U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Julia Lantis
Julia Lantis died June 26, 2006, in Hastings, Neb.
Services will be Friday, June 30, 2006, at 1:30 p.m. at Butler Vollard Funeral Home in Hastings.
Julia's husband formerly worked for the Extension Office in Imperial.
Leo Weiss
Leo Weiss, 78, of Colorado Springs, Colo., passed away suddenly Monday morning of a heart attack.
Services are pending in Colorado Springs.
He was born and raised in Imperial and is a brother of Mary Ann Stinnette of Imperial.
Charles M. Olson
Charles M. Olson departed this life on Monday, June 26, 2006, following an illness.
Charles was born on January 31, 1920 in Sutherland, Neb., the son of the late Henry and Anna Olson. He served in the United States Navy and was a veteran of WWII. He came to reside in Joplin with his wife in 1977 after many years of farming and raising his family near the town of Imperial in Chase County, Nebraska. He worked for Olson's Garage in Webb City, Mo. until 1982.
He married
Clara G. "Peggy" Eppard on December 29, 1948 in Neosho, Mo.
He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife, Peggy; their children, Rod Olson and wife Kathi, of Neosho, Mo., Rhonda Olson of Joplin, Mo., Donna Dement and husband James of Tulsa, Okla., Barbara Adams and husband Dennis of Neosho, Mo.; five grandchildren, one step-granddaughter, and one great-granddaughter; four sisters, Vivian Olson, Mary Harbert, Ann Steinmeyer and husband Richard, Pat Marlatt and husband Bill; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Howard, John and Emil Olson.
Private funeral services will be held.
Arrangements are under the direction of Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Chapel.
Nina Berry
Nina Berry of Imperial, Neb., died Sunday, June 25, 2006 at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home. She was 77 years old.
Nina Clare (Artist) Berry was born Oct. 21, 1928 to Earl Franklin Artist and Sarah Edna Collicott. She was the youngest of three children.
Nina attended grade school and high school in Imperial. After high school she worked as a dental hygienist. She also worked during her high school years as a pin setter at the bowling alley her father owned. Her first part time job was popping popcorn at the Star Theatre.
Nina and Wayne Ronald Berry were married
on August 8, 1947. To this union four children were born, Bonnie, Ronald, Marlon and Starla. Nina lived for her family. She loved playing the piano, gardening, bowling, attending activities of her children and grandchildren, playing bingo and cards. She was a member of United Methodist Women, TOPS 209, Sewing Club, Birthday Club, VFW Auxiliary and Hospital Auxiliary. They farmed south of Imperial just over into Dundy County near the Hiawatha community. They moved into Imperial in 1983. She taught Sunday School and was a member of the E.U.B. church and a member of the United Methodist Church when the churches joined. Nina also accompanied for choirs and played at the Methodist Church, Senior Center and the Imperial Manor.
Nina was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Ronald Berry, her parents, two brothers, Kenneth and Keith and a granddaughter, Karen Williams.
Nina is survived by her children: Bonnie Williams and husband Marty of Alma, Kan., Ron Berry and wife Becky, Marlon Berry and wife Vivian, all of Imperial and Starla Berry of Hastings, Neb.; seven grandchildren: Tammy Lewis and Phil Cooper, Pamela Williams and Mike Mongold, Stacy and Dan Leibhart, Kevin and Heidi Berry, Jason and Vanessa Berry, Angela and John Goodell and Brett Berry; four great-grandchildren: Chelsea Lewis, Katelyn and Brock Leibhart and Taeya Berry.
Services will be held today, Thursday, June 29, 2006 at 10:30 at the First United Methodist Church in Imperial with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating.
Visitation is Wednesday, June 28, 2:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Liewer Funeral Home.
Music was provided by Marcia Bauerle, organist and Pat McNair, soloist.
Casketbearers were Kevin Berry, Jason Berry, Brett Berry, Dan Leibhart, John Goodell, Mike Mongold and Phil Cooper.
Honorary casketbearers were Keith Wood, Robert Bartlett, Clarence Jaeger, Wes Cooley, Randy Bartlett, Jerry Groff and Greg Eskew.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, with Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be given to Community Hospital Hospice, American Cancer Society or Imperial Community Center.
Alberta Wilhelmson
Alberta was born Sept. 13, 1919, at North Platte, Neb. to Albert and Mabel (Spencer) Preitauer.
As a young girl she grew up and attended school in North Platte, Neb., graduating from North Platte High in 1937.
Alberta married
Eugene "Ben" Speck at Stockville, Neb. The couple settled in Ogallala for a short time before moving to the family farm near Farnam, Neb., where they made their home until Ben's death in 1975.
