U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Robert E. 'Bob' Makinster
Robert E. "Bob" Makinster was born to Bill and Nellie (Edwards) Makinster on January 25, 1925 at Grant, Perkins Co., Nebr.
Bob grew up at Lamar, Nebr. having moved there when he was two years old. Bob received his elementary education at Lamar School District 42 and his high school education at Chase County High School in Imperial.
In January of his senior year Bob enlisted in the United States Navy serving at the end of World War II, he was a coxswain at Guam. Bob received his high school diploma while he was at Guam.
He married
the girl next door, Norma Fern Deselms, on July 15, 1946 in Bird City, Kan. They lived around Imperial and Lamar for a while and settled at Estes Park, Colo.
Bob worked as a wrangler at the Blue Ribbon Stables. In the mid 1960's he went into a trash hauling partnership with Lee Parker, to service the state parks and City of Estes Park.
In 1972 Bob and Norma moved to Long Prairie, Minn. where they bought and operated a beef cattle ranch. In 1979 they moved to Little Falls where they owned and operated numerous townhouses.
While living in Little Falls, Norma passed away in 1983 and Bob moved back to Nebraska in 1986.
Bob married
Helen Duffey Watson in 1988 in Calif.
Bob was a member of the Estes Park American Legion and the Estes Park Community Church for which he served as lay minister and elder. While in Little Falls Bob attended the Methodist Church.
Bob was a scout pack leader and was instrumental in bringing Little League to Estes Park, he helped build the ball field and was a little league coach.
Bob loved fishing, hunting, camping and hiking. He taught his children to fish and to love nature. Bob was a captivating storyteller.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Norma; an infant daughter, Connie Lee; two brothers-in-law, Charles Briggs and Verne Duffey.
Those left to mourn include his wife, Helen; son, Robert Charles and wife, Cindy of Denver, Colo.; daughter, Jody Ballard of Longmont. Step daughters, Linda Moralas, Christie Chalton, Donna Watson, Shelly Dane and Carolee Goodwin and their families, all of California and Arizona; five grandchildren, several step-grandchildren; sisters, Eula Briggs of Imperial, Margie Gladue and husband Duane of Lamar and Shirley Tallman and husband, Sid of Pawnee City, Nebr.; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.
Services were held in Klamath Falls, Ore. and Longmont, Colo. Cremation was by Klamath Cremation Services. Burial of ashes was at Longmont.
Memorial has been designated to the American Diabetes Association.
Alfred Lempke
Alfred Lempke was born on July 20, 1916, in Johnson County near Tecumseh, Neb.
He was the second of three children born to Joseph and Frances Hindra Lempke.
Alfred grew up on the farm near Tecumseh and attended country school through the eighth grade. After his schooling he worked for area farmers before he moved to Herington, Kan., where he was involved in farm work.
Alfred met Mildred Schumer who had come to Tecumseh for a family wedding and they later married
at Wallace, Neb., on Jan. 22, 1942. They lived south of Grainton, Neb., their entire married
life.
Mildred died in 1984 and Alfred moved to the Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant, Neb.
He fell at Golden Ours and broke his hip and had been transferred to the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, Neb., for surgery. He died at Great Plains early Monday morning, Oct. 18, 2004. He had reached the age of 88.
In addition to his parents and wife, Alfred was preceded in death by one sister, Irene Kamen and one brother Arthur Lempke; one grandson Ezra Lempke.
He is survived by one daughter, Margaret and husband Mark Berry of Lamar, Neb.; two sons, Vincent and wife Marilyn of Columbus, Neb., and David and wife Mary of Wallace; seven grandchildren; other relatives and friends.
Rosary was recited on Thursday, Oct. 21 at Wallace St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, Oct. 22 at 10:30 a.m. CDT at St. Mary's with Rev. Jim Benton officiating.
Music will be provided by Shirley Aylward and Doug and Michelle Sullivan.
Casketbearers were Roger and John Lempke, Clifford McGregor, Brendon Vlasin, Brad Schumer and Jim Artz.
Burial followed in the Grant Cemetery.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Jackie Lee Pump
Jackie Lee Pump was born Nov. 27, 1945, at the Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial.
