U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Elbert R. Farver
Nelson resident Elbert R. Farver, 81, died Thursday, Aug. 15, 1996, in Nelson.
Services are 2 p.m. today at Nelson Community United Church of Christ in Nelson with the Rev. Royce Buchtel officiating. Burial will be in Nelson Cemetery at Nelson. Visitation is 9 a.m. to noon at Klawitter-Price Funeral Home in Nelson.
Mr. Farver was born Feb. 20, 1915, to Otto Lee and Mary (Baker) Farver near Nelson. He graduated from Nelson High School. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1942-45. On Aug. 16, 1955, he married Leota Jane Hattan. They lived in Imperial. In 1966 they moved to Nelson. He was a farmer and rancher and worked at the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center near Clay Center. He also was superintendent of weed control in Nuckolls County for 10 years.
He was a member of Nelson Community United Church of Christ, VFW and American Legion, all of Nelson.
Survivors are his wife; two daughters, Sheri Sloane of Kearney and Kriss Farver of Omaha; two sons, Scott and Curtis Dean, both of Nelson; one brother, Oliver "Pete" of Nelson; two sisters, Opal Stahl and Margaret Reed, both of Nelson; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by three brothers.
Memorials may be given to the family.
Theodore S. Tockey
Kenesaw resident Theodore S. "Ted" Tockey, 47, died Friday, Aug. 16, 1996, at his home.
Services are 10 a.m. Tuesday at Brand-Wilson Funeral Home chapel in Hastings with the Rev. Ted Uhlig officiating. Burial with military rites will be 2:30 p.m. at Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell. Visitation is noon to 9 p.m. today and Sunday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Mr. Tockey was born Aug. 4, 1949, to Theodore "Fred" and Marguerite A. (Holmgrain) Tockey in Omaha. He served in the U.S. Army from 1969-71. On April 7, 1993, he married Rebecca Lichtenberger. He was a lineman for Southern Public Power and later for Burlington Northern Railroad. For the last six years he worked for Werner Construction. He lived in Blue Hill and Hastings before moving to Kenesaw four years ago.
He was a member of the American Legion.
Survivors are his wife; one daughter, Amy Decker of Grand Rapids, Mich.; one son, Tad Tockey of Grand Rapids; one stepdaughter, Kascha of Kenesaw; and a sister, Judy Maughan of Hastings.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials may be given to the family.
Charles R.B. Little
Former Hastings resident Charles R.B. Little, 74, of Lincoln died Saturday, Aug. 17, 1996, at Lincoln General Hospital in Lincoln.
Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Tabitha Chapel in Lincoln. Graveside services with military rites are 1 p.m. Saturday at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings with the Rev. Carl W. Utley officiating. Visitation is 1-9 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home in Hastings.
Mr. Little was born Jan. 31, 1922, to Roy A. and Myrtle (Bonham) Little in Beaver City. He graduated from Hastings Senior High School in 1939 and from Hastings College in 1944. On June 2, 1944, he married Lucille Wentink. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a B-24 pilot. He flew on 35 long-range missions in the Western Pacific. He attained the rank of 1st lieutenant and earned the Asian Pacific Service Medal and the air medal with three oak leaf clusters. He was a marketing consultant with C.R.B. Little and Associates before becoming president of Delicious Foods Co. in Grand Island in 1973. Prior to his retirement he was owner and manager of the Nutrition Depot in Hastings.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Hastings Masonic Lodge No. 50 and Lochland Country Club, all of Hastings.
Survivors are his wife; one daughter, Kristen Stohs of Lincoln; and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother.
Memorials may be given to Shriners Crippled Children or American Lung Association.
Noreen L. Hupf
Hastings resident Noreen L. (Rogers) Hupf, 56, of 323 S. Garfield Ave. died Saturday, Aug. 17, 1996, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital.
Services are 10 a.m. Tuesday at Butler-Volland Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Harold D. Stromer officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery.
Mrs. Hupf was born Feb. 6, 1940, to Vern and Gladys (Mecham) Rogers in Big Springs. She attended Joseph's College of Beauty. She moved to Hastings nine years ago. On Feb. 6, 1987, she married LaVerne E. "Bud" Hupf. She was a homemaker.
She was a volunteer at Good Samaritan Village.
Survivors are her husband; her parents of Big Springs; two stepdaughters, Deborah Krull of Harvard and Diana Millikan of Beaver, Okla.; one stepson, David Hupf of South Haven, Miss.; and five stepgrandchildren.
Memorials may be given to the family's choice.
