U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Milton Waidley
Milton Irven "Mans" Waidley was born in Wauneta, Neb. on Dec. 30, 1910, the ninth child of 13 children born to Miller Breneman "Milt" and Maggie (Benge) Waidley.
He died on Dec. 21, 2005, in Oakland, Calif.
He grew up on the 520 acre Waidley homestead about 12 miles northwest of Wauneta and about 10 miles east of Imperial in Chase County. The homestead was mostly pasture in sandhill country and sixty acres of the 520 was cultivated land.
Mans was a trapper of fur bearing animals in his youth. He did work for the neighbors during harvest and planting season. Between times he broke saddle horses.
In 1932 he jumped on a freight train and headed to Great Falls, Mont. He worked as a sheep herder, a plow shaker and a teamster and even sharpened his cooking skills as a cook for the other teamsters.
He returned in the fall to Wauneta and met Edith Madison, who had moved from the Sutherland area. They married
on April 3, 1933. They were married
57 years when Edith passed away in April 1990. They lived through the depression and three wars together.
In 1934 he moved the family about three miles from his homestead to a farmhouse on the Stinking Creek where his only son, Gerald, was born.
In early 1935 he moved with the rest of the Waidley family to Wauneta and worked in his father's blacksmith shop and a cream and egg buying station. The depression hit them hard and he moved his family to a farm three miles south of Palisade.
Milt went to Montana for a few months and returned to the Nebraska hayfields. He then moved his family, along with Barney Rowley to Belle Fouche, S.D. where he worked as a blacksmith. Then worked at the Bentonite Company as a maintenance mechanic until March 1941.
He moved to California and went to work for General Electric as a maintenance machinist and mechanic until early 1969 when medical problems forced him to take a medical retirement.
He continued to work around his property and hunting and fishing.
He spent a lot of time researching the Waidley family tree.
He married
May Goerke on March 16, 1992 and lived with her until his death. He stayed active and busy up to the last two months of his life. He lived 94 years, 11 months, 21 days, 7 hours and 28 minutes.
He was laid to rest on Dec. 28, 2005, in the Merced (Merced County) District Cemetery's Garden of Peace with Dr. Steven Mouldenhauer of Valley Baptist Church officiating.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Edith (Madison) Waidley.
He leaves behind his second wife of 13 years, May (Gorke) Waidley; son, Gerald W. Waidley; two grandchildren; five great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.
Pallbearers were Gerry W. Waidley, Grant W. Waidley, Garren W. Waidley, Gerrad W. Waidley, Geramy W. Waidley and Martin Baltezore.
Della Merrill
Della Pearl Merrill was born April 5, 1913, to Delaware and Elsie (Englehart) Decker in a sod house east of Traer, Kan. Two years after Della, the youngest Decker in the family appeared, the family moved to Cedar Bluffs, Kan., where her father was a Methodist minister at a country church. But by the time Della was six, she was fatherless. Her father had fractured his appendix and died following surgery. To survive her mother worked odd jobs, while Della attended first grade in Cedar Bluffs.
The family moved to Orleans, Neb., the following spring where she attended school from the second grade through the first semester of her freshman year in high school. That winter she and her mother moved to Wauneta. They lived there through her junior year before moving back to Orleans for a brief time, but eventually moved back to Wauneta so Della could graduate with the Wauneta High School Class of 1931.
During her high school years she met her future husband, John Jay Merrill. Della and Jay were married
in September of 1931, when Della was 18. The following year they lived in and around Wauneta and started raising their family during the years of the dust bowl and the depression.
After her youngest child started school, Della took a job working at the Wauneta Telephone Company. She would answer the phone, then patch the first party through to the second. Della worked alone and also served as the receptionist and helped with the billing. Working during the day meant chores were left to time off and laundry was huge in her family of seven, using a wash board for years.
Della and Jay lived in Wauneta until their youngest graduated from high school. At that time they moved to Cheyenne, Wyo., where Jay worked in redoing the military base. Della was 45 at the time of the move and went to work at Montgomery Ward, first as a telephone operator, then in the cash office, and finally as a receptionist.
After being away from Wauneta for 16 years, they moved back to retire. They bought the Mabel Taylor house and lived in Wauneta since the move. After moving back she lost her husband in 1978, then her daughter, Elsie Kerchal, in 1999. Even through the hard times, Della loved Wauneta.
Della passed away early Wednesday morning, Dec. 21, 2005, at the Heritage of Wauneta Nursing Home. She was 92 years of age.
Della loved to garden and growing flowers, she was a avid quilter, producing quilts for her 18 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and five great, great grandchildren. Della was a member of the Rebecca Lodge of Wauneta and the Shilohettes until they disbanded. She loved to play cards, belonging to the pinochle and canasta clubs in town.