Alberta continued living on the farm until 1977 when she married
Eldred Wilhelmson and moved to North Platte, Neb. Eldred passed away in 2001 and in 2005 Alberta moved from North Platte to Imperial because of health reasons.
Alberta passed away Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at the Chase County Community Hospital, Imperial, Neb. She was 86 years of age.
Survivors include daughter, Shari Briggs and husband, Dan, of Imperial, Neb.; son, John Speck and wife, Janet, of Phillips, Neb.; son, Richard Speck and wife, Shirley, of Farnam, Neb.; son, Robert Speck and wife, Millie of Omaha, Neb.; step-daughter, Willa Twidwell and husband, Larry, of Hershey, Neb.; step son, Stanley Wilhelmson and wife, Sally, of North Platte, Neb.; 11 grandchildren; five step grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; five step great, great grandchildren; one great, great grandchild; 1 step, great, great grandchild; brother, Don Preitauer of Grand Island, Neb.; sister, Francine Jenkins and husband, Ronnie, of North Platte, Neb.; step brother, Harold McGee and wife, Mildred, of Brule, Neb.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Ben and Eldred; one daughter, Dollie; two grandsons, Rick and Chad; daughter-in-law, Eunice; three brothers, Gale, Stan and John; and step brother, Vernon.
Alberta was very active in the communities in which she resided including 75-year member of the United Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Rebecca's, Does, Eagles, A Daughter of the American Revolution, VFW Auxiliary, all of the North Platte area. She also loved to crochet blankets for the grand and great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday, June 19, 2006, at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Farnam with Pastor Tess Hufford officiating.
Organist was Donna Hazen and soloist was Tom Oberg.
Casketbearers were Michael Speck, Brett Speck, Jason Speck, Shane Briggs, Chod Briggs, Justin Briggs, Telly Briggs and Adam Wilhelmson.
Interment followed at the Farnam Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in Alberta's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home of Imperial was in charge of arrangements.
Ruth M. Meacham
Ruth M. (Pawley) Meacham, 44, of Laramie, died Thursday, June 15, 2006 in Laramie, Wyo.
She was born Dec. 14, 1961 in Topeka, Kan., the daughter of Jack L. and Dollie C. (Vauthrin) Pawley.
The family moved to Nebraska and she graduated from high school in Imperial, Neb. in 1980.
She then attended the University of Wyoming where she graduated with a B.S. in nursing in 1984.
She married
Jeff Meacham on Jan. 2, 1984 in Imperial, Neb. and the couple lived in Rapid City, SD, Jackson, Wyo. and moved to Laramie, Wyo. in 1988 where they made their home.
Ruth had worked as a nurse at Ivinson Memorial Hospital, Albany County Family Planning and was currently employed at Laramie Physicians for Women and Children.
She enjoyed outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, cross country skiing and other outdoor activities. She was devoted to making time for her family, enjoying time with her family and loved family gatherings, as well as time with her children, watching them in their activities, including gymnastics, soccer and 4-H. She was an avid volunteer who helped with many activities.
She was a member of Laramie Gymnastics Booster Club, Grace Baptist Church and an AWANA Club leader for many years.
She is survived by her husband Jeff Meacham, her children Robyn M. Meacham and Jared Meacham, all of Laramie, Wyo; her parents Jack and Dollie Pawley of Imperial, Neb.; and three brothers, Steven Pawley and his wife Marsha of Aurora, Neb.; David Pawley and his partner Michael Brakke and Bruce A. Pawley and his wife Kristi, all of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; her mother and father-in-law Jim and Evelyn Meacham of Bullhead City, Ariz.; a brother-in-law Scott Meacham of San Diego, Calif.; a sister-in-law Kathy Pavatt (Meacham) of Bullhead City, Ariz. and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church with Norm Tyser officiating.
Burial followed in Green Hill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Steve Pawley, David Pawley, Bruce Pawley, Mike Brakke, Scott Meacham and Rob Mitchell.
Memorials may be made to the Ruth Meacham Memorial Fund, 2133 Rainbow Ave., Laramie, Wyo. 82070.
Montgomery-Stryker Funeral Home of Laramie, Wyo. was in charge of arrangements.
Mae Hulse
Mae Emily Hulse was born April 25, 1919, the daughter of John Albert and Ida Elizabeth (Johnson) Miller, at the family home near Ft. Morgan, Colo.
She was raised on a farm 18 miles north of Ft. Morgan and attended rural school at Pierce Valley to the eighth grade. She graduated with the class of 1938 from Ft. Morgan High School. Mae then attended the American Hospital at Chicago, Ill. for nurses training. She began work at the Eben Ezer Hospital at Brush, Colo.
Mae met and married
Riley Edgar Hulse on Aug. 13, 1943, at Grant, Neb., by her uncle Fred Fuhr, who was the Justice of the Peace at the time.
