U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Florence M. Morris, age 93 (1910-2003)
Florence Morris, 93, of Cozad, Nebraska, died December 9, 2003, at her home.
She was born May 22, 1910, at Cairo, West Virginia. She attended Cozad Schools.
On August 20, 1927, she married Archie Morris. The couple made their home on a farm site north of Cozad until 1962, when they moved to Cozad.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church. During World War II, she was a member of an extension club that participated in baking goods and serving at the North Platte Canteen.
She cherished time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening and yard work with her husband. She was also an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan.
Survivors include a daughter, Marilyn (Norm) Beans of Cozad; a son, Jim (Moe) of Scottsbluff, Nebraska; two daughters-in-law, Marjorie Reed of Rogersville, Missiouri, and Lillian Morris of Johnson Lake; 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1997; two sons, William and Robert; a granddaughter, Terri Brand; three brothers, Lee, Hayward and Robert Burke; and two sisters, Edna and Helen.
Services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 13, 2003, at the Berryman Funeral Home Chapel in Cozad with Rev. Lyle Schoen of the First United Methodist Church officiating. Burial was in the Cozad Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in her memory.
The Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad was in charge of arrangements.BACK
Beverly Floyd Milhoan (1919-2003)
Beverly Floyd 'Bud' Milhoan, 84, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Wednesday, December 10, 2003, at Tabitha Rehabilitation Center in Lincoln, Nebraska.
He was born September 16, 1919, at Overton, Nebraska, to Beverly Floyd 'Bell' Milhoan and Lucy Angeline Phelps.
At the age of 13, Beverly's father died and he became the "man of the house". He took care of his mother and sisters and the farm. On November 7, 1942, he was united in marriage to Vera Mae Edwards at Ogallala, Nebraska. This union was blessed with six children; Randall, Beverly Jo, Susan, Ronald, Cathy and Cindy.
Bud and Vera raised their large family in Lexington. He worked as a Seed Corn District Manager for many years, his last employer was Anderson Clayton/Jacques Seed Company. He retired in the early 1990's.
His family has many, many fond memories. They remember going on family vacations every year, this was very important to Bud, even though he drove for a living, he always wanted the family to have a nice vacation every summer, and he insisted on driving!!! Bud loved playing cards, having a big garden, cooking Saturday dinner for the family, watching over his large family, making sure the "family traditions" were always honored and that the door was always open to strangers. He enjoyed engaging in spirited conversations and was very proud of his children and grandchildren.
Bud will be missed tremendously, but his family finds comfort in knowing that he is "home" with his loving wife, Vera.
Survivors include his children and grandchildren; two sons, Randall Bell Milhoan of Vail, Colorado, and Ronald Lee (Melodie) Milhoan of Watsonville, California; four daughters, Beverly Jo (Dennis) Burmood of Lexington, Nebraska, Susan Kay (Tom) Bokenkamp of Kearney, Nebraska, Cathy Jeanne Milhoan and Ron Iverson, and Cindy Sue (Kirk) Skiles, all of Lincoln, Nebraska; seventeen grandchildren, Walker, Prent and Treyson Milhoan of Vail, Colorado, Kimi Burmood, Christopher and Deanna Burmood, and Benjamin Burmood, all of Lincoln, Jonathan (Katherine) Bokenkamp of Los Angeles, California, Cathy Ann (Steve) Rosenthall, and Christina Bokenkamp, all of Denver, Colorado, Andrew Bokenkamp, Austin, Nicholas, Caleb and Elizabeth Skiles, and Jacob, Payton and Hallie Iverson, all of Lincoln; three great-grandchildren, Zachary Miles Burmood, Jaden Grace Burmood and Jackson Thorn Bokenkamp; and the special people in Bud's life, Dean Scheef, Tom Hernandez, Dr. Frank and Eva Wolfe and Tracy and Sharon Wood.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Vera on April 18, 2000; and three sisters, Fannie Mae Cross, Nola 'Babe' Westerlin and Theda 'Todd' Kjar.
Services were held Monday, December 15, 2003, at 10:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Lexington, with Rev. Todd Karges, officiating.
Burial was in the Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington.
Memorials are kindly suggested to the family for later designation.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington was in charge of arrangements.
Dick D. Cranford, age 80 (1923-2003)
Dick D. Cranford, 80, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Wednesday, December 10, 2003, at Plum Creek Care Center in Lexington.
He was born October 10, 1923, in David City, Nebraska, to Earl and May (Tichacek) Cranford. In 1933, his family moved to Lexington, and he graduated from Lexington High School in 1941.
On February 23, 1943, he entered the United States Army, serving his Country during WWII from February 26, 1943, to February 28, 1946.
Dick was united in marriage to Zola Head on August 10, 1945, at Los Angeles, California. To this union three children were born; Denise, Dana and Daryl.
The couple farmed for many years in the Lexington area and Dick retired in 1994.
He was a member of and past-president of the Nebraska committee to Restore the Constitution and Who's Who in America. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, sports, and Nebraska Football.
Survivors include his loving wife, Zola of Lexington; one son, Dana (Andrea) Cranford of Lincoln, Nebraska; two daughters, Daryl (Scott) Crozier of Nobelsville, Indiana, and Denise (Kent) Kearney of Norton, Kansas; one brother, David Cranford of Lexington; one sister, Fay DeLap of Lexington; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Phyllis Cranford.
Funeral services were held Monday, December 15, 2003, at 2 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington with Pastor John Shields, officiating.
Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery with Military Honors in Lexington.
Memorials are kindly suggested to the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington was in charge of arrangements.