She is survived by daughter Barbara O'Dea of Wauneta; daughter Joyce Hutchins of Inverness, Fla.; daughter Marilyn and husband Robin Koelmel of Lakewood, Colo.; and son Richard Merrill and wife Pat, also of Lakewood; 18 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and five great, great grandchildren.
Della was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jay; daughter, Elsie Kerchal; brother, Zenas and sisters, Pansy, Frances and Lulu.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005, at 10 a.m. at the Wauneta Church of Christ, Wauneta, Neb., with Pastor Randy Hayes officiating. Music was provided by the Wauneta Church of Christ choir.
Casketbearers were grandsons and great grandsons Rick Merrill, Doug Merrill, Derek Koelmel, Gerry Koelmel, Steve Kerchal, Dave Kerchal, Russ O'Dea, Bob Goings, Jeremy Merrill and Justin Kerchal.
Interment was in Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta.
A memorial has been established in her memory
Liewer Funeral Home of Wauneta was in charge of arrangements.
Verna Doris Johnson
Verna Doris Cranwell Johnson, the youngest child of Ernest and Myrtle Cranwell, was born Feb. 5, 1919 at Holyoke, Colo.
She was raised on the farm that her parents homesteaded on the Colorado and Nebraska state line and attended grade school at a small one-room school nearby.
Because of an illness since birth, she was unable to attend high school so she remained at home, learning to cook, sew and helping friends and neighbors.
Her passion was music, especially playing the piano and even though she had no formal training, she played by ear and practiced long hours.
She married
Irvin Johnson on July 3, 1938. They spent several years working on a farm near Hamlet, Neb. before their first child, Donna was born in 1945.
In 1946, they bought a farm south of Lamar, Neb. where Cynthia was born in 1949 and Barry in 1950. They maintained that farm until 1976 when they retired, moving to Bella Vista, Ark. and later moving to Roger, Ark. in 1990.
She was baptized into her Christian faith at Lamar, Neb. as a child and continued to build her faith at Bella Vista Christian Church in Arkansas. Irvin and Verna returned to a home in Imperial, Neb. in 1996. Failing health for them both was a reason for moving to Imperial Manor where they had lived together since 1998.
Verna peacefully passed away Dec. 20, 2005 at Imperial Manor Nursing Home.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Myrtle Cranwell; four sisters, Mildred, Fern, Erma and Vivian; brother, Clyde; an infant brother and son-in-law, James Gibb.
She leaves to mourn her passing her husband, Irvin, of 67 years; daughters and Donna Gibb of Imperial and Cynthia Hudgins and husband, Jack, of Texarkana, Ark.; son Barry and wife, Sheila, of North Platte, Neb.; grandchildren, Jamie Gibb and wife, Denise, Shannon Johnson and husband, Russell, Shane Hudgins and wife, Teri, Sean Hudgins, Renee Johnson and Cody Kimberling and wife, Donelle, and nine great grandchildren.
She will be sadly missed by her family and her friends and caregivers at Imperial.
Robert Tibbetts
Robert Tibbetts, 74, of Westwood, Calif., died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2005, in Oakland, Calif.
Verna Johnson
Verna Johnson, age 86, passed away early Tuesday morning, Dec. 20, 2005, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home in Imperial.
Survivors include husband, Irvin of Imperial; daughter, Donna Gibb of Imperial; son, Barry Johnson and wife, Sheila, of North Platte; daughter, Cindy Hudgins and husband, Jack, of Texarkana, Ark.; six grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Graveside services will be today (Thursday), Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial, with Martin Harmon officiating.
Visitation will be held Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 21 at 2-6 p.m. at the funeral home in Imperial.
A memorial has been established to the Imperial Manor Nursing Home.
Liewer Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Blanche Cook
Blanche Cook was born on March 13, 1916 at the Richmond farmstead southwest of Grant, Neb. She was the oldest of four children born to William and Alice Hoffman Richmond.
Blanche grew up on the farm, attending country school and later graduating from Perkins County High School in Grant in 1934. After graduation, Blanche worked in the telephone company office for several years.
Blanche was married
to Orie Cook on May 18, 1937 in Denver, Colo. Three children were born to this union, Beverly, Alice and Gary. They lived for two years in California before moving to Denver.
In 1945 they returned to Grant. In 1958, Orie started Cook's Ready Mix in Imperial and Blanche worked in the office. The business became a success and the family moved to Imperial in 1963.
After their retirement, Blanche and Orie spent their winters in Mesa, Ariz.
Orie died in 1989 and Blanche continued to maintain her residence in Imperial and Mesa.
She moved to the Westview Retirement Center in Grant in 2004 and because of declining health, she moved to the Park Ridge Assisted Living earlier this year.
