U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Jean Marie Travis
Jean Marie Travis was born the first child of Walter and Grace (Fleet) Hayer and arrived in this world on April 23, 1918, at Garden City, Iowa. Jean was raised and baptized in the RLDS Christian Faith. She attended schools and went on attend Graceland College in Lamoni, Iowa, where she received her degree.
Upon graduation, Jean worked as a receptionist/secretary in the Des Moines, Iowa area where she met Everett Travis. The couple married
on Sept. 17, 1939, in Lamoni and two years later moved to the original Travis homestead at Champion, Neb., to farm. She was involved in the farming operation including a dairy in which she and Everett sold milk that was processed and bottled by the Imperial Dairy.
Jean was a loving mother and raised three sons: Max Charles, Theodore Edward and David Kelley.
Jean was one of the first members of the Champion Women's Club, where she held many offices, including the Presidency. She volunteered in the youth organization of 4-H and Cub Scouting and was active in the Rural School District #8 PTA.
In her later years, Jean volunteered at the Imperial Senior Center and was active in RLDS church groups, participated in a Bible Study group and proudly played the kazoo in the Kitchen Band. She thoroughly enjoyed her music, baseball (Atlanta Braves were her favorites), helping others and most of all her grandkids.
Jean will be remembered by her keen sense of humor and her collection of weather lores. She could quite often predict the weather from a lifetime of weather predicting knowledge.
Jean passed away early Sunday morning, Nov. 19, 2006, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home. She was 88 years of age.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Everett, in February of 1986; brother, Roger; son, Max, in 1968; and two grandsons.
Survivors include: sons, Ted Travis and wife, Sharon, of Albion, Neb., Kelley Travis and wife, Beverlee, of Imperial, Neb.; sister, Nell Barr McElroy of Aurora, Colo.; nine grandchildren, Tim Travis, Joel Travis, Dixi Wellman, Tammie Liddie, Dick Travis, Starla Erikson, Billie Travis, Joni Tilford, Stacy Jaeger; 14 great-grandchildren; niece, Judy Purvis.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 22, at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Imperial with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating.
Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
A memorial has been established in Jean's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Peggy Hampton
Peggy Jean Hampton, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away Nov. 14, 2006 at her home in Mesquite, Texas. She was born April 9, 1939.
Peggy is survived by her husband, William Hampton; son, Tony Mayhaw, Haskel, Texas; daughter, Sharon Williams, Levelland, Texas; daughter, Carla Mayhaw, Dallas, Texas; son, Billy Mayhaw, Lewisville, Texas; stepson, Chris Hampton, Garland, Texas; Walter Hampton, Odenton, Md. She loved her family, especially her six grandchildren which she cherished, Cameron Mayhaw, Tonette Mayhaw, Brent Williams, Kaylee Williams, Mitchell Mayhaw and Evan Mayhaw. She will be missed dearly, but with us always.
Memorial services were held Nov. 17 at Eastgate Funeral Home.
William (Bill) Hampton graduated from Chase County High School in 1952. Cards may reach him at: Bill Hampton, 3120 Karla, Mesquite, TX 75150.
John Landen
John Landen, age 84, passed away early Sunday morning, Nov. 12, 2006, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home, Imperial, Neb.
Survivors include: daughter, Dianne Cooper and husband, Earl, Imperial; son, David Landen and wife, Jane, of Mebane, N.C.; 1 grandchild; sisters, Jennie Spitler, Columbus, Neb., Ruth Frerichs, Columbus, Neb., Ruby Dent, Hastings, Neb.; brothers, Andy Landen and wife, Faye, Mitchell, Neb., Lloyd Landen and wife, Jo, Parker, Colo.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Erwin Frerichs
Erwin Frerichs was born on Dec. 13, 1919 south of Ogallala, Neb. He was the oldest of five children born to John and Laura Boehmer Frerichs, Jr.
He was baptized in January of 1920 and later confirmed on May 13, 1934 at the Trinity Lutheran Church south of the Frerichs home. He was confirmed by the Rev. W.H. Robbert with the confirmation verse of Revelation 2:10.
Erwin began farming for Art Boehmer when he was 12 years old. For his work, Art agreed to cover Erwin's expense at the Trinity Lutheran Parochial School. He later graduated from Ogallala High School.
