U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Keith Pilger
A memorial service for Keith Stanford Pilger, 76, formerly of Norfolk and Pilger, was conducted Jan. 3 at the Canyon Lake, Calif., Country Club.
He died Dec. 17, 2005.
He was born in Pilger on Nov. 7, 1929, and was the only son of Adam and Lucille Pilger. He grew up in Norfolk and graduated from Norfolk High and Norfolk Junior College before going on to the University of Wyoming and graduating with a degree in engineering.
He was the great-nephew of August Pilger, who settled the town of Norfolk, and also the great-nephew of John Peter Pilger, who settled the town of Pilger. His great-grandfather, Adam Pilger, was county treasurer of Stanton County in 1893 and was mayor of Pilger before serving two terms in the Nebraska State Legislature from 1904-1913.
Keith began his career in air research in Tucson, Ariz., before moving his family to Santa Barbara, Calif., in 1964. He worked for Hughes Air Craft and another company called Pneu Devices Inc., where he was program manager for the space shuttle orbiter program. He was responsible for the the hydraulic circulation pumps on each of the space shuttles. His extra pump brought Apollo 13 home.
He retired to Canyon Lake, Calif., in 1994. He was a basketball and football referee for 25 years and an avid reader and golfer.
Keith was preceded in death by his wife, Marge, of 47 years and his grandson, David Martin.
Keith is survived by his three children, Cindy Martin (Dennis) of Phoenix, Scott Pilger of Paso Robles, Calif., and Stacey Lynch (John) of Phoenix, and his seven grandchildren, Kristen Martin, Michael Martin, Caila Pilger, Kyle Pilger, Caleb Lynch, Amy Lynch and Carly Lynch.
Walter Schellpeper
STANTON - Services for Walter E. Schellpeper, 91, of Stanton will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at New England Congregational Church here with burial in the Stanton Cemetery. Visitation will be 3-8 p.m. Friday at Shultz-Vogel-Johnson Mortuary in Stanton.
He died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006, at Stanton Health Center.
Walter Ernest Schellpeper was born to William and Anna (May) Schellpeper on June 19, 1914, on the family farm northeast of Stanton. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in rural Stanton County. He received his education in rural school District 23 and Bega High School, graduating in 1929, then attended Stanton High School, graduating with the class of 1932.
On April 5, 1941 at Pierce, he was united in marriage to Evelyn Joy Perkins, and three children were born to this union, a son, Rodney, and twin daughters, Juliana and Juliet. The family farmed until 1985 when they moved into Stanton.
Walter served on the Stanton County Fair Board for 35 years and was well known for attending the garden vegetable exhibits for many years at the Stanton County Fair. He also served as 4-H club leader and was a past member of the 4-H County Council for many years. Walter was a cattle feeder and was a past member of the Stanton County Feeder’s Association. He also served as secretary of rural school District 23 for several years and was a member of the Masonic Lodge 41 and the New England Congregational United Church of Christ.
In 1999, Walter received the Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award, and in 2001, he received the Joe Bstandig Award during the Stanton County Fair.
Survivors include a son, Rodney and his wife, Wally Ann of Pueblo, Colo.; and two daughters, Juliana Johnson and her husband, Jerry of Omaha, and Juliet Stern and her husband, Jerry of Houston, Texas.; five grandchildren, Sarah and Ron Klinetobe of O’Neill, Ryan and Karena Schellpeper of Westminster, Colo., Kyle Schellpeper of Omaha, Kara and Amy Johnson, also of Omaha, and three great-grandchildren, Katlynn Matthews and Brooke Klinetobe of O’Neill and Anna Schellpeper of Westminster, Colo.
His wife, Evelyn, in 2004, his parents, two sisters and three brothers preceded him in death.
Officiating will be the Rev. Dr. Suzanne B. Burris.
Pamela Winter
Pamela A. Winter, 57, Lincoln, died Monday, Jan. 30, 2006, after an eight-year battle with breast cancer.
A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Sheridan Lutheran Church in Lincoln with inurnment at Lincoln Memorial Park. Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home is in charge.
Memorials are directed to St. Elizabeth Foundation Radiation Therapy Center in Lincoln.
