U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Connie R. Reeves, age 67 (1938-2006)
Connie Reeves, 67 of Cozad, Nebraska, died Saturday, April 15, 2006, at the Cozad Hospital.
She was born August 14, 1938, at Bertrand, Nebraska, to Harold and Geraldine Griffith Clark. She attended schools at Bertrand, Elwood, Nebraska, and Lincoln, Nebraska, before graduating from high school at Torrence, California, in 1956.
On October 27, 1956, she married Jack Reeves at Torrence. The couple lived in California and Alabama before moving to Cozad in 1964. She worked at several businesses in Cozad and received her cosmetology license in 1983 from the North Platte Beauty Academy. She was an avid Husker football fan and had a collection of teddy bears and milk glass. She was a garage sale fanatic and enjoyed crafts and sewing quilts and teddy bears for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also made lots of needlework items that she shared with family and many friends. She enjoyed spending quality time with her family and friends. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a very important part of her life.
Survivors include her husband, Jack; a son, Bryan (Sylvia); two daughters, Ann (James) Wheeler and Susie (Rock) Thornton, all of Cozad; a brother, Charlie (Sandy) Clark of Lexington, Nebraska; four sisters, Twilia Phillips of Lexington, Norma Henry of Cozad, Charlotte (George) Wence of Nebraska City, Nebraska, and Linda (James) Carlson of Lexington; eight grandchildren, Erica, Robin, Amber, Aimee, Carrie, Maggie, Austin and Brook and eight great-grandchildren, Alyssa, Anika, Gavin, Kaden, Emily, Drew, Devin and Kira; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Bette Carlson; and three brothers-in-law, Dan Henry, Allan Phillips and Fred Carlson.
A memorial has been established in her memory. Condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com.
Services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 19, 2006, at the Church of Christ on Newell in Cozad with Roger Sloan officiating. Burial was in the Fairview Cemetery south of Cozad.
Berryman Funeral Home of Cozad was in charge of arrangements.
Leona I. Beason, age 43 (1962-2006)
Leona I. Beason, 43, of Sumner, Nebraska, died Saturday, April 15, 2006, surrounded by her loving family, at her home in Sumner.
She was born June 25, 1962, at Callaway, Nebraska, to William T. and Minnie (Ropers) Hanson.
Leona attended school at Callaway, graduating from Callaway High School with the Class of 1981. She was united in marriage to Charles Beason on November 6, 1984, at Broken Bow, Nebraska.
Always a hard worker, Leona took care of her family, which was first in her life. She worked in area care homes taking care of other family's loved ones. She loved to camp, have cookouts, do puzzles, play games and cook.
She always had a strong faith in God and wanted everyone to "not shed any tears for her, for she is now home."
Survivors include her husband, Charles Beason of Sumner; sons, Charles Beason, Jr., Raymond Beason, Christopher Beason and Goffrey Beason, all of Sumner; one daughter, Rebecca Beason of Sumner; mother, Minnie Hanson of Oconto, Nebraska; father-in-law, James Beason, Sr. of Sumner; one brother, Luke Hanson of Oconto; two sisters, Loretta Copper of Callaway, and Lois Bennett of Oconto; one brother-in-law, Greg Bennett of Eugene, Oregon; and two sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Mathews of Kearney, Nebraska, and Christina Beason of Cripple Creek, Colorado
She was preceded in death by her father; brother, Lee; sister, Lucy; mother-in-law, Violet; and brothers-in-law, Gene and Goffrey.
Services were held Wednesday, April 19, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. at Sumner Community Church-East Campus, in Sumner with Rev. Ken Hutson officiating. Burial was in the Sumner Cemetery at Sumner.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington was in charge of arrangements.
Ruby Viola Ransdell, 87 (1918-2006)
Ruby Viola (Dodson) Ransdell, 87, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Sunday, April 16, 2006, at her home in Lexington.
She was born September 29, 1918, at Grandma Hanson's place in Gosper County, Nebraska, to Walter and Ruth A. (Hanson) Dodson.
