Obituaries from June 2014

Thomas H. 'T Bone' Barron June 22, 1946 - May 30, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Thomas H. "T Bone" Barron passed away Friday, May 30, 2014, at Community Hospital in McCook. He was 67 years old. T Bone was born on June 22, 1946, at Rochester, New York, to parents, Thomas Arthur and Ruth Irene (Farnan) Barron. He attended school in Penfield, New York...

Elaine R. (Hilty) Jensen July 10, 1932 - May 30, 2014 GOODLAND, Kansas -- Elaine R. (Hilty) Jensen, 81, formerly of St. Francis, Kansas, died Friday (May 30, 2014), at Goodland,Kansas. She was born July 10, 1932, in Cheyenne County, Kansas. She was a homemaker...

Geraldine J. Leibbrandt March 18, 1929 - May 30, 2014 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. -- Geraldine J. Leibbrandt, age 85, died at the Cambridge Manor in Cambridge on May 30, 2014. She was born in McCook, Nebraska, on March 18, 1929, to Archie and Neva (Fassler) Ball. She attended school in McCook...

Harry A. Strunk Dec. 18, 1957 - May 27 2014 KEY LARGO, Florida -- Harry A. Strunk, 56, of Key Largo and formerly of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, passed away May 27, 2014. Harry was born on Dec. 18, 1957, to Allen D. and Norma Rose (Bobinmyer) Strunk in McCook. He graduated from McCook Senior High in 1976 and received his journalism degree from the University of Nebraska in 1980...

Samuel Castro Paz Feb. 27, 1933 - June 3, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Samuel Castro Paz, age 81, of McCook passed away Tuesday, June 3, 2014, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook. Samuel was born Feb. 27, 1933, to parents Jesus and Juanita (Castro) Paz in Minatare, Nebraska. He was one of six children. Growing up Samuel attended school in Minatare, graduating from Minatare High School in 1953. He then went on to attend the National School of Meat Cutting School in Toledo, Ohio, in 1956...

Joan Rae (Koetter) Schamel March 5, 1936 - June 2, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Joan Rae (Koetter) Schamel, age 78, passed away peacefully, Monday, June 2, 2014, at Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha with family at her bedside. She was born on March 5, 1936, to Woodrow Raymond and Leola Maxine (Grigg) Koetter in McCook. Joan graduated from McCook High School in 1954...

Donald Duane Troyer June 17, 1938 - May 27, 2014 WESTMINSTER, Colo. -- Donald (Don) Troyer, 75, passed away May 27, 2014, in Westminster. Don was born June 17, 1938, in La Grange, Wyoming. Don was involved in industrial construction his entire life. He began as an apprentice carpenter with his father and older brother, Earnest, in Cheyenne...

Frank Finley Carter Nov. 29, 1925 - June 4, 2014 PLANO, Texas -- Frank Finley Carter of Plano, formerly of Palisade, Nebraska, passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2014, at Emeritus Collin Oaks Assisted Living in Plano, Texas. He was 88 years old. Frank was born on Nov. 29, 1925, at Palisade to parents, Robert Morris and Bernice (Finley) Carter. He graduated from Palisade High School in 1944...

Linda Rae Jacobsen Aug. 7, 1941 - June 4, 2014 FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Linda Rae Jacobsen, age 72, of Fort Collins, passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2014, at the Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. Linda was born in Trenton, Nebraska, on Aug. 7, 1941, to parents James Leroy and Letha Lucile (Williamson) Brown. Linda was one of ten children who grew up on a family farm in Trenton. She attended school in Trenton, graduating from Trenton High School in 1959...

Dora Lucile Anderson Langley Sylvester July 31, 1925 - May 30, 2014 WILSONVILLE, Neb. -- Dora Lucile Anderson Langley Sylvester was born in Wilsonville, Nebraska, on July 31, 1925, the daughter of C.R and Mary Anderson. She passed away on May 30, 2014...

Elva Stone BARTLEY, Neb. -- Elva Stone, 93, died today (June 6, 2014), at Cambridge Manor in Cambridge, Nebraska. Memorial services are Tuesday, June 10, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at Lockenour-Jones Chapel in Cambridge. Inurnment is at the Indianola, Nebraska, cemetery,...