She was born at Bedford, Ohio, on Feb. 12, 1948, to Lanier and Elsie (Peattie) Carrier. She was a member of Sheridan Lutheran Church. She graduated from Lincoln Southeast High School and Hastings College. She was a former junior high math teacher in Trumbull and Palmyra.
Survivors include her husband, Randy; a son, Jeremy Winter of Kansas City, Kan.; daughter and son-in-law, Deana Winter and Tug Newett of Kansas City, Mo.; mother, Elsie Carrier of Ft. Myers, Fla.; granddaughter, Cienna Newett of Kansas City, Mo.; brother and sister-in-law, James and Pam Carrier of Lincoln; sisters and brothers-in-law, Michelle and Lynn Hinton of Lincoln and Donna and Mike Smith of Bennet; nephew, Daniel Carrier of Lincoln; nieces, Lauren and Melissa Hinton of Lincoln, Kara St. John of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Rachel Smith of Bennet; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gordon and Jane Winters of Norfolk; a niece, Krystal Winter, and nephew, Neal Winter, both of Norfolk. She was preceded in death by her father.
Donn Hank
WAKEFIELD - Services for Donn Hank, 57, of Wakefield will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church here with burial in the parish cemetery and military rites. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at Schumacher-Hasemann Funeral Home in Wayne.
He died Monday, Jan. 30, 2006, at Providence Medical Center.
James Murphy
WISNER - Services for James P. “Jimmy” Murphy, 80, Wisner, are pending at Kuzelka-Minnick Funeral Home here. He died Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006, at Wisner Care Center.
Betty Peters
BLOOMFIELD - Services for Betty J. Peters, 84, Bloomfield, will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Christ Memorial United Methodist Church here with burial in the Bloomfield City Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at Brockhaus Funeral Home in Bloomfield.
She died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006, at the Good Samaritan Center.
Betty Jane Peters, daughter of Dr. Clarence E. and Christina (Christensen) Rodgers, was born Aug. 7, 1921, at Osmond. She attended Osmond schools, graduating in 1938.
On Nov. 3, 1940, she was married to Woodrow H. Freeman. Four children were born to them, Royce, Rodger, Leland and Imogene. The couple lived in Osmond before moving to the Bloomfield community in 1944 to take up farming. They retired in 1973, moving into Bloomfield.
After Woodrow passed away, Betty was married to Raymond Busskohl on July 23, 1989. They resided in Bloomfield and wintered in Texas. On Jan. 18, 2003, Betty married Kenneth M. Peters. They lived in Bloomfield and Wausa.
Betty was a member of the United Methodist Church and also a member of PEO. She was involved in 4-H, Women’s Home Extension Club, United Methodist Women Bible Circle and was an avid button collector and cake decorator for many years.
Survivors include her husband, Kenneth Peters; her children and their spouses, Royce and Elena Freeman of San Diego, Calif., Rodger and Debi Freeman of Bloomfield, Leland and Ellen Freeman of Bloomfield, Imogene and Keith Brasch of Wayne; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; stepchildren, Sharon (Busskohl) Schurman of Schuyler, Joyce (Busskohl) True of Minnesota, Margaret (Peters) and Joe Stanek of Wahoo, Mike and Carol Peters of Pierce, Nadine (Peters) and Keith Oetting of McCook, Anita (Peters) and Allen Winder of Las Vegas, Nev., Kelvin and Diane Peters of Wausa, Beth (Peters) and Jerry Payne of Woodbine, Iowa; sisters, Dorothy Friedrich of Plainview and Evelyn Winter of Pierce; brothers, James Rodgers of Lincoln and Gary Rodgers of Parker, Colo.; several stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Woody; husband, Ray; and a brother, Robert Rodgers.
Walter Schellpeper
STANTON - Services for Walter Schellpeper, 91, of Stanton will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at New England Congregational Church here with burial in the Stanton Cemetery. Visitation will be 3-8 p.m. Friday at Shultz-Vogel-Johnson Mortuary.
Michael Strecker
Services for Michael W. Strecker, 47, Humphrey, will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church at Falls City. Interment will be in Maple Cemetery at Salem with military honors by the Falls City Ceremonial Honor Guard.
A rosary will be recited Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home in Falls City.
He died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006 at Norfolk.
