U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Ruth A. Reents
Former Hastings resident Ruth A. Reents, 81, of Osceola died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 1995, at Good Samaritan Center in Osceola.
Brand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hastings is in charge of arrangements.
Daniel T. Shaw
Guide Rock resident Daniel T. Shaw, 79, died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 1995, at Brodstone Memorial Nuckolls County Hospital in Superior. Services are 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Guide Rock United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dennis R. Linton-Hendrick officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Guide Rock Cemetery. Simonson-Williams Funeral Home of Red Cloud is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Shaw was born Aug. 14, 1916, to Elsworth and Mary Rosanna (Yohe) Shaw in Bostwick. He attended Antelope School at Bostwick. He farmed with his brothers in western Nebraska. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II serving in the European Theater of Operations. On March 12, 1949, he married Veda Mae Yung in Adams. They lived in Guide Rock. He was a meat cutter and butcher at a grocery store in Guide Rock until retiring in 1980. His wife died April 12, 1992. He was a member of Guide Rock United Methodist Church and Guide Rock American Legion Post No. 278. Survivors are five sons, Gary of Raleigh, N.C., Jerry of Blue Hill, Eugene of Hastings and Jimmy and Keith, both of Guide Rock; one daughter, Colleen Shaw of Hastings; three sisters, Evelyn Jane Wilson of Nelson, Nancy V. Frey of Wichita, Kan., and Anna Diehl of Berthoud, Colo.; one brother, Robert of Guide Rock; and 14 grandchildren. Memorials may be given to the family.
Michael Hull
Former Superior resident Michael Hull, 53, died Thursday, Nov. 30, 1995, in Oklahoma City.
Services were to be 10 a.m. today at Guardian North Chapel in Oklahoma City. Private burial will be Wednesday at Evergreen Cemetery north of Superior. Williams Funeral Home of Superior is in charge of local arrangements.
Mr. Hull was born to Clarence and Dorothea Hull in Hebron. He served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years retiring in 1980. He moved to Superior. Eight years later, he moved to Grand Island. In 1991 he moved to Oklahoma City where he was employed by U.S. Xpress.
Survivors are his wife, Penny; two daughters, Tina Hull of Minden and Michelle Hull of Lemon Grove, Calif.; one son, Michael of Lemon Grove; four brothers, James of Bloomingdale, Ill., Roger of San Jose, Calif., Donald of Aurora, Colo., and Richard of Arvada, Colo.; and four grandchildren.
Norma L. Carlson
Minden resident Norma Lee (Walberg) Carlson, 66, died Sunday, Dec. 3, 1995, at Immanuel Lutheran Hospital in Omaha.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Westminster United Presbyterian Church in Minden with the Rev. Dr. Terry Palmer officiating. Burial will be in Minden Cemetery. Visitation is 7-9 p.m. today at Layton Funeral Home in Minden.
Mrs. Carlson was born Dec. 31, 1928, to Andrew and Bertha (Olson) Walberg in Minden. She grew up in the Minden area and graduated from Minden High School in 1946. On Aug. 26, 1953, she married John D. Carlson. They farmed northwest of Minden. In 1993, they moved into Minden.
She was a member and elder of Westminster United Presbyterian Church and active in community affairs. She also was a member of Minden Garden Club, Extension Club and Minden Horticulture Club.
Survivors are her husband; one daughter, Diane McCroden of Minden; two sons, Neal and Brian, both of Minden; one sister, Alice Laue of Phoenix; and eight grandchildren.
Arlene S. 'Hoppy' Keller
Former Harvard resident Arlene Shirley "Hoppy" (Hoppens) Keller, 56, of Palos Verdes, Calif., died Sunday, Dec. 3, 1995, in Harvard.
Memorial services are 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Methodist Church in Harvard. Alberding-Wilson Funeral Home of Harvard is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Keller was born April 7, 1939, to Raymond and Wenona (Stett) Hoppens on a farm southwest of Harvard. She grew in the Harvard area. She graduated from Nebraska Wesleyan University with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. On May 31, 1959, she married Richard Keller in Harvard. She taught school in Trumbull from 1959-61. In 1961, they moved to California. She briefly taught school in Torrance (Calif.) School District while finishing a master's degree in mathematics at Pepperdine University in Malibu. They moved to Palos Veres, Calif., where she lived for 30 years. She taught in the Palos Verdes School District for 20 years, at Malaga Cove and Palos Verdes High School.
She was a member of Jack Kramer Tennis Club, Rolling Hills Tennis Association and National Charity League.
Survivors are her husband; one daughter, Kristin Keller of Palos Verdes; her mother of Harvard; and two brothers, Daryl of Scottsbluff and Neil of La Crosse, Wis.
Memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 127, Harvard, NE 68944, to be used in cancer research.
Bulah I. Kennedy
Red Cloud resident Bulah I. (Moger) Kennedy, 79, died Sunday, Dec. 3, 1995, at Heritage Care Center in Red Cloud.
Services are 11 a.m. Friday at Simonson-Williams Funeral Home chapel in Red Cloud with the Rev. Scott Dunning officiating. Burial will be in Red Cloud Cemetery.
Mrs. Kennedy was born March 6, 1916, to Alva and Cora (Minnick) Moger in Jewell County, Kan. She attended school in rural Jewell County and Red Cloud. She married Dean Gamble. On Jan. 20, 1961, she married Walter Kennedy in Guide Rock. They lived in Red Cloud. She was a cook for Webster County Hospital and later Sprague Nursing Home, both in Red Cloud.
She was a member of Assembly of God Church.
Survivors are her husband; one daughter, Viola Tweeddale of Hurley, N.Y.; three stepdaughters, Mickie Smith of Grand Island, Naomi Almany of Lindale, Texas, and Patsy Herrick of Franklin; one brother, Hi Moger of Red Cloud; one sister, Fern Dively of Decatur, Ill.; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Alvin M. Esch
Former Hastings resident Alvin M. Esch, 78, died Monday, Dec. 4, 1995, at Homestead Health Care in Lincoln.
Services are 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Zion Lutheran Church in Hastings with the Rev. Richard Kothe officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Kenesaw Cemetery at Kenesaw. Visitation is 5-9 p.m. today and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Brand-Wilson Funeral Home in Hastings.
Mr. Esch was born July 21, 1917, to Michael and Helen (Wallenburg) Esch in Red Willow County. He served in World War II. On Nov. 25, 1945, he married Leona Hinz. They moved to Hastings in 1946. He managed Farmers Union Co-op for several years. He was manager of Jack and Jill on Elm Street for 25 years, retiring in 1982. His wife died Sept. 22, 1995.
He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and its choir, American Legion, VFW and Moonshiners Senior Choir.
Survivors are one daughter, Carol Beran of Lincoln; one son, Jerry of Albuquerque, N.M.; two sisters, Ruth Ahlman and Marie Schneider, both of Denver; one brother, Martin of Denver; and six grandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by six brothers and three sisters.
Memorials may be given to Golden Age Senior Center or Zion Lutheran Church Choir Robe Fund.
Josephine M. 'Josie' Howard
Former Superior resident Josephine Mae "Josie" (Lawson) Howard, 97, died Monday, Dec. 4, 1995, at Good Samaritan Center in Nelson.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Williams Funeral Home chapel in Superior with the Rev. Leland Smith officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery north of Superior.
Mrs. Howard was born Nov. 22, 1898, to William and Eva (Wasson) Lawson in Page County, Iowa. On July 23, 1914, she married William "Bud" Howard. They moved to Colorado where they farmed for 10 years. In 1924, they moved to Superior. After her husband's death on May 30, 1964, she moved to Good Samaritan Center in Superior due to failing health. She later moved to Good Samaritan Center in Nelson.
She was a member of Wesleyan Church in Superior.
Survivors are two sons, Alvin D. of Hoodsport, Wash., and Ivan Dean of Phoenix, Ariz.; one daughter, Helen Miller of Superior; one sister, Edna E. Pawley of Nelson; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by one daughter, one infant son, three brothers, one sister and one grandchild.
Memorials may be given to the family.
David Kreitzer
Former Hastings resident the Rev. David Kreitzer, 83, of Porterville, Calif., died Saturday, Dec. 2, 1995, in Porterville.
Memorial services were to be at 1 p.m. today at First Lutheran Church in Porterville with the Rev. James Hallman officiating. Myers Funeral Service in Porterville is in charge of arrangements.
Rev. Kreitzer was born Jan. 6, 1912, in Russia. He attended Culbertson High School and Concordia Theological Seminary in Springfield, Ill. On Nov. 30, 1937, he married Norma F. Buls in Seward. He was a Lutheran minister for 40 years. He served in Hastings, Rock Springs, Wyo., Lindsay, Calif., and the First Lutheran Church in Porterville for the past nine years. He had been a resident of Porterville for 27 years.
Survivors are his wife; two sons, John G. of Porterville and David M. of Los Osos, Calif.; two daughters, Norma E. Townsend of Riverside, Calif., and Edith A. Looney of San Lorenzo, Calif.; two brothers, Henry Schaefer of Holdrege and Alex Schaefer of Jerome, Idaho; one sister, Esther Carroll of Fort Lupton, Colo.; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to Mount Olive Lindsay Lutheran Church, 18304 Orange Belt Drive, Porterville, CA 93257.
