Obituaries from December 2013

Joseph Lee Hoak Feb. 12, 1953 - Nov. 29, 2013 TRENTON, Nebraska -- Joseph Lee Hoak, 60, of Trenton, died at his home in Trenton on Nov. 29, 2013, after a battle with cancer. He was born in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 12, 1953, to Louis C and Janet L. (Grince) Hoak. Joe grew up in Pennsylvania and enlisted in the U.S. Army on Feb. 5, 1971. He served in Viet Nam and was honorably discharged on Feb. 4, 1974. He continued on in the Army reserve being finally discharge in Nov. 11, 1976...

Catherine R. VanArsdale April 1, 1929 - Nov. 26, 2013 GRAYSLAKE, Illinois -- Catherine R. VanArsdale (Boyle) died Nov. 26, 2013, at Grayslake, Illinois. She was born April 1, 1929, to Patrick and Winifrid Boyle. She grew up on a farm in Hitchcock County, attended a one-room country grade school and graduated from Stratton High School in 1945. ...

Pamula Sue Olson May 16, 1954 - Nov. 27, 2013 JOHNSTOWN, Colorado -- Pamula Sue Olson, 59, of Johnstown, passed away Nov. 27, 2013, at the Hospice of Northern Colorado. Pam was born May 16, 1954, in Arkansas City, Kansas, to Pete and Virginia King. Her family later moved to McCook, Nebraska, where she met Randy Olson, her high school sweetheart...

Delbert C. Siegfried Oct. 31, 1923 - Dec. 1, 2013 ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Delbert C. Siegfried, 90, of Arapahoe, died Sunday (Dec. 1, 2013), at Cambridge Memorial Hospital at Cambridge, Nebraska. He was born Oct. 31, 1923, at Lincoln, Nebraska to E. George and Emma (Luedtke) Siegfried...

Melvin 'Mel' A. McVicker Jan. 23, 1937 - Dec. 1, 2013 PALISADE, Nebraska -- Melvin "Mel" A. McVicker, age 76, of Palisade, died at the El dorado Manor in Trenton on Dec. 1, 2013. He was born in Hayes Center on Jan. 23, 1937, to Malachi and Ruth (Goucher) McVicker. He graduated from Hayes Center High school in 1954. In 1975, he married to Shirley Bailey and to this union three children were born: Ronald, Meloney and Michelle...

Tracy Joseph (Toby) Thieben June 11, 1973 - Oct. 26, 2013 SAFETY HARBOR, Florida -- Tracy Joseph (Toby) Thieben, son of R.J. (Bill) and Linda (Crocker) Thieben was born on June 11, 1973, in McCook, Nebraska. He passed away Oct. 26, 2013, in Safety Harbor, Florida, as the result of an automobile accident at the age of 40...

Teresa (Teri) Ann Coyne Nov. 3, 1953 - Nov. 27, 2013 FORT COLLINS, Colorado -- Teresa (Teri) Ann Gillen Coyne of Fort Collins, Colorado, died peacefully Wednesday evening, Nov. 27, surrounded by family and friends at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. She was 60 years old and a 6-year, stage-4, cancer survivor until only recently losing her second brave battle with the disease...

Burdell Thurston May 29, 1923 - Nov. 30, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- On Nov. 30, 2013, Burdell Thurston, 90 years old, passed away at the Silverado Senior Living and Rehabilitation Center in Arvada, Colorado, which had been his home since March of this year and where he was a member of its Founders' Club...

Leon Roy Yeager Aug. 10, 1929 -Dec. 3, 2013 HENDELY, Nebraska -- Leon Roy Yeager, age 84, of Hendley, died at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney on Dec. 3, 2013. He was born on the family farm south of Hendley, Nebraska, on Aug. 10, 1929, to Amil and Lydia (Bates) Yeager. He attended rural country school...

Frances Elaine Neiman Feb.14, 1923 - Nov. 30, 2013 NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Frances Elaine Neiman, 90, of North Platte, died Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, at the Sutherland Care Center. Frances was born Feb. 14, 1923, to August Jacob and Clara Camille Pick Kotschwar at Curtis, Nebraska, where she grew up. She graduated from high school there in 1941...

NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Graveside services scheduled Friday for Frances Elaine Neiman have been relocated to the Masonic Temple on Norris Avenue at 2 p.m., due to weather. Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore in North Platte is in charge of arrangements...

