Obituaries from April 2014

Margaret 'Odessa' Washburn Treat May 13, 1927 - March 31, 2014 GOTHENBURG, Nebraska --Margaret "Odessa" Washburn Treat, 86, of Gothenburg, formerly of North Platte, Nebraska, went to be with her Lord on Monday, March 31, 2014, at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg with her loving children surrounding her...

Mary E. 'Beth' Johnson Feb. 2, 1931 - March 31, 2014 NORCATUR, Kansas -- Mary E. "Beth" Johnson, 83, died Monday (March 31, 2014), at Cedar Living Center in Oberlin, Kansas. She was born Feb. 2, 1931, to Henry and Ruth (Clason) Rupp. She was raised in Phillips County, Kansas, and graduated from Long Island High School in 1949 and Kearney State Teacher's College...

V. Howard Mace Jr. May 6, 1926 - April 1, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- V. Howard Mace Jr., age 87, passed away at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook on Tuesday, April 1, 2014. He was born in Orleans to Verne H. and Pansy (Decker) Mace on May 6, 1926. Howard, at age 17, served his country in World War II in the U.S. ...

Dr. Joseph M. Magrath Nov. 24, 1928 - April 1, 2014 SANTA FE, New Mexico -- Dr. Joseph M. Magrath, 85, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on Tuesday, April 1, 2014. He was born on Nov. 24, 1928, in McCook, Nebraska, to Catherine (Fox) and Dr. L.A. Magrath...

Dwight A. Wood Nov. 7, 1955 - April 2, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Dwight A. Wood age 58 died at Community Hospital in McCook on April 2, 2014. He was born in Norton, Kansas, on Nov. 7, 1955, to Leon and Veda (Van Gundy) Wood. He grew up on the family farm near Norcatur, helping his dad...

Doris l. Mosher May 25, 1922 - April 1, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Doris l. Mosher, age 91, of McCook, Nebraska, died at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney on April 1, 2014. She was born in McCook on May 25, 1922, to Clyde and Jessie (Beebe) Bortner. ...

Louis LaMoine Keene Feb. 22, 1921 - April 4, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Louis LaMoine Keene, age 93, of McCook, passed away Friday, April 4, 2014, at Community Hospital of McCook. Known to family and friends as LaMoine, Moine, Stringbean, Grandpa and GGpa, he was born to Louis R. Keene and Nellie (Cole) Keene on Feb. 22, 1921, in McCook...

Eleanor Louise Suess Harris April 4, 1912 - April 4, 1912 OPELIKA, Alabama -- Eleanor Harris passed away on her 102nd birthday April 4, 2014, at Arbor Springs in Opelika, Alabama. She was born April 4, 1912, in McCook, Nebraska, to Louis and Ethel Suess. She grew up in McCook and later studied violin at Julliard School of Music in New York City. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska and a master's degree in music education from Columbia University...

Paul A. Welsh June 6, 1967 - April 4, 2014 GRAND ISLAND, Nebraska -- Paul Welsh, 46, of Grand Island, former Culbertson resident, died Friday (April 4, 2014), at his home in Grand Island. He was born June 6, 1967, at Ogallala, Nebraska, to William and Sharon (Packard) Welsh. He graduated from Culbertson High School with the class of 1986...

Stanley H. Anderson Oct. 10, 1947 - April 5, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Stanley H. Anderson, age 66 of McCook, died April 5, 2014, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. He was born in Galveston, Texas, on Oct. 10, 1947, to Darrell D. and Willie L. (McGee) Anderson. Stan moved to Pleasanton, Nebraska, as an infant and was raised by his grandmother, Grace Anderson. At age 16, he moved to Omaha and began doing odd jobs...

Marian Lucy Roberts Aug. 31, 1927 - April 4, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Marian Lucy Roberts passed away April 4, 2014 at her home surrounded by family at Highland Park Retirement Community in McCook. Marian was born on Aug. 31, 1927, to Conrad and Ruth (Wilson) Buhrman at St.Libory, Nebraska. She attended St. Libory Catholic School...

