U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Obituaries Published April 12, 2001
Ruth Rathbun
Ruth Marie Rathbun, 92, the daughter of William H. and Ida (Somerhalder) Rathbun, was born Jan. 23, 1909, on a farm in Webster County, west Guide Rock. She died Friday at the Brodstone Memorial Nuckolls County Hospital in Superior.
In March , 1913, the family moved to a farm near the Republican River they were buying in Jewell County Kansas. Ruth, her mother and two younger brothers went with a horse and buggy in a procession of hayracks full of their possessions, wagons, horses, cattle and dog to their new home.
She attended Valley View Country School and graduated from Superior High School as the class valedictorian. She had missed the year of 1926-27 with typhoid fever. She taught rural schools in Webster, Nuckolls and Jewell counties. She retired in 1971. For 11 years she worked at the Farmers Union Creamery office in Superior, and Newhouse Porter Insurance in Nelson, In 1981 Ruth and her brother, Waldon, retired to Superior.
When in her 50s, she completed her formal education by attending two years of training at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Ruth was contracted to teach one grade in Lincoln, Neb., but returned home to teach at Valley View School, which was going to be closed because it did not have a teacher with a degree.
She researched and edited the Jacob Somerhalder family history and genealogy. The store of a father and four sons, early Nebraska homesteaders from Switzerland coming to America.
She was a member of Centennial Lutheran Church, Valley View Club, past president of B.P.W , charter member of Superior Retired Teacher's Association, N.S.T.A.; N.E.A., AARP, and N.U. alumni Association.
She is preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Paul Rathbun, and two infant siblings.
Survivors include her brother, Waldon Rathbun, a sister, Mrs. Ray Czirr (Rose), all of Superior; and a sister, Naomi Mueller, Nelson.
Services were held Tuesday at the Centennial Lutheran Church in Superior. The Rev. Paul Albrecht officiated. Interment was in the Valley View Cemetery.
Williams Funeral Home of Superior, was in charge of arrangements.
Ralph Hamel
Ralph Edward Hamel, 83, died April 2, at his home in Clinton, Wash. He was born Feb. 28, 1918, on a farm near Nora, to Charley and Bertha Hamel. He had three brothers and three sisters.
In 1940 he joined the United States Army and served with C Battery, 218 Field Artillery of the 41st Division at Fort Lewis, Wash. He was in combat in the jungles of New Guinea and the Philippines for nearly three years and was awarded the Silver Star for "Gallantry in action on Mt. Tambu, New Guinea, on July 27, 1943," while serving as a forward observer with Australian and U.S. Infantry troops. He attained the rank of sergeant and was discharged at Fort Lewis, Wash., on July 17, 1945.
He was a commercial and industrial electrician and a 50-year member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers before retiring in 1983 in Santa Ana, Calif.
He was married in Bennington, Neb., June 8, 1947, to Bernette (Denny) Hadan, After rearing their family and retiring from work, they enjoyed many years of RV travel all over the U.S. and Canada. In 1999 they moved from Prescott, Ariz., to Clinton, Wash.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years; their daughter, Mrs. Terry Thomas (Karen), Clinton, Wash.; a son, Kent Hamel, Brea, Calif.; one sister, Doris Oleson, Holdrege, and four grandchildren.
A private memorial service will be held with intermenty at Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent, Wash.
Obituaries Published February 7, 2002
Naomi Olsen
Naomi Olsen, 93, Fairbury, died Feb. 4 at Heritage Care Center, Fairbury.
Services are at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow (Friday) at Faith Lutheran Church, Fairbury, with burial in Spring Creek Cemetery, Ruskin, at 2 p.m.
Mrs. Olsen was born Aug. 19, 1908, to Marie (Hansen) and Ever Petersen at Hardy.
She married Sheldon Olsen and was a homemaker.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Richard Krause (Elinor), Fairbury; and Cheryl Swartz, Fort Collins, Colo.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home, Fairbury, is in charge of arrangements.
Mike Menhusen
Mike Menhusen, 66, Lawrence, Kan., died Jan. 30 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
Funeral services were Feb. 4 at Calvary Temple Church, Lawrence, with burial in Memorial Park Cemetery, Lawrence.
Julius Waterman
Julius Waterman died Jan 29 at the Jewell County Hospital.
Charles (Don) Doher
Charles Donald Doher, 86, the son of Roy Steven and Lula (Trussell) Doher, was born April 4, 1915, on a farm near Franklin. He died last Wednesday at the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, Lincoln, Neb.
A graduate of Nelson High School, he served in the US Army during World War II. He served in the Philippines and Japan as an engineer. On Sept. 28, 1947 he married Winona Ruth Batie at Lexington. To this union four children were born. He operated a grain business and petroleum transport company in Nelson and Davenport. Upon his retirement from the grain business, they purchased Superior's Plains Motel in 1988. He was a member of the Nelson Community Church of Christ, the Tehama Shrine, Hastings, the Nelson Masonic Lodge, the Nelson VFW and American Legion, Superior Elks Lodge, honorary and charter member of Silver Wings Fraternity, a flying organization.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his adopted son, Stanley Doher; daughter, Luann Doher Wilson, granddaughter and brother, Steven Doher.
