U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Ruth Ice
GIBBON -- Ruth C. Ice, 87, of Gibbon died Saturday, Jan. 10, 1998, at Mother Hull Home in Kearney.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Baptist Church in Gibbon. The Rev. Robert Flynn will officiate. Burial will be in Riverside cemetery in Gibbon.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Godberson Mortuary in Gibbon. Memorials are suggested to the church.
Godberson Mortuary in Gibbon and Shelton is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Ice was born April 21, 1910, in Peru to Marshal and Ida (Schultz) Adams. She grew there and graduated from Peru High School. She attended Peru State College, graduating in 1932.
She married
Kenneth Ice on Nov. 28, 1936, in Valley Falls, Kan. They lived on a farm southwest of Gibbon. She taught school for 36 1/2 years, spending 33 years at Gibbon Elementary School. He died in 1978. She moved to Mother Hill Home in Kearney in 1994.
She was a member of the Baptist Church in Gibbon, Eastern Star, Mid State Rock Club, N.C.H.A.-Prairie Schooner Camping Club and Yankee Girls. She also served as arts and textiles superintendent at the Buffalo County Fair for 40 years.
Survivors include one sister, Louise Cartwright of Phoenix.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by five brothers and three sisters.
Mavis Ottens
BURWELL -- Mavis A. Ottens, 68, of Burwell died Sunday, Jan. 11, 1998, at her home.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Congregational Church in Burwell. The Rev. Ray Avidano will officiate. Burial will be in Cottonwood cemetery in Burwell.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Eberle-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell, with a prayer service at 7 p.m.
Memorials are suggested to the church or Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell.
Clara Shafer
PALMER -- Clara M. Shafer, 73, of Palmer, formerly of Elba, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 1998, at Howard County Hospital in St. Paul.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at Church of Christ in Palmer. The Revs. Denton R. Jantzi and Jerry Quandt will officiate. Burial will be in Shelton Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Greenway-Palmer Funeral Home in Palmer.
Mrs. Shafer was born Sept. 2, 1924, to Burt and Ada Senyard in Cody, Wyo. She grew up in the Christian Home in Holdrege and graduated from Holdrege High School.
She married
Dewey L. Leach in 1941 in Holdrege. They lived in Oregon for several years before returning to Nebraska.
She married
William Shafer on Oct. 26, 1964, in Chandler, Okla. They lived in several towns, including Shelton and Alda, along Interstate 80 while he worked as a gravel pumper for construction companies during the interstate's construction.
They owned and operated Hank's Patio Cafe in Elmwood and owned an auction house in Ashland.
They retired in 1978 and moved to Elba. They have lived at Community Care of America in Palmer for the past year.
She was a member of Rebekah Lodge in Shelton.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, William "Butch" Shafer of Kearney and Charles Leach of Holdrege; four daughters, Emma Christensen of Alda, Jeannette (Mrs. Dick) Haag of Palmer, Donna (Mrs. Walter) Umphress of Elba and Diana (Mrs. Kenneth) Nelson of Ord; 33 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by three brothers, Albert, Jack and Walter.
Bertha Bills
COLUMBUS -- Bertha H. Bills, 87, of Columbus, formerly of Fullerton, died Sunday, Jan. 11, 1998, at Columbus Manor in Columbus.
Services are pending at Palmer Funeral Home in Fullerton.
Gladys Martin
NEWMAN GROVE -- Gladys I. Martin, 95, of Newman Grove, formerly of Albion, died Friday, Jan. 9, 1998, at Mid-Nebraska Lutheran Home in Newman Grove.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at United Methodist Church in Albion. The Rev. Eric Biehl will officiate. Burial will be in Rose Hill cemetery in Albion.
Visitation is from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Levander Funeral Home in Albion.
Mrs. Martin was born on Dec. 29, 1902, to Alfred T. and Jennie (Watt) Hill on her parents' farm in Boone County. She attended District No. 18 school and graduated from Albion High School in 1921. She taught school in Boone County for two years.
She married
Lester O. Martin on June 21, 1923, at her parents' farm west of Albion. The couple farmed near St. Edward until 1937, when they moved to a farm northwest of Albion. They farmed there until retiring in 1965 and then moved to Albion.
He died on Dec. 3, 1989. She moved to Mid-Nebraska Lutheran Home in March 1994.
She was a member of United Methodist Church in Albion and United Methodist Women.
Survivors include two sons, Lester of Albion and Gary of Grand Island; nine grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a great-grandson; two brothers, James and Wendell; and two sisters, Fern and Viola.
C. Arthur Swanson
HOLDREGE -- C. Arthur Swanson, 80, of Holdrege died Saturday, Jan. 10, 1998, at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Holdrege. The Revs. James McVicar and Donald Leff will officiate. Burial will be in Prairie Home cemetery at Holdrege.
Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Nelson-Harris Funeral Home in Holdrege.
Mr. Swanson was born Nov. 13, 1917, to Walford and Elizabeth (Davidson) Swanson on a farm northeast of Holdrege. He attended District Nos. 48 and 25 before graduating from Holdrege High School in 1935.
He married
Helen L. Davis on May 1, 1945. The couple lived in Holdrege, where he worked at Kizzier-Anderson Chevrolet as a salesman. He later worked at Loar-Leffler Ford and spent the last 15 years at Dannull Engine Service and Auto Sales.
Mr. Swanson was a member of First Baptist Church in Holdrege, B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge, United Commercial Travelers, Optimist Club and a charter member of F.O.E. Eagles Aerie No. 3132. He served various positions with the local and state Aerie organizations and was state president in 1968-69.
He helped establish the Boys Ranch in Alliance and chose the ranch as his state project while serving as state president. He served as treasurer of the Senior Citizens Center's board of directors in Holdrege.
He and his wife were crowned Swedish king and queen for 1991-92 during the annual Swedish Days.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Franklin "Dee" of Holdrege and James of Grand Island; one daughter, Patricia L. (Mrs. Wayne) DeCamp of Munroe Falls, Ohio; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and one brother, Thomas of Holdrege.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Clara Wells.
Goldie Adams
HASTINGS -- Goldie E. Adams, 81, of Hastings died Thursday, May 21, 1998, at Perkins Pavilion.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church. The Rev. Walter Bye will officiate. Burial will be in the Rosedale Cemetery.
Visitation will be from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Brand-Wilson Mortuary.
Mrs. Adams was born on May 1, 1917, at Hordville to Frank and Hilda (Miller) Fossberg.
She married
John Adams on Sept. 8, 1940. She was a homemaker and also worked with her husband at Bert's Drug Store.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church, Phi Sigma Alpha sorority and Lydia Circle at the church.
Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Mary Adams of Hastings; a son, James Adams of Marshalltown, Iowa; two grandchildren; one sister, Sylvia Sandell of Polk; and one brother, Gordon Fossberg of Polk.
She was preceded in death by three sisters and three brothers.