Jack was the first born child of Lessly William Pump and Jessie Annabel Brown Pump of Venango, Neb.
Jack was raised on the family farm southeast of Venango, where he began his education in a one room school house about one and a half miles south of the farm and then graduated from Venango Public School in 1963. After graduation, he moved to Denver to be an electrical apprentice.
In December of 1965, he was drafted into the United States Army and served as a microwave radio repairman at various bases in the United States and Thailand. While in the Army, he developed a love for photography that lasted his entire life.
After an honorable discharge from the service, he went back to work in Denver as an electrician.
On Oct. 10, 1970, Jack married
Mary Ann Brown in Imperial at the Westside Church of Christ. They lived in Denver until 1974 when they moved to the Pump family farm southeast of Venango. From this union of 25 years, three children were born: Paula, Sarah and William.
Jack's comfort in life was his spiritual life in Christ. He was buried with him in baptism by immersion on Feb. 8, 195.
Jack loved spending many hours with his extended family and friends. His sense of humor, honor of love and gentle heart will be greatly missed by all. His children remember his laughter, his grandsons remember his unending love and his family and friends remember his life.
During his career as a farmer, he enjoyed nothing more than being on the tractor, harvesting the crops and being a part of God's creation.
He enjoyed working on older farm equipment, especially Minneapolis Moline tractors, with family and friends. He was always more than willing to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.
Jack was an avid hunter and fisherman spending many days with family and friends and teaching his children and grandsons the wonders of the outdoors.
During the last few years even though he did not personally participate in every hunting event, he enjoyed going along with family and friends during the hunting seasons.
Jack passed away suddenly after a heart attack on Oct. 12, 2004. He was 58 years of age.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ann Pump in 1996, his father Lessly Pump in 1986 and father-in-law Wayne Brown in 1976.
He is survived by his daughters Paula Eileen Seals and husband Terry of Kearney, Neb. and Sarah Ann Falk and husband Bryan of Kearney, Neb.; son William Paul Pump of Venango, Neb.; mother Annabel Pump of Venango, Neb.; mother-in-law Elnor Brown of Imperial, Neb.; grandsons Cody, Alan and Alex Seals of Kearney, Neb., Zach Fredericks of Bellevue, Neb. and Lucas Falk of Kearney, Neb.; sisters Linda Churda and husband Alan of Lincoln, Neb., Edith Jones and husband Gary of Fountain Hills, Ariz. and Sharon Daigger of Fountain Hills, Ariz.; sister-in-law Susan Kramer and husband Lyle of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; brother-in-law Mike Brown and wife Jeanie of Huntington Beach, Calif.; many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends.
Funeral services were Friday, Oct. 15, 2004, at 2 p.m. (MDT) at the Westside Church of Christ, Imperial, Neb. with Bill Lewis officiating.
Music was by the Westside Church of Christ singers.
Casketbearers were cousins Jim Pump, Andy Brown, Chuck Brown, Dick Brown and close friends Leroy Grams and Dale Grothman.
A memorial has been established in Jack's memory.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Catherine Louise Bussell
Catherine Louise Bussell entered life eternal on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2004, at the Imperial Manor.
Louise was born at home on Sunday, July 17, 1904, a few miles north of Hastings, Neb. to Louisa Mae Werner and William James Gilchrist.
She was baptized July 31, 1904, at St. Cecilia Church in Hastings, Neb.
In 1906, she moved with her parents to a farm just south of Imperial, Chase County, Neb., where she attended grade school, high school and St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
Families important in her formative years had the surname of Werner, Weiss, O'Brien, Gleason and Pflum.
As a young girl, Louise liked flowers and plants. She collected and dried many species for a school project going as far as Champion on horseback to collect some of them.
She was united in marriage to Edward Delbert Bussell in McCook, Neb. on Nov. 24, 1922. Her mother made the wedding dress which was dark blue taffeta trimmed in tatting.
They started their life together on a farm and lived most of their life in the same section where Ed's father had homesteaded eight miles north of the original Bussell mill or 21 miles northwest of Imperial.
