Obituaries from December 2010

July 10, 1949--Nov. 30, 2010 EUSTIS, Nebraska -- Von Amos Jurjens, 61, passed away Tuesday (Nov. 30, 2010), at his home, surrounded by his family after a short but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born July 10, 1949, in Lexington to Amos and Emma (Koch) Jurjens. He graduated from Eustis High School in 1967. He attended college at University of Nebraska at Lincoln and University of Nebraska School of Techinical Agriculture at Curtis...

IMPERIAL, Nebraska -- Norma Ohrmund, 80, died Monday (Nov. 29, 2010), at Chase County Hospital in Imperial. She is survived by her two daughters, Brenda Cahow of Imperial, and Lisa Kerchal and husband, Rory of Wauneta, Nebraska; and four grandchildren...

March 14, 1933--Nov. 30, 2010 LEWELLEN, Nebraska -- Donna "Irene" Fiesterman, 77, died Tuesday evening (Nov. 30, 2010), at the Garden County Nursing Home in Oshkosh, Nebraska. Irene was born on March 14, 1933, in Oshkosh to Arlie and Alta (Richards) White. She grew up in Idaho where she received her education and graduated from high school in Pocatello, Idaho in 1951. She then attended nursing school in Pocatello and received her L.P.N. After school, she worked at the hospital...

Jan. 16, 1921--Nov. 30, 2010 NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Richard Otis Cowles, 89, died Tuesday (Nov. 30, 2010), in North Platte, Nebraska. He was born Jan. 16, 1921, to Otis and Selma Riedler Cowles in Thurston, Nebraska. He grew up in Thurston County and had fond memories of working on the farm for Ed and Marg McQuistan...

Aug. 12, 1919--Nov. 22, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Eugene R. Lyon, 91, died Nov. 22, 2010, in McCook. He was born Aug. 12, 1919, in McCook to Eugene C. and Hazel (Rouch) Lyon. He received all of his education in the McCook public schools, graduating in 1937...

Aug. 30, 1927--Dec. 1, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Wayne Claude Doak, 83, the son of Perry and Arietta (Hughes) Doak was born Aug. 30, 1927 in Holdrege, Nebraska. He was called to join God's team on Dec. 1, 2010. Wayne grew up in the St. Francis, Kansas and Benkelman, Nebraska area on a farm. He loved riding his horse and working on the farm with his dad. Wayne attended school in St Francis and Cherry Creek, Kansas...

Aug. 1, 1947--Dec. 1, 2010 COOPER, Texas -- Charles Ray "Charlie" Patton, 63, passed away Wednesday (Dec. 1, 2010), at his rural home near Cooper, Texas, after a lengthy respiratory illness. Charlie was born in Vilas, Colorado, on Aug. 1, 1947, to Aubrey and Frances (Sisco) Patton...

Jan. 27, 1944--Nov. 30, 2010 JOPLIN, Missouri -- M. Hugh Williams, 66, formerly Kearney, Nebraska, died Tuesday (Nov. 30, 2010), in Joplin. He was born Jan. 27, 1944 in McCook, Nebraska to Bede F. and E. Marie (Bratt) Williams. He grew up in Arapahoe, Nebraska, but spent one year at Kearney High School graduating in 1962...

Aug. 7, 1933--Dec. 1, 2010 PALISADE, Nebraska -- Robert Boyd "Buster" Jutten, 77, passed away Wednesday (Dec. 1, 2010), at St. Mary's Hospital and Medical Center in Grand Junction, Colorado. Buster was born Aug. 7, 1933, in Montrose, Colorado, and graduated from Montrose High School. He was born into a ranching pioneer family on both sides of his parents. He continued this lifestyle until his passing, ranching in both in Colorado and Nebraska...

June 25, 1942--Nov. 28, 2010 HERNDON, Kansas -- David John Franke, 68, died Sunday (Nov. 28, 2010), in his sleep in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was born June 25, 1942, in Oberlin, Kansas to Clade and Beulah (Tannehill) Franke. He was raised on a farm northeast of Herndon. He graduated from Herndon in 1960. He attended Fort Hays College one semester soon after graduating from high school...

Dec. 22, 1944--Dec. 2, 2010 OBERLIN, Kansas -- Voyle W. Sauvage, 65, died Dec. 2, 2010 at McCook Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska. He was born in Oberlin on Dec. 22, 1944, to Albert Sauvage and Dorothy (Koehler) Sauvage. He was raised on a farm in Rawlins County. He went to a country school in Decatur County...

