U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Evelyn Todd
Evelyn Todd was born on May 23, 1918 at Beatrice, Neb. She was the second of four children born to George and Ocie McClure Bartlett.
The family moved to Max, Neb., in 1928 where she attended school and graduated from Max Rural High School. She then attended Grand Island Business College for a year before taking the position as head cashier in an 'A' Montgomery Ward store in Beatrice.
She met Ethan Lee Todd while they were attending school in Max and they were married
on Dec. 31, 1939 in Stratton, Neb., by Lee's grandfather, who was the pastor of the Methodist Church.
Evelyn and Lee moved to Boulder, Colo., where Lee was studying for his master's degree and training for the Olympic tryouts. Lee qualified for the United States Olympic team in the decathlon and was scheduled to compete in Helsinki, Finland in 1940 before the beginning of World War II in Europe, but the games were cancelled.
Evelyn and Lee moved to Eunice, N.M. where Evelyn took a position as the secretary to the Superintendent of Schools. She also served as the assistant coach for the tennis team. Evelyn was an accomplished athlete in her own right, but always stepped back for the benefit of her husband and their two sons. After four years in Eunice they moved to Arkansas where she worked for the local ASCS office and an abstract company, and her husband served on the faculty of Jonesboro State College.
In 1946, her husband was offered the superintendent's position at Perkins County High School in Grant, Neb. and they lived in Grant the rest of their lives. Evelyn was always supportive of Lee in the school activities and supported her two sons as they grew up.
When the boys were raised, Evelyn took a job for several years with Harrach's Insurance which later became Lacy's Insurance.
After retirement, Evelyn and Lee spent their winters in Mission, Texas for 15 years. Their summers were also busy with travelling as Lee became involved in the Senior Olympics which took them to many different states.
After her husband's death in 1999, Evelyn moved to Westview Retirement, later that year.
She maintained a busy and active life-style at Westview and died suddenly of an apparent heart attack as she was preparing for bed on Tuesday night, Aug. 15, 2006. She had reached the age of 88.
Evelyn was a longtime active member of the Grant United Methodist Church. She was a charter and 50-year member of the Grant P.E.O. Chapter F.U. Evelyn had been a previous member of the Night Hawk extension club and the Grant Woman's Club. Even in retirement, Evelyn always supported and attended many of the school's activities.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and her sister, Hazel Powell.
Evelyn is survived by two sons Robert and his wife Sharon Todd of Stratton, Colo., and Larry and his wife Erna Todd of North Platte, Neb.; four grandchildren Cynthia and her husband Pete Bocwinski of Prescott, Wisc., Michael and his wife Emily Todd of North Riverside, Ill., Alicia Todd, who is studying in Madrid, Spain, and Nathan Todd, who is studying in Champaign, Ill.; two brothers Robert Bartlett of Imperial, Neb., and Paul and his wife Betty Bartlett of Lincoln; other relatives and friends.
Services were held Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006 at the Grant United Methodist Church with Pastor Sally Ruggia-Haden officiating.
Music was performed by Dolores Sexson and Lori McCloskey.
Casketbearers were Pete Bocwinski, Michael Todd, Nathan Todd, Cynthia Bocwinski, Emily Todd and Alicia Todd.
Interment was at the Grant Cemetery.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Bernice Adkinson
Bernice Jeanette Adkinson, age 86, of Imperial, Neb., formerly of Santa Ana, Calif., was called home to be with the Lord on Friday, Aug. 18, 2006, at 7 p.m.
Her daughter, Elania Fanning, was at her side singing "Amazing Grace" when she passed on.
Bernice was a gentle and affectionate person. Her family was her everything. She loved being a homemaker, cooking, baking and taking care of her family. She also was a great lover of animals and had parakeets, fish, cats and dogs throughout her lifetime.
Bernice was born, Bernice Jeanette Jochum Feb. 19, 1920 in Dubuque, Iowa.
She had no memories of her birth father.
She had a brother Vernon who was two years older than her.
Her mother, Edna Crouse, married
Henry Curtis, who adopted Bernice and the family settled in Imperial, Neb.
As a young girl, Bernice was baptized in the Episcopalian church.
Her mother would then have seven more children with Henry Curtis. In order, the children were Vernon, Bernice, June, Bobby, Guy, Jimmy, Marilyn, Gwendolyn and Alice. Bernice would often play second mother to all of her siblings.
Bernice worked as an usherette in the Imperial theatre when she was 17.
Bernice met Ray Adkinson in Imperial High School. They were married
in Grant, Neb. on July 27, 1937. Their only witnesses were their high school friends, Wayne and Ruth Jaeger of Imperial.
In the summer of 1938, Bernice and Ray followed Ray's parents to La Habra, Calif. where they worked a dairy business. They had their first and only son, Gary Leroy, on April 8, 1938 and their first daughter Judy Elaine, was born June 30, 1942.