He was married
to Doris May Stout on Aug. 28, 1941 in Cheyenne, Wyo. They made their home on the Stout farmstead southeast of Grant, Neb., for 64 years where they farmed and ranched until 2005 when they moved into Grant.
Erwin had been in failing health and died peacefully at the Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant on Sunday morning, Nov. 5, 2006. He had reached the age of 86.
He was a member of the Zion Lutheran Church and a charter member of the Grant Lions Club. He was an avid sports enthusiast and always enjoyed supporting his children and grandchildren as they participated in their school activities. He enjoyed watching football and baseball on television, most notably the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
In addition to his parents, Erwin was preceded in death by his sister, Marilyn Olsen and two brothers, Donald and Kenneth Frerichs.
He is survived by his wife, Doris of Grant; one daughter, Marcia, and her husband, Blake Frazier, of North Platte, Neb; one son, Mike, and his wife, Marcia Frerichs, of Grant; three granddaughters, Alicia and her husband, Aron Beck, of Lincoln, Neb, Nicole Frerichs of Phoenix, Ariz., and Michaela and her husband, Ryan Potts, of Lincoln; one great-granddaughter, Kailee Potts; step-grandchildren, Kristie, and her husband, Casey Metzger, of Gothenburg, Neb., Becky Frazier, and Brad, and his wife, Kristy Frazier, and their children, Taylor, Kayla and Brayden Frazier, all of Brighton, Colo.; one brother, Howard, and his wife, Ardith Frerichs, of Ogallala; one sister-in-law, Shirley Frerichs, of Aurora, Colo.; and other relatives and friends.
Services were held Friday, Nov. 10, 2006 at the Grant Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Ron Krause officiating.
Music was provided by Judy Kurkowski and the congregation.
Casketbearers were Bill Daiss, Rich Ochsner, Robbie Ochsner, Lex Thompson, Rod Beemer, Geoff Beemer and Kevin Schrotberger.
Honorary escorts were Howard Frerichs, Robert Ochsner and Loyal Thompson.
Interment was at the Grant Cemetery.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Erwin Frerichs
Erwin Frerichs, 86, of rural Grant died Sunday, Nov. 5, 2006, at the Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 10 at 10:30 a.m. at the Grant Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Ron Krause officiating.
Burial will be in the Grant Cemetery.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A complete obituary will appear in next week's edition.
Alan Roller
Alan Tracy Roller was born May 30, 1947, in Imperial, Neb., to Emil and Erma Roller, and was raised on a farm near Champion, Neb.
Alan was baptized on June 29, 1947 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Champion and confirmed on March 26, 1961 at Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial by W. A. Meyer.
Alan attended Kearney State College and received a degree in Industrial Arts.
On Feb. 14, 1973, Alan married
Joyce Matzner in Kearney and the couple moved back to the farm shortly after to raise their family. Alan was a hard worker and had a variety of different job titles, the most important being husband and father. Alan gave everything he did his full ability.
He worked many years as a crop adjuster for RCIS traveling many places and meeting many people. Alan was a stranger to few and you always knew where you stood with Alan. He had a big heart and a wonderful sense of humor, frequently cracking jokes to everyone that he knew, and he knew many. When he couldn't crack jokes in person, he emailed them. When he wasn't working, he enjoyed picking on his wife, kids and prairie dogs.
Alan also enjoyed trapshooting and pistol league, winning many awards and trophies. He often removed the plates to keep and donated the plaques and trophies to a Junior Trap League. Woodworking and gunsmith were two of his many talents.
Alan passed away Monday afternoon, Oct. 30, 2006, near Palisade, Neb., in an automobile accident. He was 59 years of age.
Alan was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Erma Roller and brother, Ralph Roller.
Survivors include wife, Joyce of rural Champion; daughter, Gail Galloway and husband, Ron, of Shelton, Neb.; son Troy of Aurora, Neb.; daughter, Emily Brooks and husband, Greg, of Kimball, Neb.; five grandchildren, Andrew, Alan, Nichole, Chantel and Ty.
Funeral services were held on Nov. 3 at 2 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church of Imperial with Pastor David Kahle officiating.
