U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Gene Behrens
RIO VERDE, Ariz. -- Gene Edward Behrens, 64, formerly of Cairo, died Monday, March 2, 1998, at his home in Rio Verde, Ariz.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Cairo. The Rev. Alan Davis will officiate.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at Apfel Funeral Home in Cairo. Mr. Behrens will be cremated.
Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association.
Mr. Behrens was born on May 15, 1933, near Abbott to Edward and Rosa (Kroeger) Behrens. He was a 1950 graduate of Cairo High School.
He married
Jeanette Hulme in 1952 in Cairo. He earned his private pilot's license at Grand Island in the early 1950s and earned instrument and dual flight licenses.
He worked throughout the Midwest as a crop duster and in highway construction. He opened a flight instruction business in the late 1950s in Topeka, Kan., operating a fleet of single-engine aircraft. He became the corporate pilot for Seymour Foods Co. of Topeka in 1960.
He earned his airline transport rated license in 1966 in Dallas. In the mid-1960s, he had logged more hours flying Cessna twin-engine aircraft than any other pilot in the United States.
He married
Doris Roeder in 1987 in Topeka. The couple moved to Rio Verde, Ariz., five years before his retirement from Seymour Foods on May 30, 1993.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, Robert Behrens of Topeka, Kan., Douglas Behrens of Overland Park, Kan., and Bryan Behrens of Colwich, Kan.; one daughter, Kathy (Behrens) Billings of Burlingame, Kan.; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two sisters, Dorothy (Mrs. Emmett) Jarzynka of Cairo and Florence (Mrs. Charles) Jarzynka of North Platte.
Maxine Adams
Maxine C. Adams, 85, of 2309 W. 10th died Saturday, April 11, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in Doniphan. Dr. Bill Hunter will officiate. Burial will be in the Cedarview Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday with the family receiving friends from 5 to 7 p.m. at Kleine Funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to the Hall County Humane Society or Doniphan United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Adams was born Dec. 14, 1912, at Doniphan to Robert Lon and Ella (Woodbury) Cox. She received her education in Hastings and Doniphan, graduating from Doniphan in 1931.
She married
Clayton H. Adams on Dec. 14, 1932, at Grand Island. They lived in Doniphan and she was employed as an administrator with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Hall County ASCS Office) retiring after 27 years of service. She was elected to the Village Board and served as mayor from 1966-67. She served as clerk treasurer for the town of Doniphan for 11 years, resigning on April 5, 1988, due to ill health. Mr. Adams died Sept. 5, 1996.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Doniphan, its church circles and service groups. She was a member and past president of Grand Island Women's Club, member and past president of the Altrusa Club of Grand Island, former member and past president of Grand Island Business and Professional Woman's Luncheon Club, past board member and treasurer of Hall County Children's Village, member and Past Oracle of Roy Neighbors Camp No. 556 of Doniphan and member and past president of Doniphan Book Club.
Survivors include one son, Ron of Grand Island; two grandsons and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Robert and Vern.
Lucille Forst
Lucille E. Forst, 80, of Grand Island died Friday, April 10, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at United Methodist Church at Shelton. The Rev. Charles Spence will officiate. Burial will be in the Shelton Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. until the time of the service Wednesday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the Diabetes Association or donor's choice.
Mrs. Forst was born June 20, 1917, to Claude and Orpha (Nicoliasen) Harshfield at Litchfield. She grew up and was educated at Litchfield, Prosser, Rosedale, Shelton and Grand Island. He graduated from Grand Island Senior High School.
She married
George C. Forst on Nov. 28, 1935, at Alliance. The couple lived in Ottumwa, Iowa; Grand Island, Wood River, Palmer and Shelton areas. He died in 1985 and Mrs. Forst lived in Grand Island.
She was a member of Shelton United Methodist Church and Stars of Sharon Extension Club.
Survivors include two daughters, Sandra Linton of Grand Island and Marlene Mead of Prosser; 10 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Ronald; and two sisters, Maxine Harshfield and Berniece Wicht.