Laurene 'Laurie' Marie Tucker Sept. 9, 1961 - April 1, 2014 LONGMONT, Colorado -- April 1, 2014, marks the day we lost the most unique of mothers, a daughter, sister and friend. Laurie was born Sept. 9, 1961, in McCook, Nebraska, to Jerry and Dorothy Cariker. She grew up with four siblings in the rolling hills with the river as a playground and a sheet for a super cape to save the world. She married her childhood sweetheart and became mother to Marshall and Jerad Tucker...

Christopher Kirby BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- Christopher Kirby, 17, of Benkelman, died Friday (April 4, 2014), in an auto accident near the rural Chase-Dundy County line. Survivors include grandparents, Candy Kirby of Venango, Nebraska and John Newby of Boulder, Colorado; parents, Melonie Kirby of Benkelman and Gregg Langley of Greeley, Colorado; step-father, Freddy Torres of Benkelman and brother, Phoenix Torres of Benkelman...

Troy Skelton WAUNETA, Nebraska --Troy Skelton, 46, resident of the Wauneta area, died Saturday (April 5, 2014), at Chase County Community Hospital, Imperial. Survivors include his wife, Evelyn, of Wauneta; mother, Trudy Skelton, of Surprise, Arizona; wife, Evelyn, of Wauneta; children, Colby and Emma, of Hays, Kansas; grandmother, Edith Gloy of Wauneta; and brothers, Luke Skelton and wife, Susan, of Scottsdale, Arizona, Todd Skelton and wife, Kim, of Buckeye, Arizona and Monty Skelton and wife, Wendy, of Glendale, Arizona.. ...

Clara J. Vrooman March 2, 1926 - April 7, 2014 ATKINSON, Nebraska -- Clara J. Vrooman, 88, passed away April 7, 2014. She was born on March 2, 1926, to Karl and Theresa (Kollman) Deermer, along with her twin brother Henry. Clara and Henry were the sixth and seventh children of the eight children in the family...

Charles Legates, Jr. July 18, 1930 -April 6, 2014 KEARNEY, Nebraska -- Charles Legates, Jr., 83, of Kearney, died Sunday, April 6, 2014, at St. John's Good Samaritan Center in Kearney. A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Friday, April 11, 2014, at the Kearney First Baptist Church with Pastor Stan Murdoch officiating. Inurnment will follow at Kearney Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the family care of the funeral home...

Judith May Carlson Nov. 29, 1938 - April 8, 2014 TRENTON, Nebraska -- Judith May Carlson, formerly of Trenton, passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2014, at the Cambridge Manor, Cambridge, Nebraska. She was 75 years old. Judith was born on Nov. 29, 1938, at Oak Park, Illinois, to parents, Harry Bourne and Grace Evelyn (Staab) Rogers. ...

Terry Lynn Sitzman Aug. 1, 1947 - April 7, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Terry Lynn Sitzman passed away unexpectedly and peacefully at his home in McCook on April 7, 2014, at the age of 66. He was born on Aug. 1, 1947, in McCook to Carl and Ida Mae (Peters) Sitzman. He lived his entire life in McCook. On March 22, 1968, he married Marlys Steier of Herndon, Kansas. The couple just celebrated 46 years of marriage. To this union two sons were born: Tracy Lynn and Todd Matthew...

Hazel Jean Brenning July 13, 1921 - April 11, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Hazel Jean Brenning, age 92, passed away peacefully at the Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook, embraced by her family, on Friday, April 11, 2014. Jean was born on July 13, 1921, in McCook to Virgil Joseph and Belva (Rowland) McMahan. ...

Elden Giles Earlley Aug. 15, 1938 - April 10, 2014 WILSONVILLE, Nebraska -- Elden Giles Earlley, 75, of Wilsonville, died April 10, 2014, at his daughter's home in Waverly, Nebraska, after a three-year battle with COPD. He was born on Aug. 15, 1938, on a farmstead near Norcatur, Kansas, to Glenn and Edith (Dicks) Earlley...

Virginia E. Parrish May 31, 1932 - April 10, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Virginia Parrish, 81, of Indianola, formerly of Cozad, Nebraska, died April 10, 2014, at Community Hospital in McCook. She was born May 31, 1932, near Cambridge, Nebraska, to Lewis and Lila (Scott) Stapp. She attended Lucerne Valley rural school and graduated from Cozad High School in 1950. Following high school, Virginia worked at Service Drug and as clerk for the City of Cozad...