When Ray joined the Navy in World War II, Bernice and their two children moved in with Bernice's grandmother, Jenny Crouse. Ray was in the service for four years working in a shipping yard and serving time on a Navy ship. During that time Bernice worked in a factory.
When Ray finally returned home from the war, Bernice dressed Gary and Judy in sailor outfits and they greeted their dad with victory signs with their legs in the air.
In 1950, Bernice and Ray bought their first home on Gunther Street in Garden Grove, Calif. Later, they purchased their second home on Pearce St. in Garden Grove.
Bernice loved to work with Ray in the yard and they had orange, lemon and banana trees. Bernice also loved to bake bread and was always in the kitchen.
In 1958, at the age of 38, Bernice gave birth to her third child, Renee Diane, in Santa Ana, Calif. Bernice stayed busy with the newest daughter and spent her time taking her to piano lessons and eventually driving her to and from work as a young teen.
In 1968, the family relocated in Denver, Colo. for two years. During that time Bernice worked as a nurse's aid. But Bernice missed the ocean and wanted to return back to California, so they did. Bernice started working again cleaning houses for elderly women. It was a rough time financially but they always made the effort every summer to visit Bernice's parents and siblings in Colorado and Nebraska. Ray and Bernice loved their road trips.
Bernice started caring for her baby granddaughter, Elania Marie, born Sept. 30, 1970. Bernice ended up raising Elania as her own child. It was a blessed time for Bernice to raise this precious one and it brought Bernice much joy and a renewed zest for life. It was also during that time that Bernice started taking care of an elderly lady who was living next door. Bernice not only cleaned her home but made her a part of the family. She bought her groceries and took her to the Dr. and they would go to lunch every Wednesday.
Eventually, Bernice and Ray were able to buy another home in Santa Ana, Calif. where they could be closer to Ray's mother, Minnie Adkinson. Bernice and Ray grew their own garden of beans, various lettuce and tomatoes and spent many hours in their garden and yard.
In 1980, Bernice re-dedicated her life to the Lord and started attending Eagles Nest Christian Fellowship in Santa Ana, Calif., and Women's Deeper Life Fellowship in Orange until Ray retired and they made their final move to Imperial, Neb. This move was a very difficult decision for Bernice as she had to leave her children behind. They purchased Bernice's childhood home, former home of Henry and Edna Curtis. Bernice and Ray enjoyed their retirement years remodeling the home.
Bernice was widowed Dec. 29, 1992.
She started attending the Senior Center luncheons. It was during this time that her brother-in-law Bill, and her three sisters, June, Marilyn and Alice became a great support team. She would continue to make visits to see her children in California until 2004.
Through her local family's love and dedication they enabled Bernice to remain in her home until the time she moved to the Imperial Manor. Bernice loved the crafts and activities at the Manor and was an avid bingo player.
Her cause of death was believed to be vascular dementia.
Bernice is survived by her son Gary Adkinson of Santa Ana, Calif. and daughters Judy Brooks, Kooskia, Idaho, Renee Henkel of Monarch Beach, Calif. and Elania Fanning of Enders, Neb. In addition, she has 11 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Memorial services were held Tuesday, Aug. 22 at 2 p.m. at Liewer Funeral Home in Imperial, Neb. with Martin Harmon officiating.
Pianist was Mrs. June Sharp and soloist was Mr. Bill Sharp.
Inurnment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
A memorial has been established to the Imperial Community Foundation.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Della Poe
Della L. Walgren Poe was born Feb. 18, 1911 in Monica, Ill. to Leo and Della Ayers Walgren. She boasted of having traveled by covered wagon, either from Illinois to Iowa where they lived a few years or from Iowa to Sutton, Neb. where Leo farmed with his father. In 1918 after trading the Sutton farm to Paul Schultz for his farm 17 miles southeast of Holyoke, they moved here in an old Oldsmobile car. In 1926 the Oldsmobile was traded in for a new Chevrolet truck on which her father built a house and the family traveled to Oregon looking for something better but returned later that year to the farm. Della received her elementary education at Fairview, a one roomed country school and some high school education at Pleasant Valley.
October 24, 1929, she married
Glen Poe of the Amity Community. To this union, two sons were born, Donald and Dean. Glen was an avid baseball player and fan so Della spent many hot summer days at a ball field taking care of her sons and supporting her husband. After Glen's death in 1953, she and Dean proceeded to operate the farm. In 1957 Dean was drafted into the Armed Forces and Don came back to operate the farm until he returned. Della moved to Holyoke and worked at various places like Mr. Anderson's clothing store, working for Mr. Heginbotham, aide at the hospital and nursing home and caring for her parents. She came from a musical family, cousins and all, for years they had a family orchestra in which she played the piano. In later years she still played the piano for her own enjoyment.
In 2002 she entered the Imperial Manor in Imperial, Neb. where she became very special to the nurses. The last year her health began to fail and she passed away early Sunday morning, Aug. 13, 2006 in her sleep.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Glen; her parents and two brothers, Harold and Warren.
