Obituaries from June 2010

March 4, 1939-May 30, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- John "Allen" Prestes, 71, died Sunday (May 30, 2010), at his home in McCook, Nebraska. He was born on March 4, 1939, in Sundance, Wyoming, to John P. and Edna (Partlow) Prestes. He graduated from Wheeler County High School, in Bartlett,Nebraska in 1957. He attended Kearney State College...

March 6, 1938 - May 28, 2010 CAMBRIDGE. Nebraska -- Rosalie Mowry passed to eternal life on Friday (May 28, 2010), she was 72 years old. Rosalie (Dillan) Mowry was born on March 6, 1938, at Brewster Hospital in Holdrege, Nebraska, to Robert "Chub" and Irma (Grotfeld) Dillan. She grew up on a farm near Wilsonville and moved with her family to town in 1950. She attended Wilsonville schools, graduating from Wilsonville High School in 1955...

April 12, 1967 - May 20, 2010 HASTINGS, Nebraska -- Ben Wittenberger, age 43, of Hastings, formerly of Cozad, passed away May 30, 2010, at his home in Hastings. Ben was born April 12, 1967, at Omaha, the son of Jerry and Leola (Arnold) Wittenberger. Ben graduated from Lincoln Northeast in 1985. He entered the U.S. Army in 1987 and faithfully served his country during the Gulf War...

Dec. 19, 1959-May 29, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Douglas Dean Colby, 50, died Saturday, May 29, 2010 at McCook Community Hospital. Doug was born on Dec. 10, 1959 in Imperial to DeWayne Dow Colby and Marian Joan (Blobaum) Carson. He attended McCook Elementary School and graduated from Littleton High School in Littleton, Colorado in 1979. While in high school, he was active on the swim team...

Oct. 8, 1938-May 17, 2010 ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Sandra Kay Kring Grindle, 71, died May 17, 2010 at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital. Sandra was born on Oct. 8, 1938 in Alamosa, Colorado, first daughter to Ben and Cora Kring. She was raised in the San Luis Valley and spent much of her time helping her father shear sheep and work in the lettuce fields...

YUMA, Arizona -- Leon 'Mike' Patton, formerly of McCook, died May 14, 2010. He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Kathryn (Tripe) Patton; one brother, Ken Patton; and sister, Pat Arendell. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Anna; their children; two brothers, Ed Patton of Longmont, Colorado and Bill Patton of Trenton...

Sept. 2, 1929-June 2, 2010 EDISON, Nebraska -- LaVonna "Arlene" Fewell, age 80, of Rural Edison, Nebraska died Wednesday (June 2, 2010) as a result of car-train accident east of Edison, Nebraska. She was born Sept. 2, 1929 in Phelps County, Nebraska to Leon and Martha (Strom) Shield. She grew up in the Altanta, Nebraska area. She graduated from high school at Mascot, Nebraska with the class of '47...

May 30, 1919-May 24, 2010 ATWOOD, Kansas -- John J. Adams, 90, died May 24, 2010. He was born May 30, 1919, to Oscar and Euphemia (Senecal) Adams in Plainville, Kansas. He was educated in Plainville before joining the Army during World War II. He served in the South Pacific...

Dec. 22, 1951-May 31, 2010 McCOOK, Nebrask -- Linda Marie Zodrow, 58, died Monday (May 31, 2010), at her home in McCook. She was born on Dec. 22, 1951, in Oberlin, Kansas to Elmer Leonard and Delores Ann (Moeder) Zodrow. She graduated from Decatur County High School in 1970. A few years later, she continued her education at Central Community College in Grand Island...

Nov. 25, 1921-June 3, 2010 IMPERIAL, Nebraska -- Annetta Mae Lee, 88, died Thursday (June 3, 2010), at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home. She was born on Nov. 25, 1921, in Spalding, Nebraska to Deryl and Kathryn (Gilroy) German. She graduated from Spalding Public High School in 1939, and later attained her teaching certificate. She taught rural country school in Greeley County, Nebraska. She was also employed as an operator for the railroad in Wyoming for a time...