Lillian L. Confer March 14, 1918 - April 11, 2014 CULBERTSON, Nebraska -- Lillian L. Confer, age 95, of Culbertson, passed away at the Hillcrest Nursing Home on April 11, 2014. She was born in Benton, Kansas, on March 14, 1918, to Thomas and Katie (Sieg) Sparks. She attended elementary school in Butler County, Kansas, and graduated from high school in Whitewater, Kansas, in 1936. She attended Wichita Business College. During World War II, she was employed at the Beechcraft Airplane factory...

Francis James 'Jim' Herl Nov. 10, 1935 - April 11, 2014 SELDEN, Kansas -- Francis James "Jim" Herl, 78, died Friday (April 11, 2014), at Sheridan County Health Complex in Hoxie, Kansas. He was born Nov. 10, 1935, in Grinnell, Kansas, to John P. Jack and Anna (Robben) Herl. He graduated from Leoville High School in 1954...

Leland L. Kleckner Sept. 18, 1943 - April 11, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Leland L. Kleckner, age 70, of McCook, died at his home on April 11, 2014. He was born in Rawlins, Wyoming, on Sept. 18, 1943, to Oliver and Mardell (Doty) Kleckner. In July of 1968, he was married to Elisabeth Wederski in Fremont, Nebraska. The couple moved to Colorado, until they moved to Nebraska in 1996...

William Henry Carstens July 19, 1928 - April 10, 2014 TRENTON, Nebraska --William Henry Carstens was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 19, 1928, to Fredrick Karl Carstens and Alma Sophia Koepke. In 1932, the family moved to Fremont, Nebraska to be raise with two sisters. ...

Betty Lee Clapp June 30, 1933 - April 12, 2014 McCOOK,Nebraska -- Betty Lee Clapp was born June 30, 1933, in Red Willow County (St. Ann) to John Francis and Edna Charlotte (Blake) Dike. She lived on a farm northeast of McCook. She became a homemaker at a young age...

Glenn John Jurgens Nov. 4, 1921 - April 11, 2014 CURTIS, Nebraska -- Glenn John Jurgens, 92, died Friday (April 11, 2014), at his home in Curtis. He was born Nov. 4, 1921, on a farm west of Moorefield, Nebraska, to George and Emma (Waltemath) Jurgens. ...

Steven Charles Merklin Nov. 27, 1972 - April 12, 2014 BENKELMAN, Nebraska -- Steven Charles Merklin was born in St. Francis, Kansas, on Nov. 27, 1972, to Charles and Barbara Merklin. He passed away at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman, Nebraska, on April 12, 2014...

Catherine Rose Stratman June 23, 1923 - April 14, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Catherine Rose Stratman, 90, formerly of Stratton, Nebraska, died Monday (April 14, 2014), at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. She was born on June 23, 1923, to parents, George and Johanna (Mader) Meng in Sioux County, Nebraska. On April 3, 1956, she was united in marriage to Walter John Stratman...

Henry E. 'Hank' Schelling Jan. 29, 1939 - April 14, 2014 EDISON, Nebraska -- Henry E. "Hank" Schelling, 75, of Edison, died Monday (April 14, 2014), at his home. He was born on Jan. 29, 1939, at Beaver City to Henry and Bessie (McDaniels) Schelling...

Luella Marie Harrold Oct. 17, 1929 - April 15, 2014 BEAVER CITY Nebraska -- Luella Marie Harrold, 84, of Beaver City, died Tuesday (April 15, 2014), at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege, Nebraska. She was born on Oct. 17, 1929, on the family farm in Furnas County, Nebraska, to Walter and Opal (Covington) Gerd...

Ellen E. (Eisenhart) Smith-Somervell May 14, 1947 -- April 14, 2014 OMAHA, Nebraska -- Ellen E. (Eisenhart) Smith-Somervell passed away Monday, April 14, 2014. She was preceded in death by parents, Hugh and Claudine Eisenhart and sister-in-law, Lynn Eisenhart...