Jean Steward HAYES CENTER, Neb. -- Jean "Aunt Jean" Steward of Hayes Center passed away Monday, May 19, 2014 at El Dorado Nursing Home in Trenton at the age of 87. Memorial services are Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hayes Center High School Gymnasium with Rev. Morris Hartman and Rev. James Echols officiating...

Bernard (Bernie) J. Smolczyk April 7, 1933 -- May 29, 2014 WESTCLIFFE, Colorado -- Bernard (Bernie) J. Smolczyk passed away Thursday, May 29, 2014, at his home in Westcliffe, Colorado. He was 81 years old. Bernie was born on April 7, 1933, in Ogallala, Nebraska, to parents, Robert and Bernadette (McCroden) Smolczyk. He graduated from Ogallala High School in 1951...

Gordon J. Marquette July 3, 1932 - June 5, 2014 TRENTON, Neb. -- Gordon J. Marquette, age 81, of Trenton, passed away at the Community Hospital in McCook, Nebraska, on June 5, 2014, surrounded by his family. Gordon was born in Sutherland, Nebraska, on July 3, 1932, to George and Celia (Bodell) Marquette. He attended and graduated from Paxton High School...

Elva S. Stone April 28, 1920 - June 6, 2014 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. -- Elva S. Stone, age 94, died at the Cambridge Manor on Friday, June 6, 2014. She was born in Arapahoe, Nebraska, on April 28, 1920, to Charles and Bertha (Dyer) Rosecrans. Elva attended and graduated from Arapahoe High School in 1938...

Harlan Marlin BENKELMAN, Neb. -- Harlan Marlin, 72, died Friday (June 6, 2014), at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkelman. Survivors include his wife, Sandy Marlin of Benkelman; children, Teresa and husband, Rod Damrow, Trina and husband, Brian Stute and Toby and wife, Miranda Marlin, all of Benkelman; brother, Royce and wife, Susan Marlin of Sherwood, Oregon; brother-in-law, Denny and wife, Yvonne Drury of Bend, Oregon, and six grandchildren...

Ronald R. Clark April 14, 1944 - June 8, 2014 BENKELMAN, Neb -- Ronald R. Clark, age 70, of Benkelman, died at the Dundy County Hospital in Benkeman on June 8, 2014. He was born in Benkelman on April 14, 1944, to Paul and Lorene (Stamm) Clark. Ron attended and graduated from Benkelman High School. Ron received his bachelor of science degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in accounting...

Ruth Marie Kentfield Dec. 23, 1928 - June 8, 2014 BEAVER CITY, Neb. -- Ruth Marie Kentfield, 85, died Sunday (June 8, 2014), at Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge, Nebraska. She was born on Dec. 23, 1928, on the Hanni farm southwest of Hendley, Nebraska, to Ernest and Anna M. (Schmidt) Hanni...

Arvene Eldon Frick Aug. 3, 1932 - June 6, 2014 TRENTON, Neb. -- Arvene Eldon Frick, age 81, died at the El Dorado Manor in Trenton on June 6, 2014. He was born near Atwood, Kansas, on Aug. 3, 1932, to Roy Charles and Viola Faye (Owens) Frick. He graduated from Trenton High School in 1950 and married his high school sweetheart, Jacquelyn Ann Taylor on Feb. 26, 1953, in Omaha, Nebraska. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1953 till 1955 in the European Theatre...

Vayle H. Bunker Nov. 19, 1921 - June 11, 2014 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. -- Vayle H. Bunker, age 92, of Cambridge, died at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital on Wednesday, June 11, 2014. He was born in Dover, Minnesota, to Wilbert E. and Catherine M. (Busswick) Bunker on Nov. 19, 1921. Vayle, while in high school in Minnesota, drove the bus to get kids to school...

Curtis D. Bodeman NORTH PLATTE, Neb. -- Curtis D. Bodeman died Thursday (June 12, 2014). Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, June 16, 2014, at Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte. Graveside services will be 3 p.m. Monday, June 16, 2014, at the Hayes Center Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home...