July 9, 1974-June 3, 2010 TRENTON, Nebraska -- Jesse Alan Jones, 35, died Thursday (June 3, 2010) as the result of a truck accident near Red Cloud, Nebraska. He was born July 9, 1974 in Loup City, Nebraska, the son of John and Judy (Amann) Jones. He grew up in Trenton where he graduated from Trenton High School in 1993. He attended McCook Community College...

March 4, 1938-May 31, 2010 INDIANOLA, Nebraska -- Lynn Howard, 72, of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Indianola, Nebraska passed away May 31, 2010 in Denver following a brief illness. He was born March 4, 1938 in Modesto, California. He spent his first 35 years in California working construction and in fruit orchards before moving to Colorado in 1972...

June 5, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Nicholas Ethan and Nathan Michael Hall, infant twin sons, of Zachary Michael and Josefina Garcia (Martinez) Hall of McCook were born and went to be with their Lord and Savior on Saturday (June 5, 2010). Preceding them in death were their maternal great-grandparents, Nieves and Grace Contreras; and paternal great-grandmother, Wanda G. McDanield...

Aug. 7, 1922-Aug. 18, 2009 WILSONVILLE, Nebraska -- Ona was born to William and Edna Carfield Aug. 7,1922 at their rural home near the Red Willow-Decatur County line. Growing up, she attended school in Danbury, Nebraska where she also played second base on the softball team and worked cleaning houses for various people...

Dec. 11, 1945-June 7, 2010 STRATTON, Nebraska -- Sandra Marie Berry, 64, died Monday (June 7, 2010) at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman, Nebraska. She was born Dec. 11, 1945 in Lowell, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late John W. and Grace Hellen (LaPorte) Gotham. She grew up in Lowell and attended Lowell High School...

Feb. 4, 1918-June 9, 2010 ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Vera Faye Lewis, 92, died Wednesday (June 9, 2010) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge, Nebraska. She was born Feb. 4, 1918, in Arapahoe to Merle and Ann (Jacobson) Adams. She was a lifelong resident of Arapahoe. She graduated from Arapahoe High School with the class of '34. Following graduation she attended Kearney State Teachers College in Kearney. She taught county school for four years at the Dunbar School House...

Oct. 10, 1919-June 8, 2010 SALINA, Kansas -- Don L. Claussen, 91, formerly of Oberlin, died Tuesday (June 8, 2010) at Holiday Resort Nursing Home in Salina. He was born Oct. 10, 1919, to Herman and Lydia (Wagner) Claussen in Smith Center, Kansas. He attended Decatur Community High School and graduated in 1936 followed by Dodge City Business College. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Seabee...

July 11, 1964-June 7, 2010 ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Dennis E. Monter, 45, died Monday (June 7, 2010) at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge, Nebraska following a two vehicle accident south of Arapahoe. He was born July 11, 1964 in Lexington, Nebraska to Glen and DeLilah (Reese) Monter. He grew up in the Arapahoe area and graduated from Arapahoe High School with the class of '82. He graduated from Kearney State Teachers College in Kearney, Nebraska in 1986...

March 30, 1916-June 10, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Opal Lorance, 94, died at Highland Park in McCook on Thursday (June 10, 2010). She was born March 30, 1916 to Ernest Allen and Daisy Pearl (Boston) Admire. She attended grade school in Benkelman and high school in Stratton...

Jan. 10, 1926-June 12, 2010 BIRD CITY, Kansas -- Annabelle Lea Nelsen, 84, died Saturday (June 12, 2010) at the Good Samaritan Village in St. Francis, Kansas. She was born Jan. 10, 1926, in Joplin, Missouri. She spent her lifetime as a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Nelsen in 2004; and son, Darrel Nelsen in 2004...

Feb. 4, 1920-June 11, 2010 BIRD CITY, Kansas -- Vivian Gail (Scheel) Seymour, 90, died Friday (June 11, 2010) at the Good Samaritan Society Hospital in Atwood, Kansas. Born Feb. 4, 1920, in Bird City, she spent her lifetime as a homemaker. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Seymour in 1996; son, Doug Seymour in 2004; and daughter, Marianne Bressler in 1993...

