels, 101, died Wednesday (Feb. 2, 2005) at Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home. He was a long-time resident of Wauneta. Survivors include his wife, Ida of Wauneta; sons, Wayne and wife, Donna of Wauneta, Dale and wife, Barbara of Lewellen and Allen and wife, Joyce of Harvard; two daughters, Barbara Cooper and husband, Jerry of Henderson, Nev., and Lois Glover and husband, Lee of Wauneta; sister, Elsie Becker of Wauneta; brother, Gus Bartels and wife, Margie of Wauneta; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren.. ...

Dec. 15, 1915-Feb. 2, 2005 ARAPAHOE -- Wensel "Whitey" Einspahr, 89, died Wednesday (Feb. 2, 2005) at Bertrand Nursing Home, where he recently moved. He was born Dec. 15, 1915, to Bernard and Ema (Plamback) Einspahr in Kenesaw. He was raised in Kenesaw for nine years. The family then moved to Colorado. He moved to Lexington at the age of 16...

Jan. 25, 1934-Feb. 2, 2005 Marilyn R. Goltl, 71, died Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005, at her home in McCook. On Jan. 25, 1934, she was born in Red Willow County to Charles August and Nellie Pearl (Crocker) Wesch. She graduated from McCook High School in 1952 and had lived here all her life...

Nov. 14, 1908-Feb. 5, 2005 ATWOOD -- Helen Ethyl Styles, 96, died Saturday (Feb. 5, 2005) at Decatur Health Systems in Oberlin. She was born Nov. 14, 1908, to John C. and Emma Edith (Woods) Nelson in a sod house south of McDonald. On Sept. 25, 1928, she married Olie F. ...

Feb. 25, 1924-Feb. 5, 2005 Leona A. Ruppert died Saturday (Feb. 5, 2005) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook at the age of 80. She was born Feb. 25, 1924, in Lincoln County, the daughter of the late LeRoy V. and Carrie O. (Hansen) Magee. She grew up on a farm north of Curtis and attended rural school in Lincoln County and the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture High School in Curtis...

March 13, 1903-Feb. 2, 2005 WAUNETA -- Otto Carl Dietirch Heinrich Bartels, 101, died Wednesday (Feb. 2, 2005) at Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home. He was born March 13, 1903, to Carl and Dorothea M. (Fortkamp) Bartels on a farm near Elk Creek. He moved with his parents and four siblings to a farm south of Enders. He attended school at Elk Creek, the Ough Divide and St. Paul's Parochial School...

GRETNA -- Douglas P. Hinton, 40, died at the Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha. He was born in Holbrook on Feb. 13, 1964, to Ivan "Ike" and Luella A. (Sayer) Hinton. He graduated from Holbrook High School in 1982. He played football, basketball and ran track. ...

Jan. 21, 1924-Feb. 5, 2005 OBERLIN -- Irvan Frank Courange, 81, died Saturday (Feb. 5, 2005) at Cedar Living Center in Oberlin. He was born Jan. 21, 1924, to Joe and Mary (Dernel) Courange in Beaver, Kan. He was raised in Hoisington. He entered the Army and served in World War II...

Feb. 2, 1933-Feb. 3, 2005 NEW ALMELO, Kan. -- Delores Elaine Slipke, 72, died Thursday (Feb. 3, 2005) at the Wynscape Nursing Center in Wheaton, Ill. She was born Feb. 2, 1933, to Ivan and Thelma (Tapp) Gallentine in Atwood. He was raised in Clayton, Kan., and attended Clayton Grade School and High School. He graduated in 1951...

March 29, 1920-Feb. 6, 2005 LINCOLN -- LaVern E. Lyons, 84, died Sunday (Feb. 6, 2005) in Lincoln. He was born March 29, 1920, in Hayes County. He was a farmer and elevator manager. He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances; grandson, Noel; and brothers, Harold, Donald and Dale...

April 7, 1911-Feb. 5, 2005 Loyce I. Teply passed away Feb. 5, 2005. She was born Loyce I. Hoback on April 7, 1911, to James Hoback and Alice L. Towne in Hayes Center. Loyce was the eldest of six children. When she was a young girl the family moved to a farm west of Hayes Center. ...