In 1921, the family moved to a farm north of Lexington where Ruby spent her formative years. In 1934, the family moved to the Tom Reed farm. Ruby and her sister, Velma, attended the Tom Reed School, which now has been relocated near the Dawson County Historical Society in Lexington. She then attended high school in Lexington, graduating in 1937.
Following graduation, Ruby did housework for Naomi Bacon and Ione Prasch. In the fall of 1937, she started to work at Mallets Sweet Shop, where she continued to work until 1941. She then went to work at the City Bakery ran by Clate and Melrose Ransdell. Around 1950, when the Ransdells sold the business, Ruby became an employee at Prasch's Grocery Store. This is where she met her sweetheart and future husband, Johnny Betram (Bert) Ransdell. She stayed 15 years at Prasch's until the store was sold. She also worked at Hazel's Town & Country Dress Shop, but one really remembers her waiting tables at A&W, where she worked until she retired.
On June 27, 1962, Ruby and Bert were married in North Platte, Nebraska. Ruby loved to travel. The couple took her parents on a trip every summer. She enjoyed family gatherings and being with her sister and her family. Although the couple had no children of their own, she adopted her nieces and nephews and loved them all very much.
Survivors include her sister, Velma (Wayne) Marienau of Kearney, Nebraska; nieces and nephews, Gary and Kathy Enochs of Overton, Nebraska; Linda and Bob Larson of Overton, and Randy and Bonita Enochs of New York City, New York; great-nieces and nephews, Gena and Barry Carpenter of Overton, Wayne and Lisa Enochs of Overton, Judd Larson of Medford, Oregon, Amy and Matt Mahony of Bronx, New York, Mark Larson of Overton, and Brendan, Lauren and Evan Enochs of New York City, New York; and great-great-nieces and nephews, Alison, Alicia, Arran Carpenter of Overton, Ethan, Kinzy and Sidney Enochs of Overton, and Max and Connor Mahony of Bronx, New York.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bert; and infant brother, Dale.
Services were held Wednesday, April 19, 2006, at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Lexington with Rev. John Craig officiating. Burial was in the Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington.
Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church or Lexington Volunteer Fire Department.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington was in charge of arrangements.
Ryan Lance Guill, age 27 (1979-2006)
Ryan Lance Guill, 27, of West Point, Nebraska, formerly of Lexington, Nebraska, died at his home Monday, April 17, 2006, in West Point.
He was born April 4, 1979, at Oakland, Nebraska to George Randall and Linda K. (McHale) Guill.
Ryan moved with his mother and brother to Kearney, Nebraska, in 1982, and attended Central Elementary School until the 3rd grade. In 1988, he moved to Lexington with his family where he went to Pershing Elementary, Lexington Jr. High, and graduated from Lexington High School with the Class of 1998. He then went on to further his education in broadcasting at Central Community College in Hastings, graduating with his Associate in Applied Science Degree in October 2001.
Guill began his career working part-time at KRVN Radio in Lexington as a high school student. He combined his love of radio and computers as he produced ball games and maintained the station's web site. He began working full-time as an announcer on September 1, 1996. He transferred September 23, 2003, to the Nebraska Rural Radio Association's sister station KTIC/KWPN in West Point to handle duties as Program Director. Many of Ryan's technical skills and working with radio equipment were self-taught.
He always had a love for tinkering with mechanical machines (not always remembering how to put them back together), he loved computers, being with his family and his radio family. Ryan was active in Boy Scouts, earning the Rank of Life, Order of the Arrow, he was active in band and chorus while in high school and was a member of First United Methodist Church. He always enjoyed working Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island, Nebraska, he helped with Kearney Community Theatre as their sound technician and announced the 2005 Relay For Life in Dawson County. He so loved being in the area parades with his radio station friends and being involved in the Old Tractor Drive while in West Point.