Luther L. Goding Sr.
Former rural Glenvil resident Luther L. Goding Sr., 111, died Tuesday, Dec. 5, 1995, at Good Samaritan Village Perkins Pavilion in Hastings.
Services are 2 p.m. Friday at Pauline Methodist Church in Pauline with the Rev. Vonda Crowe officiating. The remains will be cremated. Burial will be in West Lawn Cemetery at Omaha. Butler-Volland Funeral Home of Hastings is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Goding was born July 1, 1884, to Jonas and Sarah (Conley) Goding in rural Adams County near Pauline. He attended Fremont Normal School at Fremont. On Dec. 25, 1907, he married Katie Jones. She died in May 1910. On Oct. 6, 1914, he married Effie Peabody. She died Feb. 28, 1928. On Sept. 26, 1929, he married Leta Parkins. She died Feb. 12, 1951. He lived in the Pauline area until 1921 when he moved to Omaha. He returned to the Pauline area in 1965. He worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 45 years.
He was a member of Pauline Methodist Church, National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Sons of the American Revolution, Adams County Historical Society, Clay County Historical Society and the Stuhr Museum.
Survivors are two daughters, Marietta Goding of Glenvil and Effie Lucile Butts of Grand Rapids, Mich.; one son, Luther Jr. of Glenvil; 14 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great grandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by two daughters, Sarah Ellen Post and Katherine Heeren; one stepdaughter, Iylo Maxwell; four sisters and three brothers.
Memorials may be given to Adams County Historical Society or Pauline Methodist Church.
Gladys J. Sparks
Tuesday, Dec. 5, 1995
Former Hastings resident Gladys J. (Otto) Sparks, 74, of Parkplace Nursing Center in Grand Island died Tuesday, Dec. 5, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island.
Lucille Blazek
Ruskin resident Lucille (Novak) Blazek, 73, died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1995, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Bachelor-Faulkner-Dart Funeral Home chapel in Belleville, Kan., with Henry Strnad officiating. Burial will be in Kopsa Cemetery near Cuba, Kan.
Mrs. Blazek was born Feb. 14, 1922, to Charles and Elizabeth (Popelka) Novak near Narka, Kan. She was a homemaker and restaurant worker. She lived in Munden, Kan., and Cuba, Kan., before moving to Ruskin.
Survivors are two sons, Richard D. of Munden, Kan., and Edward E. of Dunnedoo, Australia; two daughters, Marjorie Palecek of Concordia, Kan., and Mary Ann Hinchman of Beatty, Nevada; one brother, Charley G. Novak of Narka; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Avis Ross
Former Webber, Kan., resident Avis (Leece) Ross, 89, died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1995, at Belleville (Kan.) Health Care Center.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at Webber United Methodist Church with the Revs. Linda Willey and Burr Crickard officiating. Burial will be in Webber Cemetery. Visitation is 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 1-8 p.m. Sunday at Megrue-Price Funeral Home in Superior.
Mrs. Ross was born Sept. 25, 1906, to Henry and Dean (Scheib) Leece near Lovewell, Kan. She graduated from Lovewell High School and attended Kansas State University at Manhattan for one year. On March 6, 1929, she married Edwin Daniel Ross. He died March 15, 1989.
She was a member of United Methodist Church and its choir, United Methodist Women, E.H.U., County Council and the Kitchen Band. She taught Sunday school, vacation Bible school and was a 4-H leader and volunteer at Good Samaritan Center in Superior.
Survivors are two sons, Arnold of Webber and Wayne A. of Denver; two sisters, Gladys Petters of Longview, Wash., and Zetta Abelbeck of North Platte; and seven grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by a son, Harlan E. and one brother.
Memorials may be given to Webber Methodist Church in care of the family at Rural Route 1, Box 54, Webber, KS 66970.
Victor J. Blattert
Hebron resident Victor J. Blattert, 74, died Thursday, Dec. 7, 1995, in Hebron.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Price Funeral Home chapel in Hebron. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery at Hebron. Visitation is 9 a.m. until services Saturday at the funeral home.
Mr. Blattert was born July 21, 1921, in Stanton.
Survivors are one brother, Wilson of Scottsbluff; and two sisters, Bertha Johnson of Las Vegas, Nev., and Alice Ingels of Los Alamos, Calif.
Memorials may be given to the family.