Jan. 4, 1922-June 13, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Dr. Mabel Jean Schmer, 88, died Sunday (June 13, 2010) at the Community Hospital in McCook. She was born in Denver, Colorado on Jan. 4, 1922 to John and Mabel Grace (Traut) Schmer. Her mother died in childbirth...

Aug, 27, 1952-June 12, 2010 TRENTON, Nebraska -- Rick Hedke, 57, died Saturday (June 12, 2010) at his home in Trenton. He was born Aug. 27, 1952, in McCook, the son of the late Ray and Elsie Tressa (Blue) Hedke. He grew up in Trenton where he graduated from Trenton High School in 1970. He graduated from Kearney State College in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in business administration...

Aug. 10, 1943-June 13, 2010 OBERLIN, Kansas -- Donald Barratt, 66, died Sunday (June 13, 2010) at the Decatur County Hospital. He was born Aug. 10, 1943, to Robert and Josephine (Fields) Barratt on a farm near Oberlin. He attended Vallonia School and Decatur Community High School, graduating in 1961...

March 20, 1928-June 14, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Don D. Olson of rural McCook died at his home on June 14, 2010. He was born March 20, 1928 in Hitchcock County to Axel Olson and Ellen (Jacobs) Olson. He attended school in Culbertson and graduated from high school in 1946. He also attended McCook Community College...

Jan. 19, 1952-June 9, 2010 JOPLIN, Missouri -- Cheryl Ann Fuller, 58, died June 9, 2010, at Freeman Heart Institute at Freeman Hospital in Joplin. She was born Jan. 19, 1952, in McCook, Nebraska to Kenneth and Myrtle (Ritz) Fuller. She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Beaver Valley High School in Lebanon, Nebraska. She worked at TRW until it closed. She lived in Omaha, Nebraska for several years, and then returned home in 1989 to care for her father...

Aug. 14, 1933-June 11, 2010 ATWOOD, Kansas -- Kenneth Eldon Maaske, 76, died June 11, 2010 in Atwood. He is the second oldest of four children, born to Emmett and Ella (Heller) Maaske on Aug. 14, 1933, south of Oxford, Nebraska. He attended school at Oxford and graduated with the class of 1950 from Oxford High School...

May 29, 1915-June 14, 2010 BEAVER CITY, Nebraska -- Harold J. Schaefers, 95, died Monday (June 14, 2010) at the Beaver City Manor. He was born May 29, 1915, at Clayton, Iowa to Xavier and Mary (Auer) Schaefers. He was the youngest of 6 children. He grew up in Iowa and helped his father with farming until he met and married Venita Carpenter in Strawberry Point, Iowa on Sept. 6, 1939...

Feb. 19, 1981-June 13, 2010 KASILOF, Alaska -- Merlin Leon Vacura, 29, died Sunday (June 13, 2010) in Kasilof. He was born Feb. 19, 1981 to Bernie Vacura and Carol Bryan and raised on the family farm near Jennings, Kansas. He attended Prairie Heights in Jennings and graduated from Decatur Community High in Oberlin, Kansas...

Feb. 13, 1938-June 15, 2010 ATWOOD, Kansas -- Anne Jeanette Ratcliff Schalker, 72, died at her home on Tuesday (June 15, 2010) in Atwood. She was born Feb. 13, 1938 in Atwood. She was the younger daughter of Dewey and Ona Mae Ratcliff. She studied piano and flute at the Juilliard School of Music and graduated in 1962 with a degree in piano performance...

Sept. 19,1912-June 19, 2010 STRATTON, Nebraska -- E. Earl "Hooks" Bailey, 97, died Saturday (June 19, 2010) in McCook. He was the first child of Seymour and Nola (Pember) Bailey, born Sept. 19, 1912, in Enders, Nebraska. He attended school in Stratton and graduated in 1930...

June 20, 1930-June 18, 2010 TRENTON, Nebraska -- Gerald Otis Dewey, 79, died Friday (June 18, 2010) at the El Dorado Manor Home in Trenton. He was born June 20, 1930, in LeRoy, Nebraska, the son of the late Harry A. and Edith M. (Philleo) Dewey. He grew up in the Hastings area where he received his education...

