U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Orval L. Foster, age 88 (1916-2004)
Orval L. Foster, 88, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Friday, December 3, 2004, at the Southview Manor Care Center in Cozad, Nebraska. He was born May 12, 1916, at Altoona, Kansas, to William Frank and Maude (McClure) Foster. Orval moved with his family to the Sumner/Lexington area as a young boy. He attended school at Lexington through the 8th grade, but, received his GED at the age of 60 years.
Orval was united in marriage to Dorothy Way on October 1, 1939, at Smithfield, Nebraska. The couple just celebrated 65 wonderful years together. He then entered the United States Army during WWII, where he fought for his country in New Guinea and the Philippines, being Honorably Discharged in 1945. Upon his Discharge, he returned to Lexington where he worked for Lexington Motors and in 1957, moved to North Platte, Nebraska, where he worked for the Sidles Company. Between 1962 and 1978, the couple moved from Lexington to North Platte to Kearney, Nebraska, returning in 1978, to Lexington, for good.
While living in Kearney Orval worked for Eaton's. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the American Legion, VFW and the Dawson County Handibus Board. Orval was instrumental in the moving of the Grand Generation Center to its present location and enjoyed spending many hours there with friends, playing pool, cards and square dancing. He had a wonderful sense of humor, loved to tease his grandchildren and be with his family. His Faith always prevailed through the tough times. He will be so missed by his loving family.
Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Dorothy Foster of Lexington; three sons, Dennis and Merlinda Foster of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Steve and Janice Foster of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Ronald Foster of North Platte, Nebraska; one brother and sister-in-law, Fred and Florence Foster of Tulsa, Oklahoma; three sisters, Mary Ridgely of San Antonio, Texas, Ferril Allard of LaJunta, Colorado, and Eva Truskett of Liberal, Missouri (who just turned 100 years old); four grandchildren, Dede Ann, Dennis Lee, Jr., Belinda Sue and Melinda Sue; six great-grandchildren, Lauren, Samantha, Tyler, Terren, Blake and Paige Makenzie.
Orval was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and two sisters
Services were held on Tuesday, December 7, 2004, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Lexington with Rev. Todd Karges officiating.
Graveside Service were held Tuesday, December 7, at 2 p.m. at Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell, Nebraska, with Military Honors.
Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Foundation or NAMI, The National Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home of Lexington was in charge of arrangements.
Marianne M. Ackerman (1912-2004)
Marianne M. Ackerman, 75, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Sunday, December 5, 2004, at the Plum Creek Care Center in Lexington. She was born August 22, 1929, at Gothenburg, Nebraska, to Alfred and Clara (Carlson) Lindstedt.
Marianne grew up at Gothenburg where she attended country school and Gothenburg High School. She was united in marriage to Jim Ackerman on November 30, 1946, at Phillipsburg, Kansas. The couple just celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary. Two sons were born to this union, Terry and Rex.
Jim and Marianne moved to Lexington in 1958. Marianne stayed home and raised the boys and later went to work at Frost's Fashions, where she worked for 17 years. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lexington and when the children were small was involved in the Girl Scout Organization (although she had two boys). She just loved kids.
In 1979, Marianne suffered a brain aneursym that left her partially paralyzed. She also valiantly fought four bouts of cancer. Marianne enjoyed sewing and painting pictures, taking trips with Jim and their nieces and nephews and later the grandchildren. She had a "heart of gold" and a wonderful sense of humor and even though she suffered so with her health problems, she always had a positive attitude and a kind word. She will be so missed by loving family and friends.
Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Jim Ackerman of Lexington; two sons, Terry Ackerman of Lexington, and Rex and Marilyn Ackerman of Fremont, Nebraska; one sister, June Ackerman of Everett, Washington; four grandchildren, Tara, Thad, Malee and Melissa and three great-grandchildren, Dylan, Cole and Olivia; and a brother-in-law, Don and Jean Ackerman of Naples, Florida.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and three sisters.
Services will be held Thursday, December 9, 2004, at 10 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Lexington with Pastor Megan Morrow, officiating. Burial will be in the Gothenburg Cemetery at Gothenburg.
Memorials are kindly suggested to Grace Lutheran Church or the donor's choice.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements.
Eva M. Anderson, age 93 (1911-2004)
Eva Anderson, 93 of Cozad, Nebraska, died December 5, 2004, at the Gothenburg Hospital, Gothenburg, Nebraska.
She was born December 2, 1911, east of Cozad to Robert and Myrtle Hoffman McCance. She attended several schools and graduated from Cozad High School. In 1932, she married Ed Groenewold and they made their home on a farm site north of Cozad.
Following a divorce, she married Donald C. Nichelson in 1938 and they made their home north of Cozad. Mr. Nichelson preceded her in death in 1969.
She later married Archie "Swede" Anderson and he passed away in 1982.