Donald L. Hill April 29, 1931 - April 12, 2014 SCOTTSDALE, Arizona -- Donald L. Hill passed away April 12, 2014, in Scottsdale at the age of 82, with his daughters by his side. He was born on the family farm west of McCook, Nebraska, on April 29, 1931. He was the youngest of eight children born to Charles Lee and Pearl Mae Hill...

Stephen Ross Darnall Sept. 13, 1942 -April 17, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Stephen Ross Darnall passed away Thursday, April 17, 2014, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. He was 71 years old. Stephen was born on Sept. 13, 1942, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, to parents, David Arthur and Phyllis June (Ross) Darnall. ...

Austin Wright PALISADE, Nebraska -- Austin James Wright entered this world Aug. 25, 1995, to Angela (Gleason) and Quinton Wright in Grand Island, Nebraska. He attended Engleman Elementary and Shoemaker Elementary in Grand Island, McCook Public Schools in McCook, Nebraska, and Mid Plains Community College in North Platte, Nebraska...

Marra Lee McBee Feb. 16, 1942 - April 19, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Marra Lee McBee, age 72, passed away April 19, 2014, at Community Hospital of McCook. Marra Lee was born in Imperial, Nebraska, to Lauren J. and Lucille (Eskew) McConnell on Feb. 16, 1942. She graduated from McCook High School in 1960...

Charles 'Wayne' Poore Nov. 23, 1923 - April 21, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Charles "Wayne" Poore, age 90, passed away Monday, April 21, 2014, at Hillcrest Nursing Home. Wayne was born on Nov. 23, 1923, to William Forrest and Mildred Devona (Modrell) Poore in Red Willow County, Nebraska. He graduated from McCook High School in 1941. He went on to McCook Junior College and the University of Colorado and later he joined the U.S. Army, serving in Scotland and France from 1944 to 1946...

John Steven Foster Oct. 15, 1950 - April 19, 2014 CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- John Steven Foster, 63, died Saturday (April 19, 2014), at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. He was born Oct. 15, 1950, at Cambridge, Nebraska to Loyal and Winifred (Sexton) Foster...

Earl Brown OBERLIN, Kansas -- Earl Brown, 102, died today (April 22, 2014), at Decatur County Good Samaritan Society in Oberlin, Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin.

Bernard J. Horinek March 23, 1913 - April 22, 2014 ATWOOD, Kansas -- Bernard J. Horinek died Tuesday (April 22, 2014), at Atwood. He was born March 23, 1913, to Rudolph and Agnes (Janoucek) Horinek and grew up in Rawlins County, Kansas. He married Martha F. (Holub) Horinek on Aug. 11, 1936...

Virginia Krausnick BENKELMAN, Neb. -- Virginia Krausnick, 88, died Wednesday (April 23, 2014), at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. Survivors include daughters, Diana and husband, Anthony Larkin of Greeley, Colorado, Dwana and husband, Keith Roschewski and Karen and husband, John Metzger, of Benkelman; sister, Rosemary Darsa of College Station, Texas; brother, Virgil and wife, Connie Littrel of Palisade; brother-in-law, Alfred McCrumb of Wauneta; seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.. ...

Earl J. Brown Dec. 18, 1911 - April 22, 2014 OBERLIN, Kan. -- Earl J. Brown, 102, died Tuesday (April 22, 2014), at Decatur County Good Samaritan Society in Oberlin. He was born Dec. 18, 1911, in Decatur County to Charles "C.C." and Anna Rose (Woolley) Brown. He grew up on a farm in the Sappa Township southwest of Oberlin. He attended Plainview School and graduated from Decatur County High School in 1931...

Florence M. Modrell LINCOLN, Neb. -- Florence M. Modrell, 96, died today (April 24, 2014), in Lincoln. Services are 10 a.m. Monday, April 28, 2014, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook. Burial is at Calvary Cemetery in McCook. Rosary is Sunday, April 27, 2014, 7:30 p.m. at Herrmann Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook...