To this union, four children were born: Evelyn Bernice, Emma Jane, Delbert Don and Mary Lou.
They raised cattle, hogs, corn, wheat and sorghum. Black Angus cattle and John Deere tractors were always a part of the farm. They didn't have electricity or indoor plumbing until after World War II.
Louise always had a big garden, would make quilts in the winter months and enjoyed her embroidery and crocheting piece work.
She entertained her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with stories which were much better than reading from a book. She could tell stories that would entertain for just a few minutes or as long as necessary. She loved poetry and she could still recite some of the poems she memorized years ago.
As a neighbor and friend, Louise was active in Chase Extension Club, Frenchman Valley Garden Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Pink Ladies of the Chase County Hospital and St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
In 1957, Louise and Ed moved from the farm to Imperial. Louise enjoyed her new home. She now had more time to make beautiful quilts and grow special roses and flowers in her yard.
One never knew when the phone might ring and Louise would be off to help a friend, serve at the hospital or go to one of her many babysitting jobs.
Louise again attended St. Patrick's Church. She decorated the church altar with flowers from her yard. She made many trips to the church to say her prayers. As time sometimes does, she now was able to spend more time with her friend Theresa O'Brien Pflum.
Louise was preceded in death by her husband Edward Delbert Bussell in 1975 as well as her parents, two brothers Francis (Johnny) and William James (Billy) and three sisters Emma Marie Kaiser, Alice Cecilia Howard and Bessie Ellen Delano.
She is survived by two sisters, Faye Madgeline Kaiser and Helen Evesta Lassila, who both live in California.
Those who also remain to treasure and remember Louise include three daughters Evelyn Norman of Norwalk, Calif., Emma Jane Haddorff of Fort Collins, Colo. and Mary Lou Bower and husband Doug of Joplin, Mo.; her son Delbert Don and wife Linda of Imperial; 13 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren. Many other relatives and a lifetime accumulation of friends also share the loss of Louise from her earthly home.
Recitation of the Rosary was held Monday, Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Mass and Burial were held Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. with Father Greg Pawloski of St. Patrick's Catholic Church officiating.
Music was provided by organist Mrs. Marcy Nesbitt and soloist Mr. Ron Moritz.
Casketbearers were Scott Bussell, Brent Bussell, Douglas Bower, Thomas Bower, Matthew Bower, Donald Morse, Robert Morse, Dan Norman and Michael Bower.
Interment was at Mount Hope cemetery at Imperial.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Gary D. Cook
Gary D. Cook, 65, Piedmont, S.D., died at his home in Piedmont on Oct. 9, 2004.
Gary was born on July 22, 1939, to Orie and Blanche (Richmond) Cook at Grant, Neb.
He graduated from Perkins County High School in 1957. After a year of college at the University of Nebraska, he spent two years in the U.S. Army. Returning to Imperial, Neb. in 1965, he purchased the ready mix plant.
Gary was married
to Darla Cady on Sept. 17, 1971, in Denver, Colo.
He ran Cook's Ready Mix until he retired in 1996 when he and his wife moved to Piedmont, S.D.
While in Imperial, Gary served on the planning commission and variance board for many years. He helped start the Eagles Club and was their first president.
He coached t-ball, baseball and was a Cub Scout master.
While living in Piedmont, he served on the Piedmont District Fire Board, he became an Elk and his enjoyment was making improvements on his home and yard in between golfing and fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Darla of Piedmont; one son, Chip Cook of St. Peters, Mo.; his mother, Blanche Cook of Grant, Neb.; one sister Beverly (Larry) Bachmann of International Falls, Minn. and Cathy (Dan) Kruzek of Denver, Colo., who lived with them for several years; three nephews, Gregg (Tammy) Bachmann of Indianola, Iowa, Doug (Tammy) Bachmann of Des Moines, Iowa and Kevin (Jane) Bachmann of Basel, Switzerland; several aunts, one uncle, several grand nieces and nephews and numerous cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father Orie in 1989, and a sister Alice Ann Cook in 1943.
A memorial has been established to the Hospice of the Northern Hills.
Following his request, his body was cremated and private inurnment services will be held at his beloved home in South Dakota.
