U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
James Kelso
James Kelso was born on Aug. 3, 1944 in Ogallala, Neb. He was the third of five children born to Thomas Jefferson and Della Jensen Kelso.
Jim grew up in Madrid, Neb., graduating from Madrid High School in 1963. He joined the United States Army in 1966, serving for two years which included duty in Europe before his honorable discharge in 1968.
Jim lived in Denver and was married to Gina Sanchez in 1971. While in Denver, Jim worked for Coors Distributing. In 1988 he moved to Arizona and later Las Vegas where he drove a truck, transporting vegetables. He returned to Denver in 2000. Jim had developed a malignancy in March of 2004 and had moved to Imperial, Neb., last November to be closer to family. He moved to Ogallala, and was living at Indian Hills Manor Nursing Home when he died Sunday night, May 22, 2005. He had reached the age of 60.
Jim was a lifetime member of the V.F.W. and had belonged to the Longmont American Legion.
He is survived by two sons, Jacob Kelso and Sal Sanchez, both of Las Vegas; one daughter, Danielle Kelso of Tempe, Ariz.; his parents, Tom Kelso in Denver and Della McCormick in Dacona, Colo.; two brothers, Gary of Arvada, Colo., and Loren and wife Betty of Denver; two sisters, Carol and husband Dan Seiler of Ogallala and Venita Kimball of Dacona; five half-brothers, Sonny and wife Beth McCormick of Ogallala, Freddie and wife Becky of Enders, Neb., Phil of Boulder, Colo., Bruce of Ogallala, and Calvin and wife Sue of North Platte, Neb.; one half-sister, Jodeen McCormick of Longmont, Colo., other relatives and friends.
His body was cremated. Committal services were held on Saturday, May 28, 2005 at the Madrid Cemetery with John Long officiating. Burial of the cremains was in the Madrid Cemetery. Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Arvin Kurth
Arvin Duane Kurth was born Sept. 13, 1938 in Sidney, Neb. to August Frederick William Kurth and Viola Louise Burke.
He passed into the hands of the Lord on Sunday, May 22, 2005 at the age of 66 in Imperial, Neb.
Arvin was baptized and confirmed at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Dalton, Neb.
He received his education and grew up in the Dalton area. On May 2, 1958 he was joined in marriage to Lona Jean Kepler at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Dalton. To this union they were blessed with four children: Lana, Dennis, Allen and Troy. He was joined in union to Janice Kay (Scott) Miller on April 9, 1999 in Oberlin, Kan. While living in the Dalton area he was employed by the Cheyenne County Highway Department and involved with the Dalton Fire Department until moving to Imperial Jan. 28, 1970.
After moving to Imperial he was employed by the Chase County Road Department, Harris Construction and at the time of retirement he was employed by the City of Imperial in the Utilities Department.
He was a member of the Eagles Club for many years and donated a lot of time and services over the years.
He loved to spend time with his family and could sit and talk for hours with family and friends.
He loved to work with his hands and there were very few things he couldn't figure out how to repair or fix.
He is survived by his wife, Janice, of Imperial; daughter, Lana Oltmans and husband, Craig, of Holdrege; sons, Dennis Kurth of Colby, Kan., Allen Kurth and wife Diane, of Colby, Kan., Troy Kurth of Glenwood Springs, Colo. and Johnny Miller and wife, Roxane, of Imperial; 26 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; three brothers, Lyle of Dalton, Howard of Sidney, Darold and wife Jeannie of Yuma, Ariz.; two sisters, Marva Smith and husband, Al, of Cheyenne, Wyo. and Connie Buxbaum and husband, Bob, of Bayard, Neb.; childhood friend, Sharon Waite and husband, Gene, of Sidney and a whole host of family and friends. His parents and one sister, Pearl Leighty preceded him in death.
Funeral services were Thursday, May 26 at the Crossroads Wesleyan Church in Imperial, with Pastor Todd Burpo officiating.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in Arvin's memory.
Liewer Funeral Home was charge of arrangements.