Richard E. Christian
Hastings resident Richard E. Christian, 78, of 1121 W. 13th St. died Wednesday, July 31, 1996 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Monday at Grace United Methodist Church with the Revs. Jim Miller and Barbara Spangler officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens north of Hastings. Butler-Volland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Christian was born Dec. 22, 1917 to Oscar and Amelia (Knosp) Christian in Omaha. He graduated from Hastings High School. He also attended Ventura Junior College in Ventura, Calif., for one year and the Hastings Business College in Hastings.
He worked for the Adams County Clerk's Office, issuing the first automobile title given in the county. He married Gloria Carlson Nov. 22, 1942 in Aurora.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1942-1946. Afterward, he worked for Burlington Truck and the Burlington Railroad. He then worked 31 years for the First National Bank, starting as a teller and retiring as a loan and collateral officer.
He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and a charter member of Christian Builders Sunday School Class.
Survivors are his wife and a son, James, of Hastings.
He was preceded in death by a sister.
Eugene H. Peterson
Clay Center resident Eugene H. Peterson, 76, died Thursday, August 1, 1996, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Services are 9:30 a.m. Monday at Emmanuel United Methodist Church in rural Clay Center with the Rev. C. William Bicket officiating. Burial will be in Clay Center Cemetery. Masonic rites will be given by the Masonic Lodge No. 317 of Hastings. Visitation is 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at McLaughlin Funeral Home in Clay Center.
Mr. Peterson was born Jan. 25, 1920 near Clay Center to Carl William and Orpha (Pontine) Peterson. He graduated from Clay Center High School in 1936. On March 23, 1940, he married Orva Margaret Saathoff in Saronville. They made their home southeast of Clay Center, where they farmed, until they moved into Clay Center in 1959. He was employed with the Clay County Road Department, Z and Z John Deere Implement Company of Hastings, and the Educational Service Unit No. 9 until his retirement in 1986.
He was a member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church for more than 40 years, where he served many years as a lay leader. He was also a member of the Midwest Masonic Lodge No. 317, Scottish Rite, KCCH York Rite and the Shrine Greeters, all of Hastings. He was a former member of the Clay Center Volunteer Fire Department.
Survivors are his wife; one daughter, Karen Kornin of Clay Center; one son, Jerry of rural Ayr; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Kenneth; one infant brother, Lawrence; and one sister, Mabel.
Memorials may be given to the Shrine Children's Hospital.
Francis A. Versaw
Pauline native Francis A. "Frank" Versaw, 80, of Stockton, Calif., died Tuesday, July 9, 1996, in Stockton.
There were no services. Private burial was in East Lawn Cemetery at Sacramento, Calif. Wallace-Martin Funeral Home of Stockton was in charge of arrangements.
He grew up in Adams county. He lived in the Stockton area for 59 years. He was a superintendent at International Rice Mill for 11 years.
He is survived by his wife, Delma.
Robert S. McClelland
Hastings resident Robert Sloane McClelland, 72, of 1238 N. Cedar Ave. died Thursday, Aug. 1, 1996, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital.
Services are 2 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church in Hastings with the Revs. Carl W. Utley and Cheryl Ann Elfond officiating. There will be a private family burial. There is no visitation.
Mr. McClelland was born Aug. 15, 1923 to Frank M. and Nellie G. (Hawthorne) McClelland in Hastings. He graduated from Hastings High School in 1941. He was a technical sergeant in the United States Army from 1943 until 1946. He married Mary G. Heine Aug. 9, 1948 in Grand Island. He worked for the Seaton Publishing Co. as circulation manager of the Lead Daily Call in Lead, S.D., from August 1948 to August 1950. He was owner and manager of McClelland Farm Equipment from 1950 until his retirement in 1987. He graduated from Hastings College in 1951.
He joined the First Presbyterian Church in 1935 and served over the years as a deacon, elder and trustee. He was a member of the Hastings College Board of Trustees and the Hastings Literacy Council, past president of the Hastings Noon Rotary Club and past secretary of the Hastings Economic Development Corp.
Survivors are his wife; one daughter, Susan Obrist of Lincoln; one son, John of Omaha; two brothers, Harold of Claremont, Calif., and Donald of McLean, Va.; and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother.
Memorials may be given in lieu of flowers to the McClelland Family Scholarship at Hastings College.
Kenneth D. Lindberg
Friday, Aug. 2, 1996
Hastings resident Kenneth D. Lindberg, 89, of 1951 W. 7th St. died Friday, Aug. 2, 1996, at Community Care of Edgar.
Services are pending with Brand-Wilson Mortuary.
R. Howard Madsen
Superior resident R. Howard Madsen, 66, died Sunday, Aug. 18, 1996, in Omaha.
Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Centennial Lutheran Church in Superior with the Rev. Paul Albrecht officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery north of Superior. Visitation is 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to noon Thursday at Megrue-Price Funeral Home in Superior.
Mr. Madsen was born May 9, 1930, to Carl Marinus and Daisie Marie (Young) Madsen in Petaluma, Calif. He attended Superior Public Schools and graduated from Superior High School. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1952-54. On Feb. 4, 1955, he married Elaine Ruth Johannes in Superior. He was a ditch rider for Bostwick Irrigation.
He was a member of VFW, of which he served as quartermaster from 1988 to the present, the American Legion and Danish Brotherhood. He was a 30-year member of Centennial Lutheran Church.
Survivors are his wife; three daughters, Bonnie Wos of Coon Rapids, Minn., Linda Winter of Overland Park, Kan., and Trudy Clark of Lincoln; two sons, Kent of Lamar, Colo., and Kevin of Gibbon; one brother, Carl of Santa Rosa, Calif.; two sisters, Esther McClintock of Penngrove, Calif., and Helen Moyle of Santa Rosa; 15 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one sister.
Memorials may be given to Centennial Lutheran Church.
Hugo E. Griess
Sutton resident Hugo Edwin Griess, 98, died Tuesday, Aug. 20, 1996, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at Hope Reformed Church in Sutton with the Rev. George J. Horner officiating. Burial will be in Sutton Cemetery. Kohler Mortuary of Sutton is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Griess was born Jan. 10, 1898, to Henry J. and Wilhelminia (Mehlhaf) Griess in York County near Sutton. He attended rural school. On Jan. 29, 1919, he married Mollie L. Lissman in Sutton. They farmed north of Sutton. They later moved to Lincoln where he drove a bus. He attended auctioneering school in Chicago. He returned to Lincoln where he worked at Gold's department store and auctioneered at night. He moved to Russell, Kan., where he was an auctioneer full time. Less than a year later he returned to Sutton and then Lincoln. He was a carpenter and later became a realtor. They later moved to California. In February 1989, they returned to Sutton, moving into the Nolde Center. His wife died June 9, 1989. He lived with his children, later moving to Sutton Community Home.
He was the oldest member of Hope Reformed Church and a past member of St. John's Reformed Church of Lincoln.
Survivors are four daughters, Geraldine Plettner of Sutton, Virginia Tribble and Marilyn Potter, both of Lincoln, and Norma Shumate of Grants Pass, Ore.; two sons, Howard of Grand Island and Ronald of Lincoln; one sister, Bertha Bauer of Wichita, Kan.; two half sisters, Edna Hornbacher of Sutton and Irene Baumann of Arvada, Colo.; one half brother, Edgar Griess of Atkinson; 28 grandchildren; 39 great grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by one son, Rubert H.; four brothers, six sisters, one half sister and two grandchildren.
Memorials may be given to Hope Reformed Church.
Wilhelmina Griess
Sutton resident Wilhelmina (Frank) Griess, 92, of Sutton Community Home died Sunday, Dec. 29, 1996, at Henderson Community Hospital in Henderson.
Services are 2 p.m. Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church in Sutton with the Rev. Arthur H. Schmidt officiating. Burial will be in Sutton Cemetery. Kohler Mortuary of Sutton is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Griess was born Oct. 28, 1904, to Frederick and Elizabeth (Fehr) Frank near Sutton. She moved to Herrick, S.D., with her family at an early age. On Feb. 6, 1925, she married Nathan Griess. They farmed north of Sutton. Her husband died in 1962. She later moved to Good Samaritan Village in Hastings and later Sutton Community Home.
Survivors are two daughters, Lucille Perrien of Sutton and Dorothy McKnight of San Andreas, Calif.; three sons, Willard of Irving, Texas, Robert of Odgen, Utah, and Kenneth of Escondido, Calif.; one sister, Esther Heckman of New York City; 21 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by 11 siblings.
Memorials may be given to Zion Lutheran Church or Sutton Community Home.
Evelyn E. Jones
Former rural Harvard resident Evelyn E. (England) Jones, 90, of Denver died Sunday, Aug. 18, 1996, in Denver.
Services are 10 a.m. Saturday at Fairmount Cemetery, Little Ivy Chapel, in Denver. Burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery. Horan & McConaty Funeral Service of Denver is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Jones was born April 1, 1906, to George and Edith England near Harvard. She attended the University of Nebraska and taught in a country school in Nebraska. On June 6, 1935, she married W.J. "Doc" Jones in Lincoln. They were longtime San Luis, Colo., residents. They owned and operated a Gambles store in Monte Vista, Colo., from 1939-69. Her husband preceded her in death.