Casketbearers were Jerry Rowley, David Hogsett, Rodney Ham, Armando Villarreal, Kenneth Harms and Sid Sweet.
Honorary casketbearers were Aaron Schad, Duke Jaeger, Phillip Mullanix, Rod Kerchal, Dave Lakey and Jack Carman.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
Maxine Bentz
Maxine Bentz, age 67, of Vienna, Ill. and formerly of Imperial, Neb., died Nov. 4, 2006 at the Massac Memorial Hospital in Metropolis, Ill.
Maxine was born May 19, 1939 in Sutherland, Neb., to Basil and Vera Keenan Bentz.
Maxine graduated from High School.
In 1958 Maxine married
Jackie Holtzman and to this union three children were born. The couple resided in Canon City and in Colorado Springs, Colo. They later divorced.
In 1970 Maxine married
Stephen M. Houle and the couple moved to Aurora, Colo.
She was employed at Humana Hospital in Aurora, achieving the position of Dietary Supervisor. In 1988 Maxine terminated her job to become full time care giver of her grandson, Tommy Holtzman.
After divorcing in 1993, Maxine continued to help care for her grandchildren and enjoyed watching them play sports.
Maxine moved to Vienna, Ill. in January 2004 for her health and to be closer to her daughter, Jodi.
Her hobbies included crocheting, sewing, reading and cooking. She particularly loved her special dogs.
Maxine attended the Eastland Baptist Church in Metropolis, Ill.
In addition to her parents, Maxine was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Paula Jean.
Survivors include her daughter, Jodi, and her husband, Kent Lewis, and her son, Jackie Holtzman, and his wife, Madonna, all of Vienna, Ill.; three sisters: Sharon and Garry Spady of Imperial, Neb., Lana and Dick Westfahl of Colby, Kan. and Anna and Chuck Parcell of Flintridge, Calif.; six grandchildren: Jessica Martin, Jaquie Sparks, Tommy Holtzman, Phillip Lewis, Amanda Lewis and Kody Lewis; three great-grandchildren: Elena, Riley and Landon; four nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Cremation was chosen and there will be no visitation.
Memorial services will be on Friday, Nov. 10, 2006, at 2 p.m. at Draucker Funeral Home in Ogallala with Kent Lewis officiating.
Inurnment will be in the Ogallala Cemetery.
A memorial has been established to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and to the Eastland Baptist Church (Hardship Fund), 716 East Third, Metropolis, Ill. 62960.
Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of local arrangements.
Bernice Haggard
Bernice Haggard, age 92, of Ogallala, died Oct. 30, 2006 at the Sutherland Care Center.
Bernice was born July 4, 1914 in Doniphan, Neb. to Frederick and Mabel Miller Rainforth.
She lived on a farm in the Rosedale community. After graduating from Rosedale High School in 1932 Bernice attended Kearney State Teachers College and taught school for four years.
On May 20, 1937 Bernice was united in marriage to Wendell Haggard. The couple made their home in Hansen, Neb. and two sons were added to the family. They moved to Ogallala in 1953 where they were in the Haggard Irrigation business.
The Haggards retired to Sun City, Ariz. in 1970. In 1985 they began to live part time in North Platte. Wendell and Bernice celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in May 1997 at the Mansion on the Hill in Ogallala.
Bernice enjoyed her affiliation in the Methodist Church since 1953. She loved her family and friends and enjoyed knitting and playing golf and bridge.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Wendell, in 1999 and grandson, Scott Haggard, in 2005.
Survivors include two sons: Kenneth Haggard and his wife, Carole, of Reno, Nev. and James Haggard and his wife, Janet, of Ogallala; five grandchildren: Shelley and her husband, Bob Swanson, Katie and her husband, Chris Vargas, and Kerry and her husband, Scott Esslin, all of Reno, Nev., Shauna and her husband, Shane Winn, of Seward, Neb. and Travis Haggard of Ogallala; and nine great-grandchildren.
Graveside Committal Service will be today, Thursday, Nov. 2, at 10:30 a.m. at the Ogallala Cemetery. Memorial Service will be Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at Draucker Funeral Home with Rev. Kelo Kaleuati officiating.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the Alzheimers Association.
Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala was in charge of arrangements.