Dec. 2, 1921--Dec. 5, 2010 OBERLIN, Kansas -- Phyllis V. McCartney, 89, died Dec. 5, 2010, in Topeka, Kansas. She was born Dec. 2, 1921, to Harry E. and Hattie F (Bliss) Armstrong in Decatur County, Kansas. She was raised on a farm northwest of Oberlin. She graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1940...

Feb. 23, 1919--Dec. 7, 2010 HOLDREGE, Nebraska -- Vera M. Vontz, 91, died Tuesday (Dec. 7, 2010), at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. She was born Feb. 23, 1919, in Russell County, near Bunker Hill, Kansas, the sixth of seven children born to John J. and Laura Agnes (Farrell) Chenoweth. She received her primary education in Concordia, Kansas and Pauline, Nebraska through the eighth grade and then graduated from Hastings High School in 1937...

Dec. 30, 1913--Dec. 12, 2010 OBERLIN, Kansas -- Karl L. Wendelin, 96, formerly of Herndon, Kansas, died Sunday (Dec. 12, 2010), at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. He was born Dec. 30, 1913, on a farm east of Herndon to Lorenz and Mary (Preisinger) Wendelin. He was raised on the farm east of Herndon and attended Herndon High School graduating in 1931...

Dec. 3, 1933--Dec. 11, 2010 FIRTH, Nebraska -- Harry M. "Max" Wood, 77, died suddenly Saturday (Dec. 11, 2010), in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was born on Dec. 3, 1933, in Marianna, Arkansas to George and Patricia (Howe) Wood. He graduated from high school in Trenton, Nebraska with the class of 1952 and spent three years in the U.S. Army serving in Korea...

Jan. 14, 1943--Dec. 11, 2010 OBERLIN, Kansas -- Myrna L. (Fisher) Wilson, 67, died Saturday (Dec. 11, 2010), in Oberlin. She was born Jan. 14, 1943, in Oberlin to Gilford and Lois (Nicodemus) Fisher. She graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1960...

May 7, 1922--Dec. 13, 2010 BIRD CITY, Kansas -- Floyd "Bud" Leland Frisbie, 88, died Monday (Dec. 13, 2010), at Cheynne County Hospital in St. Francis, Kansas. He was born May 7, 1922, in Atwood, Kansas. He was a farmer. He is survived by his wife, Helen (Pierpoint) Frisbie of Bird City; sons, Rick Frisbie McDonald and Kurt Frisbie of Monument, Colorado; daughters, Barbara "Babs" Antholz McDonald, and Marsha Tischhouser of Wilsey, Kansas; 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren...

Oct. 17, 1928--Dec. 11, 2010 OBERLIN, Kansas -- Marie "Jean" Regina Vavroch, 82, died Saturday (Dec. 11, 2010), at the Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born Oct. 17, 1928, in Jennings, Kansas, the fourth of eight children of Henry and Theresa (Robben) Hickert...

Sept. 26,1924--Dec. 14, 2010 CENTERTON, Arkansas -- Fredric Dugan Wacker, 86, passed away Tuesday (Dec. 14, 2010), at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale, Arkansas. Fred was born Sept. 26, 1924, in Wauneta, Nebraska. He was baptized in the Evangelical Church in Culbertson, Nebraska. At the age of 16, he was one of Nebraska's first polio victims...

Dec. 10, 1955--Dec. 14, 2010 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Lynn A. Rakes, 55, died on Tuesday (Dec. 14, 2010). He was born in Nebraska City, Nebraska on Dec. 10, 1955, to Harold and Dorothy (Greenwood) Rakes. Lynn grew up in the Nebraska City area and graduated from Pioneer High School in 1974...

March 25, 1976--Dec. 15, 2010 WESTMINSTER, Colorado -- Scott Daniel Schram, 34, died Wednesday (Dec. 15, 2010), ending a 15-year, courageous struggle with mental illness. On March 25, 1976, in Ord, Nebraska, Scott was born to Daniel Roy and Michele Ann Diehl Schram. ...

Oct. 16, 1918--Dec. 14, 2010 HASTINGS, Nebraska -- Varnum "Barney" W. Millard, 92, passed away Tuesday (Dec. 14, 2010), at Mary Lanning Memorial HealthCare in Hastings. Varnum was born Oct. 16, 1918, in Hastings to Benjamine Franklin and Francis E. (Munden) Millard. He graduated from Hastings High School...