Jan. 26,1941-June 19, 2010 KEARNEY, Nerbaska -- Dennis L. Hosick, 69, of Kearney died Saturday (June 19, 2010) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday at Kearney Evangelical Free Church with the Revs. Mike Shields and Ken Olenik officiating. Interment with military honors will be at the Kearney Cemetery conducted by the Navy Honors Team in conjunction with the VFW Post 759 and American Legion Post 52 of Kearney...

Feb. 12,1942-June 20, 2010 YORK, Nebraska -- Daryl E. Nyberg, 68, died Sunday (June 20, 2010) in York. He was born Feb. 12, 1942 in Central City, Nebraska to Edwin and Elna (Stranberg) Nyberg. He grew up in Polk and in 1956, during his sophomore year of high school, he and his family moved to Holdrege...

July 9, 1948-June 19, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Mary Lou Glaves, 61, died Saturday (June 19, 2010) at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Mary was born on July 9, 1948, in Charleston, West Virginia to Homer and Maudie O. (Buzzard) Underwood. She graduated from Seth High School in Seth, West Virginia...

March 17, 1951-June 22, 2010 KENNEWICK, Washington --Marcia Butler Brasher, 59, died on Tuesday (June 22, 2010) at her home. She was born, March 17, 1951, the oldest daughter to Donna Butler and the late Gerald Butler. Condolences can be sent to 1710 W. 23rd Place, Kennewick, Washington, 99337...

June 16, 1910-June 15, 2010 WILLISTON, Florida -- Louise Jennette Berry Pycha, 99, died Tuesday (June 15, 2010) at the WIlliston Health Care Center. She was born on June 16, 1910, in Tescott, Kansas, to the late Edward and Birdie Berry. At the age of two, her family moved to New Mexico. When she was eight, her family took a covered wagon to Burkburnett, Texas, and later moved to Palacious, Texas...

Dec. 28, 1912-June 22, 2010 ARAPHOE, Nebraska -- Raymond H. Bockerman, 97, died on Tuesday (June 22, 2010) at the Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege. He was born on Dec. 28, 1912, south of Arapahoe to Gottlieb and Louise (Flake) Bockerman. He attended school at Arapahoe High School and graduated with the class of '31...

March 4, 1934-June 22, 2010 CURTIS, Nebraska -- Maxine Fae Jorgensen, 76, died Tuesday (June 22, 2010) at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born on March 4, 1934, north of Curtis. She was the first of four children born to Lloyd and Elsie (Hecht) Jorgensen. ...

March 20, 1928-June 14, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Don D. Olson of rural McCook died at his home on June 14, 2010. He was born March 20, 1928, in Hitchcock County to Axel Olson and Ellen (Jacobs) Olson. He attended school in Culbertson and graduated from high school in 1946. He also attended McCook Community College...

CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Darrell "Twig" D. Mehaffie, 83, died Wednesday (June 23, 2010) at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital. He was born in Arapahoe to Harry D and Ida B. (Mills) Mehaffie. He attended and graduated from Arapahoe High School in 1944. He served his country in World War II from 1945 to 1947, serving in the Pacific Theatre in Okinawa...

Feb. 19, 1933 -- June 21, 2010 GRAND JUNCTION, Colorado -- Hazel (Kennedy) Frezieres, 77, passed away on Monday (June 21, 2010) at St. Mary's Hospital due to a stroke. Hazel was born to Robert and Vera (Pate) Kennedy in McCook, Nebraska, where she spent her childhood and graduated from McCook High School...

Nov. 16, 1921-June 26, 2010 ST. FRANCIS, Kansas -- Clyde Edson Smith, 88, died Saturday (June 26, 2010) at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. He was born Nov. 16, 1921, in Cheyenne County. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lela Smith in 2007...

May 22, 1925-June 28, 2010 WAUNETA, Nebraska -- Donald Hamlin Hunt, 85, died on Monday (June 28, 2010) at Heritage of Wauneta. He was born May 22, 1925, in Palisade to Yale Kenneth and Vera Mae (Simons) Hunt. He attended Prairie Union School. He married Betty Ruth Tilley in Fort Collins, Colorado on Aug. 2, 1953. To this union three children were born, David, Rodney and Valerie...