Wanda Scott Nov. 1, 1947 - June 13, 2014 AURORA, Colo. -- Wanda Scott, age 66, of Aurora, Colorado, passed away on June 13, 2014, in Aurora. Wanda was born on Nov. 1, 1947 in McCook, Nebraska, to parents James L. and Vera D. (Stumbaugh) Scott. She was one of seven children. ...

Christopher 'Cowboy' M. Stevens Sept. 8, 1971 - June 14, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Christopher "Cowboy" M. Stevens, age 41, died in McCook on June 14, 2014 after a hard three-year struggle. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on Sept. 8, 1971, to Van and Rita (Ankenman) Stevens...

Robert 'Bob' Joseph Leitner June 20, 1926 - June 15, 2014 HERNDON, Kansas -- Robert "Bob" Joseph Leitner, 87, of Herndon, died Sunday (June 15, 2014), at Collier Hospice Center in Wheatridge, Colorado. He was born June 20, 1926, to Herman and Nellie (Heasley) Leitner in rural Herndon on the Leitner homestead. ...

Betty Jean Holland Sept. 26, 1931 - June 15, 2014 BEAVER CITY, Neb. -- Betty Jean Holland, 82, of Kenesaw, Nebraska, formerly of Oxford, Nebraska, died Sunday (June 15, 2014), at Haven Home in Kenesaw. She was born Sept. 26, 1931, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Orville "Pat" and Viola (Pruett) Pruett. She married William G. "Billy" Holland and they made their home in Oxford. Because of health problems, she moved to the Haven Home in Kenesaw...

John Jay Ruppert Dec. 23, 1929 - June 19, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- John Jay Ruppert of McCook passed away Thursday, June 19, 2014, at Hillcrest Nursing Home. He was 84 years old. John was born Dec. 23, 1929, at McCook to parents, Jay John and Doris (Meissner) Ruppert. He attended school at rural District No. 101...

Donovan Lee Jones April 25, 1930 - June 18, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Donovan Lee Jones passed away Wednesday, June 18, 2014, at Hillcrest Nursing Home with his family by his side. He was 84 years old. Donovan was born on April 25, 1930, at Lebanon, Nebraska, to parents, William Earl and Etta Marie (Huff) Jones. He graduated from Danbury High School in 1948...

Mildred Mae (Bathrick) Tomlin Dec. 2, 1924 - Feb. 22, 2014 ROCK HILL, South Carolina -- Mildred Mae (Bathrick) Tomlin, 89, died Feb. 22, 2014, at Rock Hill. She was born Dec. 2, 1924, to Martin and Alpha Bathrick. She graduated from Cambridge High School in 1943. She married Bryce Tomlin and resided in Cozad, Nebraska, from 1956 until 2004. She was a teachers aid in Cozad Schools. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Cozad and the volunteer Cozad Rescue Squad...

Gloria Lipson Jan. 10, 1929 - June 6, 2014 PETERBOROUGH, New Hampshire -- Gloria Lipson, 85, of Peterborough, died peacefully Friday morning, June 6, 2014, after many years of struggle with Alzheimer's disease. She was surrounded by friends and family...

Larry Ashley LOVELAND, Colo. -- Larry Ashley, 68, of Loveland, formerly of rural Selden, Kansas, died Monday (June 23, 2014.). Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin.

Marjorie Ruth Jeanne Petefish Oct. 27, 1918 - June 20, 2014 LINCOLN, Neb. -- Marjorie Ruth Jeanne Petefish, Lincoln, formerly of Cambridge, died June 20, 1914 at Tabitha Hospice. She was born Oct. 27, 1918, to John E. and Gertrude (Lyman) Jenkins in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. ...

Lana Louise Keller July 20, 1955 - June 23, 2014 BENKELMAN, Neb. -- Lana Louise Keller, age 58, of Benkelman, passed away peacefully at the Dundy County Hospital on Monday, June 23, 2014. She was born in Stratton, Nebraska, on July 20, 1955, to John A. and Dolly (Cemer) Hanes. She graduated from Trenton High School in 1973. Lana was employed for several years at the El Dorado Manor...