The couple settled on a farm at Woodrow, Colo., before moving to Blair, Neb. in 1951.
The couple also resided in Seward and Tamora, Neb., for a short time before moving to Utica, Neb. in 1954, where they lived until 1988.
At that time they moved to Imperial, Neb. because of health reasons. Riley passed away in 1999 and Mae moved to York, Neb. to be near her family.
Mae passed away Wednesday, June 14, 2006, at the York General Hospital, York, Neb. She was 87 years of age.
Mae enjoyed neighborhood coffee, gardening and cooking. Her family was her life and she loved traveling back to the Ft. Morgan area when she could.
Mae was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, John Albert Jr. Miller; and one sister, Esther Pelz.
Survivors include sons, Ronald and wife, Becky, of Utica, Neb., Leonard of Utica, Neb., and Duane and wife, Karen, of Utica, Neb.; daughter, Beverly Wood and husband, Gary of Lincoln, Neb.; four grandchildren, Sherry, Bob, Scott and Tracy; 10 great grandchildren, Ryan, Ricky, Latisha and Nicholas, Kevin, Amanda, Brandi, Teresa, Arial and Baby Hulse; and sister, Alberta Gilmore of Denver, Colo.
Funeral services were held Tuesday morning, June 20, 2006, at 10 a.m. (MT) at the United Methodist Church in Imperial with Pastor Kay Alnor officiating.
Casketbearers were Ronald Hulse, Bob Hulse, Scott Hulse, Gary Wood, Shawn Svoboda and Gary Becker.
Interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
A memorial has been established in her memory.
Liewer Funeral Home of Imperial was in charge of arrangements.
Russell 'Rusty' Sexson
Russell "Rusty" Sexson was born on Oct. 9, 1944 at Holyoke, Colo. He was the oldest of four children born to Robert and Dolores Watkins Sexson.
Rusty grew up on the Sexson farm southwest of Grant, Neb., where he attended District No. 13 country school through the eighth grade. He attended high school in Grant and graduated from Perkins County High School in 1962.
Rusty attended Nebraska Wesleyan in Lincoln where he graduated in 1966. Rusty enjoyed the music department and normally had the lead role in the musicals at Wesleyan. After graduation he taught school at Hebron, Neb., for a year before accepting a position with Wesleyan as an admissions counselor, actively recruiting students to attend college there.
Rusty received his masters degree in education from Kearney State Teachers College and served as the principal at Kenwood elementary in Kearney, Neb., for a year before accepting a position in Grant in 1973 as the principal at District No. 33.
Rusty was married
to Marilyn Reeson on May 28, 1976 at Kearney. They lived southwest of Grant where Rusty continued his affiliation with Grant Schools until he resigned in 1979 to pursue farming and crop adjusting.
He accepted a position with Farmers Union Insurance in Burlington, Colo., in 1983 and had a successful career as an agent and later being appointed as the district manager in 2003. He stayed active with his office until his death.
Rusty had developed a malignancy in 2003 and had moved to Grant earlier this year to be near family. He died at the Perkins County Community Hospital late Wednesday afternoon, June 7, 2006. He had reached the age of 61.
Rusty had always been civic and community minded, both in Grant and Burlington. He especially enjoyed the Masonic Lodge and Rotary. He served as the Worshipful Master in the Masonic Lodge in Grant and Burlington. He was involved in Shrine work in Colby, Kan. As a member of the Order of Eastern Star, he used his talented singing for many Grand Chapter meetings in Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas. He had served as president of the Rotary Clubs in both Grant and Burlington. He had served as the Mayor of Burlington during the 1990s.
While in Grant he was active with the JayCee's community theater and served as the director and acted in several playhouse productions. He assisted his wife in high school play productions while living in Burlington. He was a life member of the John Birch Society. He was also a member of the United Methodist Church.
Rusty's true love was music and performance. He sang for numerous weddings, funerals and social events throughout his life-many times with his mother as his accompanist. He had the opportunity to sing at the Central City, Colo., Opera House for a summer.
Rusty was preceded in death by his father and his sister, Shelley Jane.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn of Burlington, Colo.; two sons, Sam of Boulder, Colo. and Mark of Grant; his mother, Dolores Sexson of Grant; two brothers, Dan and wife Jannette Sexson of St. Peters, Mo. and Doug and wife Shari Sexson of rural Grant; nephews and nieces, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 10, 2006, at the Grant United Methodist Church with Pastors Jeff Babb and Steve Hoffman officiating.
Music was provided by Susan Cook and the congregation.
Casketbearers were Jeff and Brad Means and Sam, Mark, Josh, Jake, Chase and Rachael Sexson.
His body was cremated after the service and cremains were buried in the Grant Cemetery.
A memorial has been established.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