Jan. 21, 1924-Feb. 5, 2005 OBERLIN -- Irvan Frank Courange, 81, died Saturday (Feb. 5, 2005) at Cedar Living Center in Oberlin. He was born Jan. 21, 1924, to Joe and Mary (Dernel) Courange in Beaver, Kan. He was raised in Hoisington. He entered the Army and served in World War II...

Oct. 12, 1919-Feb. 6, 2005 BEAVER CITY -- Opal P. Long, 85, died Sunday (Feb. 6, 2005) at Beaver City Manor in Beaver City. She was born Oct. 12, 1919, to Albert P. and Millie (Lawson) Wagner in Beloit, Kan. She grew up in the Holdrege area and graduated from Holdrege High School in 1937...

July 18, 1985-Feb. 6, 2005 BREWSTER, Kan. -- Sean Michael Swanson, 19, died Sunday (Feb. 6, 2005) near Gray County, Kan. He was born July 18, 1985, in Lexington. He was a student in college. Survivors include his parents, Michelle Jorgensen of Brewster and Roger and Hillerie Engler of McCook; grandparents, Mille Engler of Lexington, Darrell and Jackie Jorgensen of Brewster, Gordon and Susan Brunick of Holyoke, Colo., Melvin and Sandra Marshall of Wray, Colo.; brothers, Tanner Swanson and Nathan and Jace Jorgensen, all of Brewster, Allen Engler of Everett, Wash., Hunter Engler of Norfolk, Matt Thayer of McCook and Cory Engler of McCook; and sisters, Stacy Swanson of Denver, Colo., Tara Swanson of Cape Coral, Fla., Callie Jorgensen of Brewster, Kan., and Miranda Thayer of McCook.. ...

Dec. 27, 1919-Feb. 6, 2005 WESTBROOK, Maine -- Lillian B. "Bunny" Dyhrberg died on Feb. 6, 2005, at Bay Square in Yarmouth, Maine, after a long illness. She was born Dec. 27, 1919, in McCook, the daughter of Clarence and Lillie Glahn Bunstock. She attended local schools, graduating from McCook High School. ...

April 25, 1925-Feb. 7, 2005 Vernon A. Meints passed away Feb. 7, 2005, at Bryan LGH Hospital in Lincoln at the age of 79. He was born April 25, 1925, in Culbertson, the eldest son of Henry and Alice (Seed) Meints. He was preceded in death by both his parents and one brother, Raymond of Lincoln and a daughter, Merry Jeane Bunstock...

Oct. 5, 1934-Feb. 7, 2005 HAIGLER -- Leslie L. White, 70, of Haigler, died Monday (Feb. 7, 2005) at the Wray District Community Hospital in Wray, Colo. He was born Oct. 5, 1934, to Herman and Lillie (Dixon) White on his family's farm south of Haigler in Cheyenne County, Kan. He grew up on the farm and attended country school near his home. He was a graduate of Haigler High School...

Oct. 28, 1914-Feb. 8, 2005 Josephine Almira Wesch, 90, died Tuesday (Feb. 8, 2005) at Hillcrest Nursing Home. She was born Oct. 28, 1914, in Frontier County, to Burtis Lloyd and Minnie Mary (Jewel) McMains. She attended Center Pointe School and received her GED from McCook Community College in 1978...

May 14, 1912-Feb. 8, 2005 Vera Mae (Jones) Miller, 92, was born May 14, 1912, at Lebanon to Leslie Franklin and Mary Atillia (Bush) Jones. She departed this world on Feb. 8, 2005, at the age of 92 in Cambridge. She was married in Oberlin to Eugene V. Miller on March 18, 1934. She was owner/operator of Circle M Ceramics...

Oct. 4, 1948-Jan. 24, 2005 Lyle Dymond Sawyer, 56, died Monday, Jan. 24, 2005. Born Oct. 4, 1948, in Baltimore, Md. He moved with his family to Upland in 1956 where he resided until graduating from Upland High School with top honors in 1966. He attended Kearney State College in Kearney for two years and left for Piney Point Seamen's School in Piney Point, Md. ...