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Effie Arlene Carlson age 98, of McCook, died at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney on Dec. 4, 2013. She was born near Cornell in Hitchcock County, Nebraska, on Sept. 10, 1915, to William and Ada (Terrell) Hay. She attended rural school until the fifth grade when her parents moved to Trenton...

ULYSSES, Kansas --Vicki Kirby, 68, died Saturday (Nov. 30, 2013) at The Legacy at Park View in Ulysses. She was born Sept. 27, 1945, in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, the daughter of Russell and Mary Lou (Johnson) Ryser. Vicki grew up and graduated in Cheyenne Wells, Colorado. She married Carl David Kirby in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was a bookkeeper and had lived in various places including Alaska for ten years, and 13 years in Mora, New Mexico...

Peter Marcel Graff Nov. 24, 1923 - Dec. 7, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Peter Marcel Graff of McCook passed away Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, surrounded by his loving family. He was 90 years old. Pete was born Nov. 24, 1923, at Hartley, Iowa, to parents, Peter Joseph and Anna (Poos) Graff. ...

Edward Scott Carroll, D.O. Nov. 15, 1960 - Dec. 4, 2013 NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Edward Scott Carroll, D.O., 53, was fatally injured in an automobile accident on Dec. 4, 2013. He was born on Nov. 15, 1960, in Des Plaines, Illinois. During his formative years, Scott lived with his family in Illinois, then relocated to Paxton, where he graduated from Paxton Consolidated High School in 1978. ...

Carolyn 'Kay' Jesch Feb. 17, 1937 - Dec. 7, 2013 PALISADE, Nebraska -- Carolyn "Kay" Jesch was born Feb. 17, 1937, in Hayes Center, Nebraska, to Floyd and Gladys "Rathbun" Carmin. Kay grew up and attended school in Hayes Center, where she graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1954. She taught in a rural school for two years...

Beulah DeHart WAUNETA, Nebraska -- Beulah DeHart, 88, longtime resident of Wauneta, died Friday (Dec. 6, 2013), at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home in Imperial. Survivors include daughters, Genevieve L. Magee of Atwood, Kansas, Margaret E. Stamm and husband, Bob, of Benkelman, Nebraska; son, Mason F. DeHart of Fort Collins, Colorado; eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren...

Zora Izona (Price) Sailors July 18, 1911 - Nov. 13, 2013 CHANDLER, Arizona -- Zora Izona (Price) Sailors, widow of Merle L., was called to rest in the arms of her Lord on Nov. 13, 2013, in Chandler, Arizona, at the age of 102 years, and 119 days. She was a life-long resident of Palisade, Nebraska, community before moving to El Dorado Manor in Trenton, Nebraska, in July, 2008, and to Chandler, Arizona, in June 2013...

Kenneth F. Bamesberger March 29, 1922 - Nov. 26, 2013 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado -- Our Lord, in His great love and compassion, reached out to Kenneth Bamesberger the afternoon of Nov. 26, 2013, and welcomed him to the everlasting joy of heaven from his home surrounded by his loving family...

Rosalie B. Corey April 11, 1915 - Nov. 22, 2013 SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Rosalie B. Corey died Nov. 22, 2013. She was born April 11, 1915, at Spring Glen, Utah, to Joseph and Carolina (Carrera) Bonza. After losing her mother at the age of three, Rosalie was raised by her Italian immigrant grandparents, Carlo Carrera and Rosa Pessetto on their farm in Helper, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in elementary education...

Donald Dempewolf OBERLIN, Kansas -- Donald Dempewolf, 76, died Dec. 9, 2013, at Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas. Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin.

Terry Jo Hofer OGALLALA, Nebraska -- Terry Jo Hofer, 62, former resident of Benkelman, died Saturday (Dec. 7, 2013), in an auto accident near Oshkosh, Nebraska. Survivors include parents, Vern and Carolie Holmes and Maxine Holmes, of Chadron, Nebraska; husband, Shawn of Ogallala; children, Cortney Milanovich and husband, Tyson, of Phoenix, Arizona, Toby Antonson and wife, Lisa, of Lincoln, Nebraska, Levi Antonson and fiancée, Teri Gardner of Phoenix, Joshua Hofer of Ogallala and Alison DeWinter and husband, Leon, of Rawlins, Wyoming; sisters, LeAnn Holmes of Houston, Texas and Tammy Hollibaugh and husband, Mike, of Chadron; Maya Orr and husband, Jason, of Sidney, Nebraska; brother, Tom Holmes and wife, Susan, of Chadron; four grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.. ...