He is survived by his wife, Lincoln, a son, Robert Doher, Alvo, Neb., a daughter, Mrs. Thomas Hood (Connie), Hallam; a son, Sidney Doher, Lincoln, Neb. eight grandchildren; one great-grandson; and a sister, Patricia Thayer, Nelson.
Services were held Saturday from the Nelson Community United Church of Christ with Royce Schott officiating.
Interment was in the Nelson Cemetery.
Klawitter-Price Funeral Home, Nelson, was in charge of arrangements.
Albert (Toby) Wyatt
Albert Arthur Wyatt, 66, the son of Albert A. and Frances I. (Burge) Wyatt, was born Aug. 23, 1935, at his parents farm home near Webber. He died Jan. 29 at his home in Superior.
Toby, as he was best known grew up in the Craig, Mo., area where he attended school through his freshman year. The family moved back to Kansas and he graduated from Lovewell High School in 1953. After graduating he started working for the railroad.
On June 30, 1956, he married Jacqueline L. Duncan in Superior. They were blessed with five children. Together they traveled as a family harvest crew, living two years in Minnesota. They moved back to the Superior area where he was employed at the Ideal Cement Plant for 16 years until the plant closed. He also worked for 15 years at Butler Air Service before his retirement until his death he did farm work for Jim Butler and Bill Erickson.
He belonged to the National Rifle Association and was a lifetime member of the North American Hunting Club. He was also a member of the Mid-West Lure Coursing Association.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping and he taught his children the love of these sports. He went elk hunting in the Colorado Mountains every year, as well as several other hunting trips with family and friends. He also did a lot of coyote hunting with the greyhounds that he and Jackie, raised and trained.
Preceding him in death was an infant son, Toby Lee Wyatt, and an infant sister.
Those surviving include his parents, Albert and Frances Wyatt, Webber; his wife, Jacqueline, Superior; daughters, Mrs. Craig Jones (Peg), Beatrice; Valli Wyatt, Guide Rock; sons, Alan, Superior and Loren, Dolores, Colo.; and six grandchildren.
Services were held Saturday from the Megrue-Price Funeral Home Chapel in Superior, with Danny Jackson officiating.
Interment was in the Evergreen Cemetery.
Donna Wilhelms
Donna June Wilhelms, 75, the daughter of William C. and Clara M. (Walreath) Larkins, was born Sep. 2, 1926 at Ruskin. She died Jan. 29, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Raised in Ruskin, she graduated from Ruskin High School. On Feb. 11, 1954, af Fairbury, she married Leonard Wilhelms, this union was blessed with seven children.
She worked as a nurse at the Thayer County Hospital and also the Superior Good Samaritan Center. She was the ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens) assistant coach for the Special Olympics. She took care of her son, Robert, until she could no longer do it.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband, Leonard, Oct. 17, 1974; a son, Randy Marks; one grandson, and two sisters, Dorothy White and Joan Hiatt.
Survivors include her sons, Jim Gray, Clay Center, Neb.; Robert Wilhelms, Hastings; and Tom Wilhelms, Superior; daughters, Mrs. Denny Mohler (Judy), Mrs. Scott Duncan (Patricia), Hastings; Mrs. Steve Rogers (Cindy), Buhler, Kan.; two sisters, Mrs. Bill Dixon (Katherine), Superior and Jean Jordan, Edgewater, Colo.; three brothers, Irvin Larkins and Gary Jordan, Grand Island, and Bill Larkins, Deshler; 19 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services were held Friday from the Megrue-Price Funeral Home Chapel in Superior, with Pastor John Green officiating.
Interment was in the Evergreen Cemetery.
Gladys Etherton Knigge
Gladys Etherton Knigge, 95, the daughter of Bruno and Caroline (Hoppner) Schneiber, was born Jan. 21, 1907, south of Inavale. She died Jan. 28, at Bryan LGH-East, Lincoln.
She received her formal education attending rural school and graduated from Red Cloud High School in 1927. On Oct. 31, 1927, she married Lue Rudolph Etherton at Mankato. They made their home together farming in Webster County, and moved into Guide Rock in 1948. She operated a cafe in Guide Rock, and later worked at the Red Cloud nursing home. Her husband, Lue, died April 25, 1966. In 1966, she married Art Knigge. They lived in Guide Rock until 1969, when they moved to Red Cloud. In 1972, she moved to Harvard, and in 1988 she moved to Lincoln.
In her leisure time she enjoyed crocheting, baking and cooking.