Amanda Thomas
Services were conducted at Maryhouse Chapel in Pierre, S.D., for Amanda Thomas, 26, Pierre. Burial was in Scotty Philip Cemetery at Ft. Pierre.
She died Monday, Jan. 23, 2006, at St. Mary’s Hospital. Isburg Funeral Chapel of Pierre was in charge.
A memorial has been established at Bankwest.
Amanda was born July 24, 1979, in Pierre to Harrold and Linda (Miller) Niehoff. She grew up in Midland, attended Midland Elementary School, later moved to Hayes, Sturgis, Mitchell and eventually settled in Pierre. She received her GED from the Right Turn.
Amanda worked as a CNA at Maryhouse Nursing Care Center. She was united in marriage with Jim Thomas in Pierre on Feb. 26, 2004. She enjoyed music and especially summertime.
Amanda is survived by her husband, Jim Thomas; son Nathan and daughter Schauntel, all of Pierre; her mom, Linda of Gillette, Wyo.; three brothers, Cassidy Niehoff of Beresford, Brad Niehoff of Rapid City, S.D., and Zachery Holter of Gillette; three sisters, Brenda Atack of Pierre, Angela Van Cleave of Rapid City and Brandy Houck of Ft. Pierre.
She was preceded in death by her father, Harrold Niehoff.
Terrence Wright
Terrence C. Wright, 70, of Denver, Colo., died Nov. 16, 2005, after a year’s struggle with cancer. A memorial service was held Nov. 28 at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church at Thornton, Colo.
He was born Jan. 24, 1935, to Esther Charles Wright and the Rev. Alfred Lee Wright in Bertrand. The settling of his father in subsequent Methodist pastorates took the family to Manhattan and Westmoreland, Kan., and Laurel, Waverly and Lincoln.
Terry graduated from Laurel High School in 1952 and attended many of the high school reunions. In Lincoln he enrolled first at Nebraska Wesleyan and later at the University of Nebraska, earning a BS in architectural engineering and a master’s in architectural design.
After beginning work for an architectural firm in Omaha, he met Karen Nelson. They were married in 1958. In 1961, Terry decided to study for the Methodist ministry, entering Iliff Theological Seminary in Denver. As a divinity student, he served the Methodist church in Hlllrose, Colo., and in Ogallala, where he was associate pastor. After ordination in 1967, he held that title at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church at Lincoln.
Terry and Karen joined the Ecumenical Institute/Institute of Cultural Affairs in 1969, relocating with their two children to Chicago to do project work for that organization. Beginning in 1970, Terry suffered recurrent problems with bipolar disease. During this struggle, Terry returned to architecture in the Denver area, and, in spite of his illness, he rose to president of his firm. After 1970, Terry suffered recurrent problems with bipolar disease, ending his architectural career.
In 1986, he and Karen divorced. Nephew Rob Socolofsky and ICA friend Jim Slotta and other relatives and friends were helpful in seeing Terry through subsequent difficult years until new medicines were available to enable him to make his own way more successfully; “to achieve,” as he wrote, “a solitary life that works.”
Terry is best remembered in later years for his continued work and fellowship in ICA; his friendships with other workers in various sports facilities; his participation in the Denver Columbine Poets Inc.; his published poetry; his weekly newsletter with philosophical musings and annual poetry booklet sent to relatives and friends; his columns in the North Denver News; and for the high regard in which he was held by many other residents in the Metro Manor, his last residence. Corinne Hunt was a special and valued friend for him there.
Terry was predeceased by his sister, Jean Frances Wallingford; brother, Robert James Wright; brother-in-laws, E. Keith Wallingford and Homer Socolofsky.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Denison and Jody Wright, Lafayette, Colo.; daughter and son-in-law, Sarah and Hugh Thompson, Broomfield, Colo.; two granddaughters, Arie Wright and Hannah Thompson; one grandson, Harris Thompson; his sister, Penny Socolofsky, Manhattan, Kan.; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Jim Rippey, Bellevue; sister-in-law, Betty Wright, Boulder, Colo., and many loving nieces, nephews and friends.
Paul Hieronymus
Services for Paul Hieronymus, 91, Minden, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Layton-Craig Funeral Home in Minden with graveside services at 3:30 p.m. at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Norfolk. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday from 3-5 and 7-8 p.m.
The former Norfolk resident died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2006, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