Ben Lukesh
Ben Lukesh, 90, of 1223 W. Anna died Monday, April 13, 1998, at Lakeview Nursing and Rehab Center.
Services are pending at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home.
Michael Bronson
CAIRO -- Michael Ray Bronson, 53, of Cairo died Friday, April 10, 1998, at Rockville.
There will be no services in Nebraska. Services will be at Moab, Utah, with full military honors at burial.
Higgins Funeral Home of Loup City was in charge of local arrangements.
Mr. Bronson was born on Sept. 7, 1944, in Ione, Wash., to Howard and Ruby (Branson) Bronson.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and the Vietnam War.
Survivors include his wife, Karen; three daughters, Kimberly Key of Clifford, Colo., Megan Hitchcock of Albuquerque, N.M., and Sara Bronson of Spirit Lake, Idaho; four grandchildren; his mother, of Moab, Utah; three sisters, Janice Smith of Dannebrog, Marcia Davidson of Salt Lake City and Debra Knudsen of West Linn, Ore.; and one brother, Duane Bronson of Spirit Lake, Idaho.
He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, his father and one brother.
Eva Drummond
CENTRAL CITY -- Eva Bernice Drummond, 80, of Central City died Sunday, April 12, 1998, at Litzenberg Memorial County Hospital in Central City.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Evangelical Free Church in Central City. The Rev. David Hoesch will officiate. Burial will be in the Central City Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Solt Funeral Home in Central City.
Mrs. Drummond was born on May 4, 1917, in Lyons to Samuel and Eva (Marple) Case. She graduated from Oakland High School in 1934. She received her teaching certificate from Wayne State Teachers College and taught for two years.
She married
Eldon J. Drummond on June 15, 1938, in Lyons. They lived and farmed in the Lyons area. They moved to Central City in 1951 and operated the Central City Co-op Creamery. Mrs. Drummond also taught in rural Merrick County schools. She worked at Litzenberg Memorial County Hospital from 1959 to 1960, for Drs. Treptow and Campbell from 1960 to 1965 and at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant from 1965 to 1969.
Mrs. Drummond was a member of the Evangelical Free Church. She collected figurines and other items of cardinals and enjoyed growing flowers.
Survivors include her husband; three sons, Arlis of Central City, Leslie of Spencer, Iowa, and Duane of Indianapolis; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; three sisters, Dorothy Brunton of Ellensburg, Wash., Letha Poland of Alexandria, Va., and Marie Hale of Racine, Wis.; and one brother, Leland Case of Lyons.
She was preceded in death by one grandson; two brothers, Robert and Floyd Case; and one sister, Gertrude Case.
Rose Kula
SILVER CREEK -- Rose M. Kula, 41, of Silver Creek died Sunday, April 12, 1998, at Bryan Memorial Hospital at Lincoln.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Lawrence's Catholic Church in Silver Creek. The Rev. Ken Vavrina will officiate. Burial will be in St. Lawrence's Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be after 5 p.m. Tuesday, with a 7:30 p.m. vigil service, at the church. Further visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until service time Wednesday at the church.
McKown Funeral Home of Silver Creek is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.
Mrs. Kula was born on Oct. 28, 1956, at Genoa to Louis and Helen (Mecek) Staniec. She graduated from Silver Creek High School.
She married
Edwin Kula on July 20, 1979. She lived in Silver Creek and the surrounding area and provided day care in her home.
She was a member of St. Lawrence's Catholic Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Toni Kula of Silver Creek; two sons, Travis Kula of Boys Town and Kale Kula of Silver Creek; her mother, of Silver Creek; four sisters, Kate (Mrs. John) Gillett of Columbus, Marge (Mrs. Marlin) Larsen of Roseburg, Ore., Ann (Mrs. Kevin) Ryan of Richland and Julia Schmid of Cookson, Okla.; two brothers, John and Ed Staniec, both of Clarks; and her fiance, Roger Gannaway of Silver Creek.
She was preceded in death by her father.