Preceding her in death were her husbands; a daughter, Dorothy Chapman; a son, James Etherton; grandson, Richard Hoins, two sisters, Marguerite Laird and Bertha Pounds; and three brothers, William, Charles and Ervin Schnieber.
Survivors include: two sons, Wayne Etherton, Lincoln and Lue Etherton, York; daughter Mrs. Ralph Hoins (Joan), Superior; 22 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; 25 great-great grandchildren and a sister, Caroline Marie Bauer, Lincoln.
Services were Saturday from the Guide Rock Baptist Church, Guide Rock with the Rev. Leslie Warner, officiating.
Burial was in Guide Rock Cemetery, Guide Rock, Neb.
Audrey C. Kirchhoff
Audrey C. Kirchhoff, 57, Kansas City, Mo. died Dec. 24. Services were held Dec. 27 at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Burial was in the Mount Moriah Terrace Park Cemetery, Parkville, Mo.
She was born May 29, 1944, in Superior, Neb. She attended North Kansas City High school but graduated in Superior, Neb., in 1962. She was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.
She was preceded in death by her father, La Verne C. Gould, mother, Mary I. A. Gould, brothers, Frederick Lee Gould and Dennis Dee Gould along with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Jay Gould, and grandfather, George Fred Trumbull.
She is survived by her husband;, Roger, sons, Kelly, Chicago, Ill., and Todd, Columbus Ohio, three grandchildren and two brothers, Darryl and Pat Gould; sister, Carol Barber all of Kansas City; three nieces and 10 nephews.
Irene Ostdiek
Lawrence resident Irene D. (Schroer) Ostdiek, 86, died Sunday at Good Samaritan Center, Nelson.
Rosary was Wednesday and services are today (Thursday) at 10:30 a.m., both at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Lawrence. The Rev. Dennis Hunt will officiate. Burial will be in St. Stephen's Cemetery south of Lawrence.
Mrs. Ostdiek was born March 16, 1915, to Joseph H. and Johanna (Menke) Schroer in Lawrence. She graduated from St. Stephen's Catholic School. On May 11, 1949, she married Herman R. Ostdiek at St. Stephen's Catholic Church. They farmed southwest of Mt. Clare until her husband died, July 5, 1970. She then moved into Lawrence.
She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Altar Society. She also was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary in Lawrence.
Survivors are five sons, John, Ed and Ray all of Lawrence, Vern of Muscotah, Kan., and Frank of David City; two daughters, Marge Buescher and Marie Herbek, both of Deweese; and 17 grandchildren.
She also was preceded in death by three brothers and one sister.
Myrtle Lindquist
Myrtle Grace Lindquist, 76, the daughter of Arthur and Annie (Hall) Lindquist, was born Aug. 6, 1925, in Hong Kong. She died Friday at the Good Samaritan Center, Superior.
She lived the first half of her life living in China and Hong Kong with her parents, who were Evangelical Free Church missionaries. Her father died as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in 1960. In 1970, she moved with her mother to the United States where she resided in a number of cities. On Oct. 8, 1979, she moved to Superior where she made her home with Mid-Nebraska Individual Services until the time of her death.
Although she was legally blind all her life, she was an accomplished musician. She learned to play the piano by ear and also enjoyed the accordian and autoharp. The love she possessed for music included Blue Grass and she made trips to Colorado for their annual Blue Grass Festival, where she made many friends. For many years she made necklaces for the immunization clinic. Her Christian faith was important to her, as she listened to tapes of the Bible, and attended the Baptist Church.
Preceding her in death were her parents; her father in July 1960; her mother in December of 1988; her twin sister, Violet Hope in 1965; and a niece.
Survivors include her brother, Oscar, Dallas, Texas; a sister, Mrs. Adrian Dickson (Carol Joy), Port Washington, Wisc., an aunt of Holdrege; nine nieces and nephews.
Services were Tuesday at the Baptist Church in Superior, Neb. The Rev. Leslie Warner officiated. Interment was in the Keene Cemetery, Keene, Neb. Williams Funeral Home, Superior, was in charge of arrangements.
George Hoit
Guide Rock resident George G. Hoit, 66, died Saturday at Heritage Care Center, Red Cloud.
Services were Wednesday at Calvary Lutheran Church, Rosemont, with the Rev. William Caughey officiating. Burial was in Red Cloud Cemetery.
Mr. Hoit was born Jan. 20, 1936, to Leo and Helen (Colburn) Hoit in Inavale. He graduated from Eckley Consolidated School in 1954. On Sept. 15, 1957, he married Roxine Crawford at Rosemont. They farmed and raised cattle north of Guide Rock.
He was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church, serving as church treasure for several years. He served on the Red Cloud Farmers Co-op board of directors for 18 years.
Survivors are his wife: one daughter, Julie Stitt, Red Cloud; two sons, Neal and Terry, both of Guide Rock; his mother of Red Cloud; one brother, James, Guide Rock; six grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by a sister.