Survivors include mother and stepfather, Linda K. Guill and Rick Klauz of Lexington; father, Randy Guill of Norfolk, Nebraska; brother, Russell (Lisa) Guill of Lincoln, Nebraska; grandparents, Ione and Floyd Pierce of Lexington, George and Leona Guill of Oakland, Nebraska, and Alice Klauz of Lexington; aunts, Betty Jensen of Omaha, Nebraska, Mary and Larry Johnson of Grand Island, Cathy and Lee Thiemann of Richardson, Texas, Nona VanDamm of Wichita, Kansas, and Candy Brink of Denver, Colorado; uncles, Max McHale of Lincoln, John Guill of Oakland, and Bob Klauz of Kearney, Nebraska; and many cousins, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents; grandpa Marvin McHale and grandpa Joe Klauz.
A service will be held Friday, April 21, 2006, at 4 p.m. at Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oakland with Rev. Mark Eldal officiating.
A service will then be held Monday, April 24, 2006, at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Lexington with Rev. John Craig officiating.
Memorials are kindly suggested to the Ryan Guill Broadcasting Scholarship Fund.
Ryan's body will then be cremated with inurnment held at a later date in Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington and Stokely Funeral Home in West Point are in charge of arrangements.
Robert Dale Whipple, 40 (1966-2006)
Robert "Bob" Dale Whipple, 40, of Los Angeles, California, formerly of Brady, Nebraska, died on June 16, 2006, in Los Angeles.
Bob was a "special gift," born in Omaha, Nebraska, on February 17, 1966, and adopted by Eugene and Lucille (Shively) Whipple on March 22, 1966. Bob grew up in Brady and graduated from Brady High School in 1984. He was baptized and confirmed as a member of the American Lutheran Church of Gothenburg.
He had a "natural ability" about him in many areas of his life. He competed and excelled in all sports with a natural love for the game of football. Bob also enjoyed the great out-of-doors, fishing, cooking, woodworking, upholstering and refinishing furniture. His lifelong dream was to work as a commercial fisherman. He spent his last few years pursuing this dream from Alaska to California. He was a shrimp boat fisherman in Alabama, where he helped navigate a boat from there to California via the Panama Canal to Oregon. Bob was a commercial fisherman in Alaska and up into the Bering Sea. Bob survived many challenges and struggles throughout his life. He always maintained a strong heart and infectious smile through both the good and bad times, and always had a willingness to greet young and old with much respect.
Suvivors include his loving parents, Eugene and Lucille Whipple Jr. of Brady; his loving sister, Barb (Jim) Hotz of Gothenburg, Nebraska; niece and nephews, Josee, Wyatt and Ty Hotz - who he greatly loved and adored; his grandmother, Eva Shively of Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Eugene and Melinda Whipple and Arthur Shively.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. at the American Lutheran Church, Gothenburg with Lonna Grabenstein Parish Ministry Associate officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date at Rosehill Cemetery in Callaway, Nebraska.
Blase Memorial Chapel of Gothenburg is in charge of arrangements.
Inez "Bonnie" Ryan, 89 (1916-2006)
Inez "Bonnie" Ryan, 89, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, died on Monday, July 3, 2006, at Gothenburg Memorial Hospital Long Term.
She was born August 22, 1916, to Simon P. and Emma L. (Preston) Lark in Custer County, Nebraska. She attended rural school in Custer County.
She married Richard Adams in 1933 and to this union four children were born Milo, Donzel, Preston and Norene.
On August 27, 1955, she married Malachi "Mack" Ryan. They made their home at various towns across Nebraska, and settled in Cozad, Nebraska, before moving to Gothenburg. Bonnie enjoyed fishing, crocheting, and was active in the Catholic Church until her health failed. She enjoyed writing letters and spending time with family and friends.
Survivors include her husband, Malachi "Mack" Ryan of Gothenburg; three sons, Milo Adams of Gothenburg, Donzel Adams of Beaverton, Oregon, and Preston Adams of Elwood, Nebraska; a daughter, Norene Alles of Walton, Nebraska; and 25 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Veronica Gilbert; and one sister, Colleen Fredrickson.
Mass of Christian burial was held on Friday, July 7, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church, with Rev. Donald O'Brien as Celebrant. Burial was in Ft. McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Nebraska.
Memorials may be given to donor's choice.
Blase Memorial Chapel of Gothenburg was in charge of arrangements.