Jack Dean Bahl Jan. 21, 1938 - Nov. 21, 2013 NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Jack Dean Bahl, 75, of North Platte, passed away Nov. 21, 2013, at Gothenburg, Nebraska. Jack was born in McCook, Nebraska, on Jan. 21, 1938, to Leopold "Bus" and June (Sines) Bahl. ...

Jackie Rae Lotker July 25, 1958 - Dec. 10, 2013 NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Jackie Rae Lotker, 55, died Dec. 10, 2013, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, Nebraska. She was born July 25, 1958, in Oberlin, Kansas, to Floyd Lee and Dorothea "Dottie" (Forrester) Lotker, Jr. She attended Decatur Community HIgh School and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, Nebraska. She received an associates degree in veterinary technology in 1985...

Earnest D. ten Bensel Oct. 26, 1915 - Dec. 17, 2013 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Earnest D. ten Bensel, age 98, of Cambridge, died at the Cambridge Manor on Dec. 17, 2013. He was born near Cambridge on the family farm on Oct. 26, 1915, to Henry and Mildred (Thompson) ten Bensel. Earnest rode a horse to school in Wilsonville, graduating from Wilsonville High School in 1933. He celebrated his 80th graduation from high school last summer...

Jo Ann L. Walter July 22, 1958 - Dec. 13, 2013 NORTH PLATTE, Nebraska -- Jo Ann L. Walter, age 55, of McCook, Nebraska, died at the Great Plains Medical Center in North Platte on Dec. 13, 2013. She was born in Greeley, Colorado, on July 22, 1958, to LeRoy and Shirley (Mason) Walter. Jo Ann graduated from Arvada West High School in Arvada, Colorado, and attended college in Fort Collins for drafting...

Carol Ann Best Oct. 23, 1955 - Dec. 16, 2013 KEARNEY, Nebraska -- Carol Ann Best of Kearney passed away Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, at her sister's home in rural Indianola, Nebraska, surrounded by her family after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 58 years old...

Ada Elizabeth (Olson) Remington March 4, 1913 - Dec. 17, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Ada Elizabeth (Olson) Remington passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013. She was born in Minden, Nebraska, on March 4, 1913, to William and Ellen (Fosberg) Olson. Ada moved to McCook with her family in 1919...

Robert 'Bob' D. Smith April 13, 1926 - Dec. 14, 2013 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Robert "Bob" D. Smith, age 87, of Cambridge, died at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital on Dec. 14, 2013. He was born on the family farm near Cambridge on April 13, 1926, to Charles and Eva (Perdue) Smith. Bob graduated from Cambridge High School in 1943...

Maxine Eleanor Rippen Poore Oct. 27, 1917 - Dec. 9, 2013 SALINA, Kansas -- Maxine Eleanor Rippen Poore, age 96, died Dec. 9, 2013, at the Pinnacle Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Salina, Kansas. Maxine was born in McCook, Nebraska, on Oct. 27, 1917, to Elmer and Nancy Lee (Campbell) Shepherd. She grew up in McCook and graduated from McCook High School in 1935. She attended McCook College, where she received her Normal Training Certificate...

JuneLee (Benjamin) Davis June 24, 1942 - Dec. 20, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- JuneLee (Benjamin) Davis passed away peacefully surrounded by her daughters on Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was 71 years old. June was born on June 24, 1942, at McCook to parents, Raymond and Wilma (Broomfield) Benjamin. She graduated from McCook High School in 1960...

Thomas Douglas Bernard March 3, 1949 - Dec. 20, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Thomas Douglas Bernard passed away Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, at his home in McCook. He was 64 years old. Tom was born on March 3, 1949, in Yankton, South Dakota, to parents, Douglas A. and Ursula Regina (Smith) Bernard. He graduated from McCook High School in 1967 and then continued his education at Kearney State Teachers College...

Verle Behlke BENKELMN, Nebraska -- Verle Behlke, a longtime resident of Benkelman, died Saturday (Dec. 21, 2013), at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. She was 94 years old. Survivors include son, Ted Behlke and wife, Maureen of Benkelman; brother, Marlin Baney of Evans, Colorado; sister-in-law, Barbara Baney of Benkelman; three grandchildren and one great-grandchild...