Nov. 4, 1953-Feb. 9, 2005 OBERLIN -- Judy Ockerman, 51, died Wednesday (Feb. 9, 2005) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She was born Nov. 4, 1953, to Harold E. and Doris A. (Wilson) Ockerman in Oberlin. She was raised in New Mexico and graduated from Shiprock High School in Shiprock, N.M. She attended Evangelical College in Springfield, Mo...

Donald Lee Thompson, 62, died Feb. 4, 2005, in Joplin, Mo. He graduated from McCook High School in 1960, McCook Junior College in 1962, University of Northern Colorado, business executive programs of Cornell University, University of Montana and the Harvard Business School Business...

Sept. 1, 1915-Feb. 10, 2005 CURTIS -- Godfrey S. Nielsen, 89 of Curtis, died Thursday (Feb. 10, 2005) at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis. He was born north of Curtis on Sept. 1, 1915, to Niels and Regina Jensen Nielsen. He attended Ash Grove School west of Wellfleet. In the early 1930's he moved with his parents to a farm between Curtis and Stockville...

April 26, 1932-Feb. 5, 2005 Lois Marie Schneider, 72, died Saturday (Feb. 5, 2005) in Fort Collins, Colo. She was born April 26, 1932, in McCook, the daughter of Earnest and Mary E. (Young) Cox. Lois married Harold H. Schneider on July 6, 1952, in Fort Collins, Colo. They later divorced...

May 26, 1916-Feb. 10, 2005 DRESDEN -- Gertrude Fleckenstein, 88, died Thursday (Feb. 10, 2005) at Rawlins County Hospital in Atwood. She was born May 26, 1918, to William and Gertrude (Beckmier) Nondorf on a farm east of Hoxie, Kan. She was raised in Hoxie, Angelus and Leoville, Kan...

Oct. 7, 1920-Feb. 10, 2005 STRATTON -- Maxine Viola Crocker, 84, died Thursday (Feb. 10, 2005) at Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. She was born Oct. 7, 1920, in Stratton to John and Edith (Ward) Randall and attended Stratton Public Schools. After graduating from Stratton High School, she attended Kearney Teachers College where she earned her teaching certificate. She taught school for many years, having taught at several country schools, and then at Indianola, Grand Island, and Lincoln...

March 9, 1918-Feb. 13, 2005 OBERLIN -- Kenneth C. Martin, 86, died Sunday (Feb. 13, 2005) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born March 9, 1918, to George and Milda (Borges) Martin in Oberlin. He grew up in the Oberlin area and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1936...

Aug. 22, 1922-Feb. 12, 2005 NORTH PLATTE -- Charles Clair Parker, 82, died Saturday (Feb. 12, 2005) at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. He was born Aug. 22, 1922, to Winfred A. and Mary A. Trotter Parker in Dickens. He grew up in the Dickens area. For a short time he worked in Jackson Hole, Wyo...

July 12, 1925-Feb. 11, 2005 NORTON, Kan. -- Imojean Hoyt, 79, died Friday (Feb. 11, 2005) at the Andbe Home in Norton. She was born July 12, 1925, to Harold Eugene and Golda Mary (Heller) Hoyt in Good Hope, Kan. She attended the Aurora District No. 8 rural grade school and Clayton High School...

Aug. 28, 1931-Feb. 13, 2005 BEAVER CITY -- Vivian L. Goins, 73, died Sunday (Feb. 13, 2005) at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege. She was born Aug. 28, 1931, to Virtus and Joycie (Vise) Helton in Wilsonville. The family moved to a farm south of Beaver City in 1935 and moved into town in 1937. She graduated from Beaver City High School in 1948...

April 23, 1914-Feb. 13, 2005 Delmere Franklin Thomas, 90, died Sunday (Feb. 13, 2005) at Cambridge Manor Home in Cambridge. He was born April 23, 1914, to Frank and Julia Elizabeth (Halsey) Thomas in Red Willow County. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Lebanon and graduated from rural school. He attended high school in Danbury...