Survivors are two sons, Stuart A. of Denver and Kent J. of LeMars, Iowa.; and four grandchildren.
Wava Bargen
Hardy resident Wava (Sperry) Bargen, 73, died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 1996, at Brodstone Memorial Nuckolls County Hospital in Superior.
Services are 10:30 a.m. Monday at Salem Lutheran Church north of Superior with the Rev. Michael Osberg officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery north of Superior. Visitation is until 5 p.m. today, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1-9 p.m. Sunday at Megrue-Price Funeral Home in Superior.
Mrs. Bargen was born Sept. 18, 1922, to Thaddeus and Edna Myrtle (Thurber) Sperry in Lucas, Kan. She lived in Lucas and Sharon Springs, Kan. She moved with her parents to Nebraska as a child. She graduated from Superior High School in 1947. She worked at Armour's and Hested's, both in Superior. On Jan. 16, 1949, she married Alvin John William Bargen in Superior. She owned and operated Cake Haven and later the Salebarn Cafe for many years.
She was a 46-year member of Salem Lutheran Church and a member of Salem Lutheran Circle and helped with 4-H.
Survivors are her husband; two sons, Lowell of Douglas and Terry of Superior; two daughters, Pam Beale of Shickley and Cheryl Mohler of Superior; four sisters, Lovey Lambert, Edna Johnson, Irma Grummert and Theora Bargen, all of Superior; two brothers, Rex Sperry of Lincoln and Ron Sperry of Billings, Mont.; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to the family at P.O. Box 13, Hardy, NE 68943.
Frank C. Larkins
Chester resident Frank C. Larkins, 97, died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 1996, at his home in Chester.
Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at United Methodist Church in Chester with the Rev. T.J. Fraser officiating. Burial will be in Chester Cemetery at Chester. Visitation is at Bachelor-Faulkner-Dart-Surber Funeral Home in Belleville, Kan.
Mr. Larkins was born Nov. 18, 1898, to Emery and Alta (Randel) Larkins near Belleville, Kan. On Sept. 9, 1919, he married Florence E. Eickman. He was a retired farmer and stockman and owner and operator of Larkins Oil Co. He lived his entire life in the rural Belleville and Chester communities.
He was a member of United Methodist Church.
Survivors are three sons, Jean of Chester, Max of Belleville and Howard of Concordia; one daughter, Pauline Frye of Chester; 19 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
Euvalene Swanstrom
Oak resident Euvalene (Anderson) Swanstrom, 72, died Wednesday, Aug. 21, 1996, in Oak.
Services are 2 p.m. Saturday at First Community Church in Oak with the Revs. Dale Bussinger and Leslie Warner officiating. Burial will be in Nora Cemetery at Nora. Visitation is until 9 p.m. today at Klawitter-Price Funeral Home in Nelson.
Mrs. Swanstrom was born Aug. 25, 1923, to Ernest and Lillie (Wagensen) Anderson near Cadams. She attended Nora Elementary School and graduated from Ruskin High School in 1941. She received a teaching certificate from the University of Nebraska. She taught at School District 25, Prairie Hill west and south of Nora and Oak School. After teaching for three years, she married Alfred Swanstrom in Belleville, Kan., on July 31, 1946. He died Nov. 13, 1993.
She was a member of First Community Church and Oak Church Circle, both in Oak.
Survivors are two daughters, Sandra Hopkins of Kansas City, Mo., and Anne McCoy of Naperville, Ill.; and three grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by one son, Gary, and an infant daughter.
Memorials may be sent to the family at P.O. Box 18, Oak, NE 68964.
F.C. Peanuts Kirchner
Former Esbon, Kan., resident F.C. "Peanuts" Kirchner, 94, of Indianola, Iowa, died Saturday, Aug. 24, 1996, at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa.
Graveside services are 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Elizabeth Cemetery at Esbon with the Rev. Kenneth Lohrmeyer officiating. Simmons Funeral Home of Smith Center, Kan., is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Kirchner was born Sept. 30, 1901, in Herndon, Kan. On April 10, 1929, he married Teresa Gaza. She died in 1951. He was a retired railroad worker and farm hand.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Esbon.
Survivors are two daughters, Kathleen Rector of Allerton, Iowa, and Mary Jo Arneson of Seward; four sons, Charles and Richard, both of Kansas City, Mo., James of Smith Center, Kan., and Danny of Harrisburg, N.C.; 25 grandchildren; and 39 great-grandchildren.
He also was preceded in death by four brothers, two sisters and one grandchild.