Lyn Eugene Wiley April 5, 1955, - Dec. 21, 2013 DENVER, Colorado -- Lyn Eugene Wiley, 58, of St Francis, Kansas, died Saturday (Dec. 21, 2013), at Presbyterian St. Luke Hospital in Denver. He was born to Lloyd and Norma (Mudd) Wiley April 5, 1955, at Fort Scott, Kansas...

Bette Grout ATWOOD, Kansas -- Bette Grout, 89, died Sunday (Dec. 22, 2o13), at Rawlins County Health Center in Atwood, Kansas. Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home.

Delmar Ray Richardson April 22, 1939 - Dec. 19, 2013 BELGRADE, Montana -- Delmar Ray Richardson, 74, of Belgrade, passed away Thursday, Dec. 19, 2013 at his home from natural causes. He was born April 22, 1939, in Wheatland, Wyoming, the seventh child in a family of six boys and three girls to Ben and Gladys (McCartney) Richardson...

Fay Irene (Shreffler) Jefferies-Sherriff July 3, 1919 - Dec. 22, 2013 STRATTON, Nebraska -- Fay Irene (Shreffler) Jefferies-Sherriff went to be with her heavenly Father on Dec. 22, 2013, at Grandview Retirement Center in Stratton. She was 94 years old...

Edna Christensen WAUNETA, Nebraska -- Edna Christensen, 99, died Friday (Dec. 20, 2013), at the Sunrise Heights Nursing Home in Wauneta. Survivors include sons, Richard and wife, Judith, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, Alvin and wife, Joyce, of Lincoln, Nebraska and Neil and wife, Diane, of Brighton, Colorado; eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren...

Ruth Caroline Wood April 22, 1910 - Dec. 25, 2013 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Ruth Caroline Wood, age 103, formerly of Maywood, Nebraska, passed away Dec. 25, 2013, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. Caroline was born April 22, 1910, on the family farm west of Maywood to parents Wenzel and Gertrude (Burson) Patzelt. She attended Bluff View School, where she excelled in drama and acting, putting on plays in other area country schools. Caroline graduated in 1927...

William 'Leo' McKillip Jan. 26, 1929 -- Dec. 24, 2013 OMAHA, Nebraska -- William "Leo" McKillip, 84, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2013, in Omaha. A successful football coach in high school, college and professional ranks, Leo was named the Omaha World Herald College Coach of the year in 1987. He spent eight years as Dana College's head coach. He also served as Dana's athletic director...

Alice F. Bobbitt May 13, 1920 - Dec. 26, 2013 OBERLIN, Kansas -- Alice F. Bobbitt, 93, died Thursday (Dec. 26, 2013), at Oberlin. She was born May 13, 1920, in Decatur County, Kansas, to Phillip and Laura Mae (Gilbert) Hackney. She attended Decatur Community High School and Fort Hays State University, earning a bachelor's degree in education...

Edith Beulah Kersenbrock Rogers Aug. 3, 1921 - Dec. 24, 2013 ATWOOD, Kansas -- Edith Beulah Kersenbrock Rogers, 92, died Tuesday (Dec. 24, 2013), in Atwood. Services are Saturday, Dec. 28, 2013, 10 a.m. at United Methodist Church, 200 N. Fourth Street, in Atwood. Interment is at Fairview Cemetery in Atwood...

Arland Francis 'Mike' Iliff Dec. 31, 1934 - Dec. 27, 2013 BEAVER CITY,Nebraska -- Arland Francis "Mike" Iliff, 78, of Beaver City, formerly of Stamford, Nebraska, died Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, at Beaver City Manor in Beaver City. He was born Dec. 31, 1934, at Rapid City, South Dakota, to Arland "Patrick" and Mary (Claude) Iliff. ...

Sharon Gibbs ELSIE, Nebraska -- Sharon Gibbs, 71, of Elsie and sister of Veda Kemper of McCook, died Dec. 26, 2013, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Funeral services were today, Dec. 30, 2013, at 10:30 a.m. at the Elsie United Methodist Church with the Rev. Linda Battello officiating. Burial was in the Elsie Cemetery...

Dorothy Ruby VanPelt Feb. 26, 1932 - Dec. 28, 2013 OBERLIN, Kansas -- Dorothy Ruby VanPelt, 81, died Saturday (Dec. 28, 2013), at Decatur County Good Samaritan Center in Oberlin, She was born Feb. 26, 1932, to William and Eunice (Yarnell) Ruby in Danbury, Nebraska. She attended school in Danbury and McCook, Nebraska...