July 19, 1930--Dec. 16, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Eldred Ruth Cobb, 80, entered the presence of her Heavenly Father on Thursday (Dec. 16, 2010), while residing at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. Eldred was born on July 19, 1930, to Ralph and Nellie (Nuding) Carpenter in the Township of Eden, in Hitchcock County, Nebraska. She graduated from Stratton High School in 1947...

Aug. 24, 1932--Nov. 5, 2010 BUFFALO, Missouri -- Vera Virginia Bower died Nov. 5, 2010, at her home. She was born Aug. 24, 1932, to Earl and Mary Fuller. She spent most of her young life in McCook, Nebraska. On April 26, 1950, she was married to Walt Bower...

May 3, 1969--Dec. 4, 2010 MAX, Nebraska -- Melissa Kaye Harvey, 41, died Saturday (Dec. 4, 2010), at Benner Estrella Health Center in Phoenix, Arizona. She was born May 3, 1969, in Burlington, Colorado to James R. and Maryann E. (Kalb) Harvey. She lived with her family in Max, Nebraska and was a graduate of Benkelman High School in 1987...

July 15, 1964-Dec. 15, 2010 ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Lisa Dawn Ohrman, 46, died Wednesday (Dec. 15, 2010), west of Bartley, Nebraska as a result of a car accident. She was born on July 15, 1964 at Holdrege, Nebraska to John A. and Edith Mae (Palmer) Whitbeck...

April 23, 1919-Dec. 18, 2010 NORCATUR, Kansas -- Forrest D. Jackson, 91, died Saturday (Dec. 18, 2010), at his residence north of Norcatur. He was born April 23, 1919, on a farm northeast of Norcatur in Norton County, Kansas, to Arthur Raymond and Viola (Wertenberger) Jackson. He was raised in Norcatur...

Oct. 5, 1925-Dec. 17, 2010 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- B. Joyce Stear, 85, died Friday (Dec. 17, 2010), at the Tri Valley Health System Long Term Care Facility. She was born Oct. 5, 1925, in Otis, Colorado to Harold Gideon and Grace Inez (Clark) Rorabaugh. ...

Dec. 10, 1931-Dec. 20, 2010 OBERLIN, Kansas -- James W. Carmon, 79, died Monday (Dec. 20, 2010), at Oberlin, Kan. He was born Dec. 10, 1931, at Kopperl, Texas, to Oliver Perry and Lillie Lee (Boyd) Carmon. He was raised in Texas and graduated from Albany High School in Albany, Texas, in 1950...

July 18, 1936-Dec. 18, 2010 BOULDER, Colorado -- Jack Olberding died Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, at home, surrounded by his loving family, after a courageous six year battle with cancer. He was born July 18, 1936, in Stuart, Nebraska to Louis and Sophie (Kaup) Olberding...

Jan. 9, 1972-Dec. 18, 2010 LINCOLN, Nebraska -- Burkett Richard Powell, 38, Lincoln, died Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010. He was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on Jan. 9, 1972, to Richard and Vicki (Korell) Powell. Burkett attended school at Lake View Elementary, Everett Jr. ...

Sept. 10, 1926-Dec. 21, 2010 NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Johnny Main, age 84, of North Platte, passed away Dec. 21, 2010, at his home. Johnny was born on Sept 10, 1926, the youngest of seven children, to Glen and Ella May (Brethower) Main. He grew up in and around Benkelman, Nebraska and graduated high school before enlisting in the Air Force at the age of 17. ...

TRENTON, Nebraska -- Marion Willis Nelsen, 93, formerly of Curtis died Monday (Dec. 20, 2010), at El Dorado Manor in Trenton, Nebraska. Cremation was chosen and services will be held at a later date. To sign the online guest book, go to www.blasestrauser.com...

BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- Vernice Spears, 95, died Wednesday (Dec. 22, 2010), at Sarah Ann Hester Memorial Home in Benkelman. Visitation will be Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010 at Forch Funeral Chapel in Benkelman, with the family being present to receive friends from 3 -5 p.m...

Dec. 21, 1930-Dec. 23, 2010 OAKLEY, Kansas -- John R. Wright, 80, died Thursday (Dec. 23, 2010), at Logan County Manor in Oakley, Kansas. He was born Dec. 21, 1930, to Glenn and Bessie (Reeves) Wright at Atwood, Kansas. He was raised in Atwood, and graduated from Atwood High School in 1948. In 1957, he graduated from Kansas State University...