Aug. 28, 1931-Feb. 13, 2005 BEAVER CITY -- Vivian L. Goins, 73, died Sunday (Feb. 13, 2005) at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege. She was born Aug. 28, 1931, to Virtus and Joycie (Vise) Helton in Wilsonville. The family moved to a farm south of Beaver City in 1935 and moved into town in 1937. She graduated from Beaver City High School in 1948...

May 2, 1913-Feb. 13, 2005 Fern I. Wolgamott, 91, died Sunday (Feb. 13, 2005) at Sunset Haven Nursing Home in Curtis. She was born May 2, 1913, in Gosper County to Leon J. and Lela O. (Collins) Wilsey. She attended school at Lexington. She moved to McCook in 1995...

Aug. 15, 1918-Feb. 13, 2005 MAYWOOD -- Ula Rebecca Wood, 86, of Maywood, died Sunday (Feb. 13, 2005) at Community Hospital of McCook. She was born Aug. 15, 1918, to Morgan Downing and Ada Belle Staples Smith in White. She grew up on the farm and attended country school...

Oct. 25, 1932-Feb. 14, 2005 Don Lee McDonald died Monday (Feb. 14, 2005) at the McCook Community Hospital in McCook at the age of 72. He was born Oct. 25, 1932, at McCook, Neb., the son of the late Alexander and Elizabeth (Yost) McDonald. Don was a lifelong resident of McCook and graduated from McCook High School in 1951 and later graduated from McCook Community College in 1959...

Jan. 24, 1918-Feb. 14, 2005 Virginia M. Lyle died Monday, Feb. 14, 2005, at the McCook Community Hospital in McCook at the age of 87. She was born Jan. 24, 1918, in Omaha, the daughter of the late Earl and Anna C. (Christensen) Brown. She grew up in Omaha and graduated from South High School and attended Omaha Business School...

Oct. 11, 1981-Feb. 14, 2005 Brett L. Fraker died Monday, Feb. 14, 2005, in McCook. He was 23 years old. Brett was born Oct. 11, 1981, in Oberlin to Mark L. and Pam R. (Myers) Fraker. In 1995, he moved with his mom to McCook. He graduated from McCook High School in 2000 where he was a wrestler...

April 23, 1914-Feb. 13, 2005 Delmere Franklin Thomas died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005, at the Cambridge Manor Home in Cambridge at the age of 90. He was born April 23, 1914, in Red Willow County, the son of the late Frank and Julia Elizabeth (Halsey) Thomas. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Lebanon and graduated from rural school. He attended high school in Danbury until the illness and death of his father...

Dec. 19, 1929-Feb. 15, 2005 HAYES CENTER -- Earl Dale Brush died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2005, at his home in Hayes Center at the age of 75. He was born Dec. 19, 1929, in Bartley to Lewellyn and Rosa Belle (Crosby) Brush. He grew up in Bartley where he received his education and also began farming on the family farm...

Sept. 24, 1947-Feb. 15, 2005 NORTON, Kan. -- Jane E. Boxler, 57, died Tuesday (Feb. 15, 2005). She was born Sept. 24, 1947, to Peter John and Aileen (Brunson) Boxler in Norton, Kan. She was raised in Norton until 1955, when the family moved to Jefferson, Wis. They moved back to Norton in 1996. She attended school at St. Coletta School in Jefferson...

Nov. 27, 1917-Feb. 14, 2005 ATWOOD -- Royal Raymond Chessmore, 87, died Monday (Feb. 14, 2005) in Hays, Kan. He was born Nov. 27, 1917, to Asahel Raymond and Katherine Cecilia (Koski) Chessmore in Ludell. He attended grade school in Ludell and was a graduate of Atwood High School. He attended college at Dodge City Community College and Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. He left college to run the family farm east of Atwood...

Oct. 21, 1910-Feb. 17, 2005 Lorene Agnes Malleck, 94, died Thursday (Feb. 17, 2005) at Community Hospital in McCook. She was born Oct. 21, 1910, at Indianola to John Walter and Lena (Reiners) Weskamp. She attended rural school in Red Willow County. On Jan. ...

March 25, 1923-Feb. 17, 2005 HASTINGS -- John Jefferson Fellers, 81, died Thursday (Feb. 17, 2005) at the Good Samaritan Center in Wood River. He was born March 25, 1923, to Roy Oscar and Marie Ruth (Thacker) Fellers in Lexington, Okla. He attended school in San Benito, Texas...