She stayed active at Park Ridge but suffered an apparent stroke Friday afternoon, Dec. 16, 2005. She was moved to the Perkins County Community Hospital where she died. She had reached the age of 89.
Blanche had been baptized at the Grant Congregational Church early in her life. After her marriage, she remained active in church, teaching Sunday School and Bible School.
After their move to Imperial, they joined the Methodist Church. She was a member of the Esther Circle and helped fold the church letters for mailing each month. Blanche was a member of the Imperial Eagles Auxiliary and volunteered at the Senior Center.
Blanche always enjoyed a game of cards and bingo. Orie and Blanche enjoyed camping and fondly remembered the good times shared with the "Over the Hill" group.
In addition to her parents and husband, Blanche was preceded in death by her brother, Floyd Richmond in 1982, her infant daughter, Alice in 1945, and her son Gary in 2004.
She is survived by her daughter Beverly and her husband Larry Bachmann of International Falls, Minn., and a daughter-in-law, Darla Cook of Piedmont, S.D.; four grandsons, Chip Cook of Denver, Colo., Gregg and his wife Tammy Bachmann of Indianola, Iowa, Doug and his wife Tammy Bachmann of Des Moines, Iowa and Kevin and his wife Jane Bachmann of Wake Forest, N.C.; Blanche also considered Cathy Kruzek of Denver, Colo., who spent time with Gary and Darla while she was growing up as her granddaughter; great-grandchildren, Sasha Davis, Zac Bachmann, Mark Bachmann, Kate Bachmann, Nicole Gullion, Eric Gullion, Brandon Brooks; two sisters, Jean Mitchell and Mary Burnham, both of Denver, Colo.; two sisters-in-law, Lucille Richmond and Louvella Cook of Grant and one brother-in-law, Clair Bell of Lexington; other relatives and friends.
Services were held on Monday, Dec. 19, 2005 at the Grant First Congregational Church with Pastor John Keener officiating.
Music was by Lynn Schumacher and Lori McCloskey.
Casketbearers were Gregg Bachmann, Doug Bachmann, Kevin Bachmann, Chip Cook, Jerry Benge and Bill Richmond.
Interment was in the Grant Cemetery.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Jesse Deaver
Jesse Deaver was born on May 31, 1934 at Ogallala, Neb. He was the oldest of five sons born to Bernard and Susie Lugenbeel Deaver. Jesse was baptized on June 14, 1934. The family lived west of Grant, Neb., and Jesse attended rural school.
He began high school at Sidney St. Patrick's before returning to Perkins County High School in Grant where he graduated in 1952. Jesse had worked for Kreider's implement and car dealership in high school and continued his employment with them after graduation.
Jesse was married
to Idonna Russell on June 5, 1954 at Paxton, Neb. They lived their entire married
life in Grant.
Jesse began working for Producer's Grain in 1959, later managing Kellogg Grain, and in 1965 began his career with the Grant Co-op. He eventually became the general operations manager for the Co-op. Jesse served for 30 years before his health forced his retirement in 1995.
Jesse was the recipient of a liver transplant that same year. He stayed active in his retirement with his farming interests and Jesse and Idonna spent their winters in Yuma, Ariz., during this time.
His health had been a continuing issue in his life and he had been transferred to the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha the middle of November for treatment. He died at the Medical Center Tuesday morning, Dec. 6, 2005. He had reached the age of 71.
Jesse had been confirmed into the Zion Lutheran Church on March 17, 1957 and had been an active member. Jesse was a founding and charter member of the Grant Jaycees. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Grant Volunteer Fire Department and the Grant Rotary. He was a member of the Nebraska Feed and Grain Association. When Grant had a functional theater several years ago, Jesse was responsible for running the projectors. He was presently a member of the Imperial Eagle's Club.
In addition to his parents, Jesse was preceded in death by two brothers, John Dale and Jerry.
He is survived by his wife, Idonna; two sons, Kevin and wife Kathy of Lincoln, Neb., and Kent of Kearney, Neb.; one daughter, Carmen Bottom of Kearney; five grandsons, Sean and Mitchel Bottom; Shane, Jacob and Danny Deaver; four granddaughters, Mindy Bottom, Nikki, Megan and Molly Deaver; two brothers, James and wife Virginia of rural Imperial, Neb., and David and wife Kathy of Grant; two sisters-in-law, Sandy and Jody; many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Friday, Dec. 9, at the Grant Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Ron Krause officiating. Music was provided by Judy Kurkowski and Lori McCloskey.
Casketbearers were Sean Bottom, Mitchel Bottom, Ted Deaver, Shane Deaver, Danny Deaver and Jacob Deaver.
Burial was in the Grant Cemetery. A memorial has been established. Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