During her younger years, she and her sisters formed a musical group, playing for various functions and on the radio. Later in life, she was employed as a cook at the Cozad Hospital. Her hobbies included garage sales, restoring antiques, reading, gardening and collecting music.
She was a member of the Cozad Christian Church.
Survivors include three sons, Raymond (Geri) Groenewold of Farnam, Nebraska, and Dick Nichelson and Don (Sandy) Nichelson, all of Cozad; a daughter, Louise Hintz of Cozad; a sister, Eula Waller of Florida; eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by two great-grandsons, Jeffrey Andrews and Colton Thayer; four sisters, Enid, Era, Erma and Elmo; and a brother, Robert.
A memorial has been established in her memory.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, December 9, 2004, at the Berryman Funeral Home Chapel in Cozad with Jeremy Jech of the Cozad Christian Church officiating. Burial will be in the Cottonwood Cemetery northeast of Cozad.
Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad, is in charge of arrangements.
Herman P. Weissert, 97 (1907-2004)
Herman Weissert, 97 of Eustis, Nebraska, died December 5, 2004, at Kearney, Nebraska.
He was born December 1, 1907, at Eustis to Paul and Sophie Bartruff Weissert. He graduated from Eustis High School in 1925 and from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1931 with a bachelor of science degree. He taught schools at Minden and Eustis.
On October 29, 1941, he married Jeannette Axtell. He had worked with his father, who owned the Eustis Telephone Exchange and in 1941, he purchased the business. During his career, he always kept up with the evolution of the telephone business, providing customers with the newest technology. He retired in 1977, following the sale of the business.
He was a member of the United Methodist Church where he sang in the choir and was recognized for his 75 year membership. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and was a 50 year member of both the Tehama Temple of the Shrine at Hastings and the Eastern Star. He was past president of the Nebraska Telephone Association. He was also a member of the Johnson Lake Country Club.He had been active in civic work which included the Rotary Club and volunteer work at the Eustis Senior Center.
Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Luebs of Grand Island, Nebraska; two granddaughters, Allyson (John) Cahill of Kearney and Jennifer (Chris) Gnau of Topeka, Kansas; a great-granddaughter, Asia Lynn Cahill of Kearney; a sister, Esther Emmrick of Portland, Oregon; a brother, Wesley Weissert of Portland, Oregon; and a brother-in-law, Charles (Ruby) Axtell of Callaway, Nebraska.
He was preceded in death by his wife in 1996 and two brothers, Walter and Lawrence.
Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church or Eustis Senior Center in his memory.
Services were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, December 8, 2004, at the Berryman Funeral Home Chapel in Cozad with Rev. Bonnie Linton-Hendrick officiating. Burial was in the Fairview Cemetery at Cambridge, Nebraska.
Berryman Funeral Home of Cozad was in charge of arrangements.
Larry Harm, age 61 (1943-2004)
Larry Harm, 61, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, died December 6, 2004, at his home. He was born June 15, 1943, to Clarence G. and Margaret (Yorges) Harm at Gothenburg. He was baptized and confirmed in the American Lutheran Church.
He graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1962 and went into the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1967 and was in Korea for 14 months. On May 31, 1964, he married Diane B. Sall at the American Lutheran Church in Gothenburg.
Larry had worked for the City of Gothenburg since April of 1968 and was a member of the American Legion and the V.F.W.
Survivors include his wife, Diane Harm of Gothenburg; two sons, Jeff (Kristin) Harm of Gothenburg, and Robert (Michelle) Harm of Gothenburg; one daughter, Jennifer (Brian) Hiner of Welches, Oregon; seven grandchildren, McKinley, Delaney, Annica, Ellarey, Katlin, Chandler and Josie; two brothers, Andrew (Delores) Harm of Kearney, Nebraska, and Harold Harm of Gibbon, Nebraska; and two sisters, Meredith Speck of Redmond, Oregon, and Velma (Lysle) McClellen of Lexington, Nebraska.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother Bob; sister-in-law, Gayle Harm; and brother-in-law Charlie Speck.
Funeral Services were held on Wednesday, December 8, 2004, 10:30 a.m. at the American Lutheran Church, Gothenburg, with Rev. Wendy Ruetten officiating. Burial was in the Gothenburg Cemetery, with Military Rites by the Gothenburg Honor Guard.
A memorial has been established.
Blase Memorial Chapel of Gothenburg was in charge of arrangements.
Mabel Horton, 95
Mabel (Wells) Horton, 95, of Seattle, Washington, died February 8, 2005.
She was born October 21, 1909, at Buffalo, Nebraska, the daughter of Jesse and Stena (Christensen) Wells.
Mabel graduated as a registered nurse from St. Luke's School of Nursing in Denver, Colorado. She enjoyed an active life as a nurse in Seattle.
She married Paul Horton in 1941.
Survivors include her son, Dale Horton and daughter, Joan Woodbury.