Florence Marie Modrell Nov. 22, 1917 - April 24, 2014 LINCOLN, Neb. -- Florence Marie Modrell passed away April 24, 2014, at South Lake Village Rehab Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Florence was born on Nov. 22, 1917, to the late Katharine (Vontz) and Fred Weskamp at Danbury, Red Willow County, Nebraska. She graduated from Marion High School in 1935 and worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company for 12 years...

Deanna 'Dee' Kay DeMoss Feb. 22, 1942 - April 17, 2014 WHEAT RIDGE, Col0. -- Deanna "Dee" Kay DeMoss, age 72, passed away on Friday, April 18, 2014, at her home in Wheat Ridge. Deanna was born Feb. 22, 1942, in Lebanon, Nebraska, to Donald Everett DeMoss and Majorie Elaine DeMoss (Sonday). She was one of five children...

Olan Wallin IMPERIAL, Neb. -- Olan Wallin, 101, died Wednesday (April 23, 2014), at Imperial Heights in Imperial. Survivors include children, Julia and husbamd, Rod Brethower of Rio Verde, Arizona; Betty Haarberg of Aurora, Colorado and Danny and wife, Charlottie Wallin of Grant, Nebraska; daughter-in-law, Pat Wallin of Imperial; 14 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild...

John E. Hanson Dec. 24, 1940 - April 26, 2014 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- John E. Hanson, 73, of North Platte, formerly of McCook, passed away April 26, 2014, at his home. He was born on a farm near Courtland, Kansas, to Everett and Eleanor (Long) Hanson on Dec. 24, 1940. He was raised on this farm and graduated from Courtland High School and Fort Hays Kansas State College with a bachelor of science in agriculture...

Billy 'Bill' L. Brooks Jan. 5, 1950 - April 26, 2014 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. -- Billy "Bill" L. Brooks, age 64, of Cambridge died at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital on April 26, 2014. He was born in McCook, Nebraska on Jan. 5, 1950, to Orville and Beulah (Urling) Brooks. Bill's family moved to Colorado when he was young and later returned to Indianola, Nebraska...

Judy K. Malleck April 25, 1945 - April 25, 2014 CENTRAL CITY, Neb. -- Judy K. Malleck, 69, of Central City, died Friday, April 25, 2014, at Litzenberg Long Term Care in Central City. Funeral services will be Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Wagner Funeral Home in Central City. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 29, 2014, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Indianola Cemetery in Indianola, Nebraska...

.Dennis Robert Frease Nov. 1, 1943 - April 29, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Dennis Robert Frease, age 70, of McCook, passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at Community Hospital in McCook. Dennis was born Nov. 1, 1943, in McCook to parents James Charles and Charlotte Viola (Bales) Frease. He was one of seven children...

Marjorie L. West Aug. 28, 1926 - April 28, 2014 BEAVER CITY, Neb. -- Marjorie L. West, 87, died Monday (April 28, 2014), at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege, Nebraska. She was born Aug. 28, 1926, at Norton, Kansas, to Forest and Doris (Reed) Sapp. She attended high school in California and Wilsonville, Nebraska. After her schooling, she married Wendell West on Aug. 28, 1944, at Norton. They moved to Beaver City, Nebraska, and farmed until the early 1960s...

Maxine Jones-Fuller July 9, 1930 - April 28, 2014 McCOOK, Nebraska -- Maxine Jones-Fuller, age 83 of McCook, died April 28, 2014, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She was born in Lead, South Dakota, on July 9, 1930 to Charlie and Goldie (Ayers) Chilston. ...

Ruth Ann Fickle Jan. 3, 1924 - April 29, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Ruth Ann Fickle, 90, of McCook, passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2014, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. Ruth was born on Jan. 3, 1924, to Harley and Eulalia (Weiss) Meyer in Rushville, Indiana. She grew up in Lima, Ohio. She graduated high school in Lima...

Darwin L. Jumps Jan. 19, 1940 - April 29, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Darwin L. Jumps, 74, died Tuesday (April 29, 2014), at Community Hospital in McCook. He was born Jan. 19, 1940, to Benjamin Harrison and Freda (Behrendsen) Jumps. He worked as an iron worker for Local No. 24 in Denver, Colorado, before retiring to Nebraska...