Della is survived by her two sons, Don and wife, Esther, of Holyoke, Colo., Dean and Mary Lou of Greeley, Colo.; granddaughter, Patti Logan and husband, Barry and their children, Brian and Holly; grandson, Mike and his fiancee, Jamie Hahlweg and her children, Jessica and Christopher of Holyoke, Colo.; sisters, Lois Hrobousky of Glenwood Springs, Colo., Mae Ellis of Killdeer, N.D.; brother, Edward Walgren and wife, Gladys, of Beaverton, Ore. and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Christian Church of Holyoke, Colo. with Pastor Jim Blake officiating. Interment will follow at Holyoke Memorial Park. Visitation will be held Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006, 2-6 p.m. at Liewer Funeral Home, Imperial.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the Imperial Manor Nursing Scholarship Fund.
Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Irvin Johnson
Irvin Johnson, age 89, passed away Monday evening, Aug. 14, 2006 at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home, Imperial.
Survivors include daughter, Donna Gibb of Imperial; son, Barry and wife, Sheila of North Platte; daughter, Cynthia Hudgins and husband, Jack, of Texarkana, AK; six grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; sisters, Iona Peterson of Imperial and Eileen Phinney, Lincoln.
Graveside services will be held Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006, at 2 p.m. (MT) at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial with Martin Harmon officiating.
Visitation will be held Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 16 at 2-5 p.m. at the funeral home in Imperial.
A memorial has been established to the Imperial Manor Nursing Home, Imperial.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Clyde Anderson Jr.
Chief Master Sgt. Clyde Anderson Jr., "Andy", age 77, of Niceville, Fla., passed away July 16, 2006, in Orlando, Fla., while attending business meetings with the American Legion.
He was born on Aug. 11, 1928, in Imperial, Neb., and was a resident of the local area for over 30 years.
He and his beloved wife Esther call Niceville home after many years of military travel.
Andy honorably served his country in the U.S. Air Force for over 30 years, retiring as a chief master sergeant. He was currently commander of the American Legion.
He graduated from Chase County High School in Imperial, Neb. and attended the University of Nebraska prior to joining the Air Force.
He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years of marriage, Esther Anderson; son, Torin Lee Anderson and wife Laurey of Niceville; daughter, Kristiana Anderson of Niceville; six grandchildren, Aaron Anderson, Sam Anderson, Zack Anderson, Mysti Wilson, Josh McNeal and Abby McNeal; and great-grandchildren, Juliet Anderson, Kealceane Wilson, Caleb Wilson and Gabriel McNeal; and numerous others.
Services were held at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home at 7 p.m. at the funeral home and was officiated by the American Legion. At the conclusion of the services military honors were presented.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, 1405 John Sims Pkwy., Niceville, was entrusted with arrangements.
Colleen Greene
Colleen June (Fromm) Greene, a lifelong resident of Imperial, Neb. died Wednesday morning, July 26, 2006, at the Chase County Community Hospital of Imperial, at the age of 77 following a lengthy illness.
She was born Sept. 15, 1928 in Hastings, Neb. and was adopted as an infant by Earnest W. and Maude L. Fromm of Imperial. As an only child she grew up in Imperial and graduated from Chase County High School in 1946.
On Sept. 8, 1948, Colleen was united in marriage to Glenard D. Greene, and to this union three children were born: Jamie D., Timmie D. and Dirk G.
During her life she heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ and by faith believing God's Word, trusted Jesus to be her personal Savior and Lord. One of her favorite scriptures was: "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life...." I John 5:11-13a. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Imperial for over 50 years.
Colleen was a full-time wife, mother and grandmother, devoting much of her time and energy to her beloved family and household. As a farmers wife she was supportive and encouraging all the days of her life. Her sons and husband praise her for a life of self-sacrifice and honor. She was a caring, loving and giving grandmother who had a special fondness for her grandchildren. Her family has been greatly blessed by her influence and godliness.
Preceding her in death are her parents, Earnest and Maude Fromm; infant daughter, Jamie Dawn Greene; father and mother in-law, Joseph and Vera Greene; brother-in-law, George King and sister-in-law, Gloria Greene.
Survivors include her husband, Glenard; children: Tim and wife, Jacqueline, of Imperial, Dirk and wife, Linda, of Imperial; grandsons: Aaron Greene and wife, Erica, Ryan Greene and wife, Jane and granddaughter Emily Greene, all of Imperial; brother-in-law, Joseph J. Greene of McCook, Neb.; sister-in-law, Virginia King of Imperial and brother-in-law, Carroll Greene and wife, Ruth of Ogallala, Neb.; other relatives, friends and neighbors.
A graveside service for the family was held at Mount Hope cemetery in Imperial, Monday morning, July 31, 2006 with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating and Pat McNair, vocalist.
A memorial has been established in Colleen's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home of Imperial was in charge of arrangements.
"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalms 116:15.