Fred F. Taylor
Minden resident Fred F. Taylor, 76, died Thursday, Dec. 7, 1995, at Veterans Administration Medical Center in Grand Island.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church in Minden with the Rev. Bill Jardine officiating. Burial will be in Minden Cemetery. Visitation is 7-9 p.m. at Layton Funeral Home in Minden.
Mr. Taylor was born March 29, 1919, to Orion "Hod" and Martha (Brothe) Taylor in Minden. He grew up in the Minden area. He graduated from Minden High School in 1937. On June 26, 1939, he married Jennie Holl in Smith Center, Kan. They lived in Minden. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in England, Belgium and France. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart. After the war, he worked as a mechanic for Bauer Motors for many years. He later worked for Big John's Ford, retiring in 1984. His wife died in 1990.
He was a member of United Methodist Church.
Survivors are one son, Howard of Kearney; one sister, Ione Strine of Minden; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He also was preceded in death by an infant son and one brother.
Frances A. Smith
Hastings resident Frances A. (Ferguson) Smith, 103, died Friday, Dec. 8, 1995, at Good Samaritan Village Perkins Pavilion.
Memorial services are 11 a.m. Monday at Brand-Wilson Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Jim Miller officiating.
Mrs. Smith was born Oct. 15, 1892, to Frederick and Martha (Bott) Ferguson in rural Adams County. On Feb. 11, 1912, she married Earl Smith. He died May 29, 1977. They lived in Kimball County in 1918-40 and then returned to Adams County.
She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Rebekah Lodge and Women's Relief Corps.
Survivors are one daughter, Wilma Graham of Lincoln; three sons, Lester, Robert and Richard, all of Hastings; 11 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by two sons, Wendell and Delbert; two sisters; and three brothers.
Memorials may be given to Grace United Methodist Church.
Marie Y. Crewdson
Former Hastings resident Marie Y. (Younker) Crewdson, 81, of Lincoln died Wednesday, Dec. 6, 1995, in Lincoln.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Lincoln with the Revs. Lon and Heidi Kvanli officiating. Burial will be in Wyuka Cemetery at Wyuka. Visitation is 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 9 a.m. to noon Monday at Butherus, Maser and Love Funeral Home in Lincoln.
Mrs. Crewdson was born Dec. 21, 1913, to Peter and Katherine (Maul) Younker in Lincoln.
She was a member of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church and its Martha Circle, Rebounders Club, Touchdown Club, W.S.I., Telephone Pioneers Auxiliary and Order of the Eastern Star Acacia Chapter No. 39 of Hastings.
Survivors are her husband, Floyd; two daughters, Patricia Harris of Lincoln and Nancy Bruce of Glendale, Ariz.; one brother, Jake Younker of Cheektowage, N.Y.; seven grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to St. Andrew's Lutheran Church.
Wilma E. Brunner
Hastings resident Wilma E. (Hinrichs) Brunner, 69, of 1935 Bateman St. died Friday, Dec. 8, 1995, at Good Samaritan Village Perkins Pavilion.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at First St. Paul's Lutheran Church with the Rev. Harold Stromer officiating. Burial will be in Glenvil Cemetery at Glenvil. Visitation is 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday and 8-11 a.m. Monday at Brand-Wilson Funeral Home.
Mrs. Brunner was born July 26, 1926, to Onna and Ida (Flohr) Hinrichs in Glenvil. On Aug. 14, 1949, she married Richard Brunner. She was a homemaker.
She was a member of First St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
Survivors are her husband; one sister, Thelma Fisher of Mesa, Ariz.; and one brother, Lloyd H. Hinrichs of Giltner.
She was preceded in death by one sister and one brother.
Memorials may be given to First St. Paul's Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society.
Opal J. Bothwell
Superior resident Opal Joy (Wilson) Bothwell, 88, died Saturday, Dec. 14, 1996, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at Megrue-Price Funeral Home chapel in Superior with the Rev. L. Patterson Culligan officiating. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery at Lovewell, Kan. Visitation is until 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. until services Tuesday at the funeral home.
Mrs. Bothwell was born Dec. 13, 1908, to Albert S. and Georgia (Dye) Wilson near Webber, Kan. She graduated from Lovewell High School. On Nov. 19, 1927, she married Harold Bothwell. They lived in Webber. They moved to Superior in June 1994.
She was a member of Webber Extension Homemakers, Webber United Methodist Women and Daughters of the American Revolution of Superior.
Survivors are her husband; one daughter, Jean Davis of Salado, Texas; two sons, Lawrence of Superior and David of Mankato, Kan.; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, three sisters and one grandchild.
Memorials may be sent to the family at 655 N. Commercial Ave., Superior, NE 68978.