March 30, 1909-Feb. 18, 2005 ELWOOD -- Elsie M. Fetters, 95, died Friday (Feb. 18, 2005) at Elwood Care Center in Elwood. She was born March 30, 1909, to Austin and Minnie (Tucker) Dutcher in Red Willow County. She attended rural school and graduated from McCook High School in 1929 and from McCook Junior College in 1931. She taught rural school for three years...

Dec. 22, 1924-Feb. 19, 2005 Duke Marquardt died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2005, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook at the age of 80. He was born at a home in Trenton Dec. 22, 1924, the son of the late Emil (Pat) Marquardt and Leo Marie (Applebee) Marquardt. He lived most of his life in Hitchcock County. He attended rural school south of Trenton and graduated from Trenton High School in 1941...

Sept. 29, 1910-Feb. 18, 2005 LAKE OSWEGO, Ore. -- Viola Louise Schaffert, 94, died Feb. 18, 2005, at a care facility in Lake Oswego, Ore., where she had been living since undergoing a series of strokes. She was born Sept. 29, 1910, on the family farm in Red Willow County southeast of McCook in the Ash Creek Community. She was the second of five children born to William and Katherine "Katie" (Eberhard) Wall...

April 18, 1927-Feb. 21, 2005 HERNDON -- John Francis Green, 77, died Monday (Feb. 21, 2005) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was born April 18, 1927, on a farm north of Herndon to Bernard H. Green and Elizabeth Unger Green. He attended St. Mary's grade school...

March 10, 1930-Feb. 21, 2005 William Forrest Poore, Jr., 74, died Monday (Feb. 21, 2005) at Community Hospital of McCook. He was born March 10, 1930, in McCook to William F. Poore, Sr. and Mildred D. (Modrell) Poore. He grew up in McCook and graduated from McCook High School in 1949. He attended the Nebraska State Trade School in Milford...

July 17, 1932-Feb. 24, 2005 OBERLIN -- Joan Moore, 72, died Thursday (Feb. 24, 2005) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She was born July 17, 1932, to Frank and Fyme (Thurman) Robinson in Warsaw, Mo. She was raised in Warsaw and attended grade school there. She graduated from high school in 1949 in Warsaw...

June 10, 1916-Feb. 23, 2005 COLBY, Kan. -- Russell Lowell Childers, 88, died Wednesday (Feb. 23, 2005) at Citizens Medical Center in Colby, Kan. He was born June 10, 1916, in Tamora. He served in the U.S. Navy. He was a farmer. He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha in 1987...

Nov. 23, 1929-Feb. 25, 2005 ARAPAHOE -- Norman D. Kinder, 75, died Friday (Feb. 25, 2005) at his home south of Holbrook. He was born Nov. 23, 1929, to Charles and Violet (Steuber) Kinder in Cambridge. He attended country school south of Holbrook. He graduated in 1947 from Cambridge High School...

Aug. 27, 1910-Feb. 27, 2005 OBERLIN -- Genevieve H. Erickson, 94, died Sunday (Feb. 27, 2005) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born Aug. 27, 1910, to Carl and Mabel (Swift) Pittman in Plainville, Kan. She attended school in Plainville and graduated in 1928 from Oberlin High School. She then taught school in Rawlins, Rooks and Ellis Counties in Kansas...

Sept. 17, 1920-Feb. 25, 2005 HERNDON -- Francis W. Escher, 84, died Friday (Feb. 25, 2005) in Topeka, Kan. He was born Sept. 17, 1920, to Louis and Rosa Barenberg Escher. He was raised in Herndon and attended Catholic grade school and high school. He spent a year at Creighton University in Omaha...

March 17, 1921-Feb. 26, 2005 ATWOOD -- Hugh Richard Amann, 83, died Saturday (Feb. 26, 2005) at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood. He was born March 17, 1921, to John Richard and Sylvia M (Hileman) in Red Willow County. He attended District 8 School. He graduated from the Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis in 1940. He then helped on the farm...