Elnora Steinke
Elnora Steinke of rural Venango, Neb., died Monday morning, May 23, 2005 at the Perkins County Community Hospital in Grant. She had reached the age of 85.
Funeral services will be held Friday, May 27, 2005 at 2 p.m., at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Venango. Burial will be in the Venango Cemetery.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Leland Barelman
Leland D. Barelman, 65, died Saturday, May 14, 2005 at his home in Cheyenne, Wyo.
Barelman was born Dec. 29, 1940 to Emil and Minnie (Bruse) Barelman in Wayne, Neb. Survivors include three children, Colt Barelman of Tres Pinos, Calif., two daughters, Jason (Jasie) Barelman of Wakefield, Neb., and Justin (Justie) Ellis of Littleton, Colo.; six grandchildren and a sister, Mylet Swanson.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Milferd.
Vincent Lempke
Vincent Lempke was born on Oct. 19, 1950 at McCook, Neb. He was the second of three children born to Alfred and Mildred Schumer Lempke. Vincent grew up on the family farm south of Grainton, Neb. He attended elementary school in Grainton and high school in Wallace, Neb., where he graduated in 1969. Vincent received an associates arts degree in 1971 from North Platte junior college. He received a bachelor of science degree from Kearney State in 1973. He taught school in Paxton, Neb., for three years before returning to Kearney State where he received his masters degree in 1978. He taught school in Monroe, Neb., for one year before working on advanced graduate work from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo. He taught physics and math at the Central Community College in Columbus, Neb., from 1980 until the present time. Vincent was married to Marilyn Henderson in Holyoke, Colo., on July 24, 1999 at a double ceremony with his sister and brother-in-law. Vincent had returned to the Lempke farm south of Grainton for a weekend of relaxation and died Sunday, May 15, 2005 of an apparent fatal heart attack. He had reached the age of 54.
Vincent was an active member of the St. Isidore's Catholic Church in Columbus where he participated in the CEC program, Re-marriage Preparation ministry and served as an Eucharistic Minister. Vincent and Marilyn were active in square dance clubs in Columbus and Norfolk where he had served as president of both clubs. He recently had joined the RC Flyers Club, a group of flying enthusiasts who built and flew model aircraft.
Vincent was preceded in death by his parents and one nephew, Ezra Lempke.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his sister, Margaret and husband Mark Berry of Lamar, Neb.; his brother, David and wife Mary Lempke of Wallace; nieces and nephews, Celeste, Jennifer, Philip and John Paul Lempke, Sandy Engel, Kristi Birdsall, Jeffery and Brian Collins; other relatives and friends.
Mass of Christian burial was held Thursday, May 19, 2005 at St. Mary's Church in Wallace with Father Jim Benton and Father Joseph Miksch officiating.
Music was provided by guitarist Scott Harris and vocalists Doug and Michelle Sullivan.
Casket bearers were John Lempke, Philip Lempke, Jeff Lempke, Brad Schumer, Mark Berry, Doug Birdsall, Wayne Maupin and Charles Tines.
Interment was in the Wallace Cemetery. Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
James Singleton
James Alvin Singleton was born on Oct. 4, 1912 at Stanberry, Mo. He was the second of four children born to James Franklin and Nellie Sherry Singleton. The family moved to Merino, Colo., when Alvin was three years old and into Sterling, Colo., in 1928 where he finished the eighth grade. Alvin moved to southwest Nebraska that same year where he worked for area farm families. In 1938 Alvin and his future father-in-law, Bill Young, purchased a gas station in Grainton, Neb.
Alvin was married to Letha Young on Sept. 26, 1940 in Grainton. They made their home on the Young farmstead southeast of Grainton in Hayes County. Alvin and Letha farmed and raised cattle and in 1977 they moved into Wallace, Neb. In 2002 Alvin broke his hip and eventually moved to the El Dorado Manor nursing facility in Trenton, Neb. He had been in failing health when he died early Tuesday afternoon, May 17, 2005. He had reached the age of 92.