Roxanne E. 'Roxie' Arens Sept. 23, 1970 - June 25, 2014 PAPILLION, Neb. -- Roxanne E. "Roxie" Arens of Papillion, Nebraska, formerly of McCook, Nebraska, passed away Wednesday, June 25, 2014, near McCook as a result of a vehicle accident. She was 43 years old...

Douglas "Doug" C. Tucker June 25, 1932 - June 25, 2014 STRATTON, Neb. -- Douglas "Doug" C. Tucker, 82, died June 25, 2014. He was born in Sioux City, Iowa June 25, 1932. His mother was Bessie Tucker. He served in the United States Air Force. He was a member of the Nevada State Elks Association and was State President from 2007-2008...

Joe Traphagan Jan. 9, 1920 - June 26, 2014 SUN CITY WEST, Ariz. -- Joe Traphagan, 94, died June 26, 2014, at Sun City West, Arizona. He was born in McCook, Nebraska, on Jan 9, 1920, to Robert Sr. and Mary (Braun) Traphagan. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; his parents, Robert and Mary Traphagan and several brothers and sisters...

Jeffrey E. Brooks Dec. 17, 1965 - June 22, 2014 PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Jeffrey E. Brooks went home to be with his Lord and Savior on June 22, 2014. He was born Dec. 17, 1965. Jeff will be missed by his many friends and loved ones. He was kind and generous, always willing to lend a helping hand. He served his country in the Army from 1984 to 1987...

Rusty Kinder IMPERIAL, Neb. -- Rusty Kinder, 87, died Saturday (June 28, 2014), at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home in Imperial. Survivors include his wife, Colleen of Imperial; children, Kurt and wife, Deb, of Kansas City, Kansas, Shari Kinder and husband, David Campanella, of Kansas City, Missouri, Jannean Kinder of North Platte, Nebraska, Risa Kinder of Sidney, Nebraska; three grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren...

Dorothy Jean Ridpath Berndt June 24, 1927 - June 29, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Dorothy Jean Ridpath Berndt, age 87, passed away Sunday, June 29, 2014 at her home in Willow Ridge. Dorothy was born June 24, 1927, to Elmer and Ethel (Hitchcock) Ridpath in McCook. She attended McCook schools, graduating in 1944, and attended McCook Junior College...

Leota May Brown May 25, 1934 - June 26, 2014 TRENTON, Neb. -- Leota May Brown passed away at Community Hospital in McCook on June 26, 2014, after a long and courageous battle with cancer surrounded by family. She was 80 years old. Leota was born in Palisade, Nebraska, on May 25, 1934, to Gladys (Sharrah) and Wayne Porter. She graduated from Curtis, Nebraska, in 1952...

John William Shepherd Sept. 8, 1956 - June 23, 2014 TRENTON, Neb. -- John William Shepherd, age 57, of Trenton died at his home June 23, 2014. He was born in Cripple Creek, Colorado, on Sept. 8, 1956, to Guy and Helen (Wallace) Shepherd. John attended and graduated from McCook High School in 1975...

Lonnie Eldon Casper May 31, 1934 - June 25, 2014 McCOOK, Neb. -- Lonnie Eldon Casper, age 80, died at the Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook on June 25, 2014. He was born in McCook on May 31, 1934, to Lonnie Ernest and Gladys (Bollman) Casper. Lonnie attended and graduated from McCook High School. He moved to Madison, North Carolina, to work in a restaurant with his aunt and uncle, Sylvia and Johnny Moore...

Roberta J. 'Bert' Brooks May 23, 1935 - June 29, 2014 BARTLEY, Neb. -- Roberta J. "Bert" Brooks, died Sunday (June 29, 2014), at Cambridge Manor in Cambridge, Nebraska.. She was born on May 23, 1935, in Indianola, Nebraska, to Henry and Ethel M. (Junker) Schamel. She graduated from Indianola High school in 1953. On Oct. 3, 1954, she married Gerald "Geb" Brooks...