Mabel E. Wallace, 87 (1916-2003)
Mabel E. Wallace, 87, of Kearney, Nebraska, formerly of Lexington, Nebraska, died Wednesday, December 10, 2003, at her home in Kearney.
She was born August 28, 1916, at Hastings, Nebraska, to Robert John and Lena Bertha (Neilson) Grannell.
As a young girl Mabel moved to North Platte, Nebraska, with her family. She grew up in North Platte, graduating from North Platte High School in 1933. She was married to C. Emmet Wallace on December 24, 1935, at Chappell, Nebraska. The couple farmed in Custer County, Nebraska, until 1950, when they moved to Dawson County. In 1957, they moved to Lexington. In 1992, they moved to Kearney. Emmet passed away on August 12, 1994.
Mabel was always active in her church and community. She was a member of Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney and the Rebekah Lodge, L.E.A. and L.A.P.M., where she was past Grand Matriarch of Grand L.E.A., State of Nebraska from 1975-1976 and Grand Scribe for 15 years.
Survivors include her son, Darrel L. (Debra) Wallace of Gilbert, Arizona; four grandchildren, Justin Wallace, Jason Wallace, Cody Wallace and Carissa Wallace; two great-grandchildren; Nathan and Joey Wallace; a sister-in-law, Vera Grannell of North Platte, Nebraska; and two nieces, Eva Quail of Miller, Nebraska, and IlaMae Zimmerman of Idaho Springs, Colorado.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Emmet in 1994, and her brother, Bryce
Mabel's body was cremated.
Memorial services were held Tuesday, December 16, 2003, at 11 a.m. at Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney, with Rev. Sam Rathod, officiating. The Kearney Naomi Rebekah Lodge also had a service at the church.
Inurnment was in the Big Springs Cemetery at 3 p.m. MDT at Big Springs, Nebraska, with Pastor Bonnie McCord, officiating.
Memorials are suggested to the Arthritis Research Foundation or the American Heart Association.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington was in charge of arrangements.
Mike R. Eddins, age 61 (1942-2003)
Mike R. Eddins, 61, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, formerly of Corpus Christi, Texas, died December 10, 2003, at his home.
He was born October 19, 1942, to Huby Ray and Ruby Blythe Cottrell at Corpus Christi. He graduated from W.B. Ray High School in Corpus Christi in 1961. He worked for the Longhorn Boy's Corp, in Corpus Christi for twelve years. Mike managed the Super 8 Motel in Gothenburg for the past three years.
Survivors include his wife, Becky of Gothenburg; three daughters, Michelle, Larinda and Monica Eddins of Corpus Christi; one step-son, Jeff Scott of Gothenburg; 13 grandchildren; his grandmother, Estelle Johnson of Corpus Christi; three brothers, Robert (Ruth) Reeves of California; John (Linda) Eddins of Corpus Christi, and Raymond (Pam) Eddins of Deloit, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandchild.
The body was cremated, the inurnment will take place at a later date in Texas.
Carl H. Rickertsen, 85 (1917-2003)
Carl H. Rickertsen, 85, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Thursday, December 11, 2003, at Plum Creek Care Center in Lexington, Nebraska.
Carl was the fifth of eight children of Adolf and Henny Seehusen Rickertsen. He was born December 22, 1917, near Lexington. He attended Horseshoe Bend School (District 25) and graduated from Lexington High School in 1935. From 1935 to 1941, he worked for several farmers in the area. In 1941, Carl and his brother, Chris, moved to "the Hill place" 8 miles northeast of Lexington where he farmed 240 acres.
Carl met Velma Reigle at a Rural Youth party in September 1942. The following April, 1943, he gave her a diamond. They were married Sunday, November 28, 1943, at the First Presbyterian Church in Lexington with Rev. Charlie Shedd officiating. Carl and Velma started their married life in the house on "the Hill place".
In 1954, they purchased the "Cole Quarter". In November of 1957, they bought the farm north of Horseshoe Bend where they built and moved into a new home in February 1961. They lived in that home for nearly 40 years until moving into Park Avenue assisted living in December 2000.
He was a life-long resident of Lexington where he farmed and fed livestock. In 1970, he established Rickertsen, Inc. He was a member of Lexington Rotary Club, long-time leader of the Dawson Livestock 4-H Club, active Farm Bureau member where he served in several leadership positions, and former member of the Plum Creekers. He was also a 73-year member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder, a trustee, and a long-time men's Sunday school class teacher.
Carl is survived by his wife of 60 years, Velma; four children Dennis (Yvonne) of Lexington, Connie (Richard) Francis of North Platte, Nebraska, Dian (Jamie) Lauby and Deb (Curt) Harkless all of Lexington; seven grandchildren Jeremy (Andrea) Childress, Brad Childress, and Rene (Doug) Sykes, all of Kearney, Nebraska, Gail (Doug) Saathoff of Trumbull, Nebraska, Kathryn, Christine and Rebecca Rickertsen of Lexington, and one great grandson, Jacob Sykes of Kearney.
Carl is also survived by two brothers, Henry of Lexington, and William of Gothenburg, Nebraska; and four sisters, Anna Hilton of Elwood, Nebraska, Else Biehl of Lexington, Frida Cline of Gothenburg, and Betty Clark of Lexington.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Chris.
Memorial services were held Tuesday, December 16, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Lexington, with Rev. Caroline Vickery officiating.
Inurnment was in Mt. Hope Cemetery near Lexington.
Memorials are kindly suggested to the First Presbyterian Church or Donor's Choice.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington, was in charge of arrangements.
