U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Don Ingram
OMAHA -- Don Vernon Ingram, 83, of Omaha, formerly of Aurora, died Thursday, Feb. 11, 1999, in an Omaha hospital.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Aurora. The Rev. John Keefe will officiate. Burial will be in the Aurora Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m., with a 7 p.m. rosary, Sunday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora.
Mr. Ingram was born on July 18, 1915, at Axtell to Vernon and Effie (Johnson) Ingram. He grew up on a farm near Axtell and graduated from Axtell High School. Following graduation, he worked on the family farm north of Kearney.
The family moved to Aurora in 1938, and he owned and operated the Sinclair Service Station and Cafe with his father.
He married
Ruby Strotman on Oct. 12, 1940, at Aurora.
After graduating from Lincoln Aeronautical Institute, they moved to Los Angeles, where he worked at Lockheed building P-38 airplanes for World War II. In 1945, he returned to Aurora, where he worked on the family farm. He worked for Phillips Petroleum Fertilizer Sales until his retirement in 1977.
He was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Omaha, the Knights of Columbus and the Elks.
He was known for his homemade ice cream. A Cornhusker fan, he enjoyed attending the football games and tailgating in his motor home. He enjoyed boating, pitch, his motor home and had toured 48 states.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Ronald and Russell, both of Omaha; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Gordon Bigger
Gordon Harvey Bigger, 86, of Grand Island, formerly of Aurora, died Saturday, Jan. 9, 1999, at his home.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Aurora United Methodist Church. The Rev. Joe Scahill will officiate. Burial will be in the Aurora Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora.
Mr. Bigger was born on Sept. 1, 1912, at Aurora to Joseph and Julia (Matthews) Bigger.
He attended District 6 School and Aurora Public School. He spent most of his life in Hamilton County, except for four years in Gering.
He married
Olga Christensen on June 3, 1933, at Grand Island. They farmed throughout their marriage and moved into Aurora on Aug. 19, 1977. They moved to Grand Island on Nov. 11, 1997.
He was a member of the Aurora United Methodist Church, was a 4-H leader for many years and had been a member of the Aurora Lions Club. He enjoyed playing cards and reading.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Gordon Jr. "Bud" of Grand Island; one daughter, Ruth Ann (Mrs. Donald) Lif of Lexington; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, William and Charles; and five sisters, Alice Henthorn, Pearl Wilson, Laura Stokesbary, Mabel Obermeier and Mary Connell.
Harold Hitchler
Harold M. "Babe" Hitchler, 77, of 1124 W. Fourth died Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999, at the St. Francis Memorial Health Center Skilled Care Unit.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home. The Rev. Joel Schroeder will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Memorials are suggested to St. Pauls Lutheran Church or the donor's choice.
Mr. Hitchler was born on Dec. 26, 1921, at Abbott to Matthew and Mary (Dickman) Hitchler. He grew up in rural Abbott and was educated in a rural school.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, from July 22, 1942, to Oct. 25, 1945.
He married
Elaine Claussen on June 8, 1947, in Grand Island. Mr. Hitchler worked as a carpenter for John Claussen and Sons Construction and Geer-Melkus Construction.
He was a member of St. Pauls Lutheran Church and the Platt-Duetsche Society.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Kathy (Mrs. Bill) Bartunek of Grand Island; two sons, Rich Hitchler of North Platte and Rod Hitchler of Grand Island; seven grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and two sisters, Irene Todriss of Hemet, Calif., and Mary Oldam of Grand Island.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Gaylon.
Ronald Hulme
Ronald "Ron" L. Hulme, 64, of 510 E. Ninth died Monday, Jan. 4, 1999, at his home after a lengthy illness.
Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Grand Island Family Church. The Rev. H. Allen Runyon will officiate.
Mr. Hulme was cremated.
Kleine Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Kenneth Lewis
Kenneth L. Lewis, 78, of Grand Island died Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Shelton United Methodist Church. The Rev. Charles Spence will officiate. Burial will be in the Shelton cemetery with military rites provided by Shelton American Legion Post 297.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary in Kearney and prior to the services Thursday at the church.
Memorials are planned to the Shelton American Legion, the church or the family's choice.
Mr. Lewis was born on Sept. 20, 1920, in Albia, Iowa, to Fred and Amy (Murfin) Lewis. He grew up in Albia and graduated from Albia High School in 1937.
He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Air Force from 1940 to 1945. After the service, he returned to Albia.
He married
Betty Lou Stagemeyer on Sept. 25, 1949, at Holbrock. They lived in various locations while he worked as a heavy equipment mechanic. The couple moved to Shelton in 1966 and lived there until moving to Grand Island in 1996.
Mr. Lewis was a member of the Methodist Church, the Eagles in Grand Island, Kearney American Legion Post 52 and the Liederkranz and Platt-Duetsche in Grand Island. He enjoyed dancing and playing cards.
Survivors include one daughter, Kathy Nuttelman of Amherst; one son, Rick Lewis of Amherst; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one brother, Bill Lewis of Mission Viejo, Calif.; and one sister, Drentha Mitchel of Albia, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his wife and one brother.
Edna Barrett
ALBION -- Edna Pearl Barrett, 89, of Albion, formerly of Broken Bow, died Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999, at Wolf Memorial Good Samaritan Center in Albion.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow. The Rev. Fred Roedger will officiate. Burial will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m., with a 7 p.m. prayer service, Wednesday at Levander Funeral Home in Albion. The Rev. Terry Otto will officiate.
Betty Brewer
LITCHFIELD -- Betty Jane Brewer, 74, of Litchfield died Sunday, Jan. 10, 1999, at her home.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Litchfield Christian Church. The Rev. Kenneth Woolery will officiate. Burial will be in the Litchfield Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the church.
Rasmussen Mortuary in Ravenna is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Brewer was born on March 25, 1924, in Buffalo County to Howard and Gail (Grant) Fread. She attended Brown School near Litchfield and graduated from Litchfield High School in 1941. After attending normal training, she taught school for several years.
She married
Archie Brewer on Dec. 28, 1944, in Loup City. The couple lived in Corpus Christi, Texas, while Mr. Brewer was in the Navy. They returned to the Litchfield area, where they farmed. They later bought a farm 10 miles southwest of Litchfield, where they farmed until retiring in 1984.
Mrs. Brewer was a member of the Litchfield Christian Church, Eldor Grove Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Community Club, Clear Creek Card Club and Wheelers and Dealers.
Survivors include her husband; one son, Ronald Brewer of Minden; two daughters, Rhonda Wardyn and Kristy Hird, both of Litchfield; 12 grandchildren; four great-granddaughters; five brothers, Russell of Grand Island, Wilbur of Litchfield, Laroy of Kearney and John and Robert, both of Pleasanton; and one sister, Nita Beckham of Pleasanton.