Jan. 10, 1924-Dec. 25, 2010 ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Beata Bertha Petermann, 86, died Saturday (Dec. 25, 2010), at C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Center, in Arapahoe, Nebraska. She was born on Jan. 10, 1924, at the family home northeast of Arapahoe, Nebraska in Gosper County to Julius and Margaret (Hinz) Ziebell...

June 29, 1923-Dec. 23, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Laura Jane (Morgan/Kummer) Eby passed away at McCook Community Hospital on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010, at the age of 87. Laura was born June 29, 1923 in Cambridge, NE to Ansel and Norah (Telford) Baker. She attended school and graduated from Cambridge, Nebraska...

Nov. 8, 1946-Dec. 16, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Forrest Murry Nichols, 64, died Dec. 16, 2010, at his home in McCook. He was born Nov. 8, 1946, at Danbury, Nebraska, the son of the late Albert Cecil and Retha Aretta (Springer) Nichols. He graduated from the Beaver Valley High School in 1965...

May 22, 1929-Dec. 22, 2010 TRENTON, Nebraska -- Melvin Roy Smith died Wednesday Dec. 22, 2010, at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, Nebraska at the age of 81. He was born May 22, 1929, at Trenton, Nebraska, the son of the late Roy Isiah and Vergie (Huff) Smith. Melvin grew up on he family homestead west of Trenton, Nebraska that is now Swanson Lake. The family moved to Missouri for a short time returning to farm in the Trenton area...

May 11, 1917--Dec. 27, 2010 OBERLIN, Kansas -- James W. Plotts, 93, died Monday (Dec. 27, 2010), at Cedar Living Center in Oberlin. He was born May 11, 1917, in rural Oberlin, to Leroy C. and Mary E. (Dees) Plotts. He was raised on the family farm northeast of Oberlin and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1939...

Feb. 2, 1923--Dec. 26, 2010 OBERLIN, Kansas -- Clara M. Fringer, 87, died Sunday (Dec. 26, 2010), at Andbe Home in Norton, Kansas. She was born Feb. 2, 1923 in Cedar Bluffs, Kansas, to Archie and Laura (Bryan) Pryor. She was raised in Decatur County and graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1940...

Sept. 19, 1949--Dec. 26, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Clarence Joseph "Topper" Fossen, 61, passed away on Sunday (Dec. 26, 2010) at Community Hospital in McCook. Topper was born on Sept. 19, 1949, in McCook to Henry Mathias "Hank" and Pauline Barbara (Stritt) Fossen. ...

June 23, 1917--Dec. 26, 2010 CULBERTSON, Nebraska -- Merlin Elda Nichols, 93, passed away Sunday (Dec. 26, 2010), at the McCook Community Hospital. He was born June 23, 1917, on a farm near Concordia, Kansas, to Lewis Elda and Edith Evelyn (Anderson) Nichols. Merlin spent his early years near Concordia. He attended grade school in Menlo, Kansas, high school in Brownsville, Kansas, and post graduate in Colby, Kansas...

July 2, 1933-Dec. 25, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Carolyn Jane Christie, 77, passed away Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2010, at Community Hospital in McCook. Carolyn was born on July 2, 1933, in Oberlin, Kansas to Ralph Edward and Phyllis Ruth (Mousel) King. She moved to the Cambridge community as a small child where she received her education graduating from high school in 1951...

Sept. 15, 1937--Dec. 27, 2010 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Raymond E. Bruner, 73, passed away Monday (Dec. 27, 2010), in Hastings, Nebraska. Ray was born in Holyoke, Colorado Sept. 15, 1937, to Forest E. and Aletha L. (Daniels) Bruner. While growing up, Ray attended school in Holyoke. ...

Oct. 7, 1925--Dec. 26, 2010 ELWOOD, Nebraska -- Clyde Ray Lofquist, 85, died Sunday (Dec. 26, 2010), at Elwood Care Center in Elwood. He was born Oct. 7, 1925, in Harlan County, Nebraska to Andrew Melvin and Ada (York) Lofquist. He grew up near Rock Falls, in Loomis, Nebraska. He attended Loomis High School...

Aug. 18, 1949--Dec. 23, 2010 LA MESA, California -- Sharon Dianne (Seybold) Rotter was called to heaven by our Creator on the morning of Dec. 23, 2010, after losing her two year battle with colon cancer. She passed quietly at her home in La Mesa with her immediate family by her side...