Alvin was a previous member of the Grainton United Methodist Church. He had been a member of the Ogallala Elks Club. Alvin was one of the original members of the Wallace Roping Club and stayed active with the club over the years. When W.R. O'Conner of Elsie, Neb., had his rodeo circuit Alvin helped work the stock for over 20 years. He also called dances with Hadley Barrett throughout the area. When he retired in Wallace, he always enjoyed his daily pitch games with his friends.
In addition to his parents, Alvin was preceded in death by two brothers, Perry and Wilbur; one sister, Ethel Anderson; and his daughter, Carolyn who died in 1946.
He is survived by his wife of over 64 years, Letha; his son, Jim and wife Jan Singleton of Hayes Center; one grandson, Tony of Lincoln and one granddaughter, Tara and husband Kris Drain of Trenton and their two daughters, Kassidy and Kenzy; other relatives and friends.
Services were held Friday, May 20, 2005 at the Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Hayes Center with Pastor Fay Ann Blaylock officiating.
Music was provided by organist Myra Large and soloist Bob Cummings.
Casket bearers were Bob Schaefer, Neal Anderson, Dick Goucher, Mark Franklin, Duane McClintock and Gaylord Lawson.
Interment was in the Wallace Cemetery.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Viola Huebert
Viola Huebert was born on June 27, 1920 at her parents home in Perkins County, south of Paxton, Neb. She was the younger of two children born to Manfred and Zola Pelton Thompson.
She grew up on the family farm attending District 23 elementary and later attending high school in Elsie, Neb., where she graduated in 1938.
Viola was married to Vergil Huebert on Oct. 5, 1941 at her parents home. They made their first home in Madrid, Neb., and in 1942 they moved to their farm home south of Paxton where they lived and worked together for 43 years. They moved to their lake home near Ogallala, Neb., in 1984 and to their present home in Ogallala in 1986. They enjoyed their winters in McAllen, Texas for the past several years.
Viola had developed a malignancy last November and lost her courageous battle with cancer last Saturday night, May 21, 2005 with her loving family and gentle caregiver Frances, surrounding her. She had reached the age of 84.
Her greatest joy was her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed having coffee with her friends, playing cards, making quilts, baking pies and goodies for her family and friends, and never missing a sporting event or activity that a family member was participating in.
Viola was a long time member of the Elsie United Methodist Church, transferring her membership to Ogallala after their retirement. She had been a member of Elsie WSCS, Paxton American Legion Auxiliary, Ogallala RSVP and the recently formed Foxie Red Hat Society.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother and sister-in-law, Leo and Gladys Thompson.
Viola is survived by her husband of over 63 years, Vergil; three daughters Jeanette and her husband Jim Jorgensen of Albu-querque, N.M., Lynette and her husband Don Byrnes of Lincoln and Eileen and her husband Clark Anderson of Ogallala; five grandchildren Joel and his wife Tracy Jorgensen of Colorado Springs, Jill and her husband Craig Brown of Albuquerque, Megan and her husband Chad Davison of Lincoln, Natalie Anderson of Kearney, Neb., and Matt Byrnes of Lincoln; four great-grandchildren Josh and Taylor Brown, Jessica and Nicholas Jorgensen; nieces and nephews Lendon and his wife Leone Thompson, Judy and her husband Bill Eakins and Vickie Anderson, all of Paxton; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 24, 2005 at the Ogallala United Methodist Church with Pastor Eldon Davis officiating. Music was provided by Joel Engdahl and Karla Lawler. Casket bearers were Jim Jorgensen, Joel Jorgensen, Don Byrnes, Matt Byrnes, Clark Anderson, Chad Davison, Craig Brown, Lendon Thompson and Bill Eakins.
Burial was in the Paxton Cemetery. A memorial has been established.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Vincent Lempke
Vincent Lempke, originally from the Grainton, Neb., community, died Sunday, May 15, 2005.
Rosary will be recited on Wednesday, May 18, at 7:30 p.m. CDT at the Wallace St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, May 19 (today) at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church.
Burial will be in the Wallace Cemetery. Bullock-Long Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Iola Farmer
Iola Farmer was born on Nov. 13, 1915 in Lincoln County, south of Wallace, Neb. She was the second of three children born to Walter and Viva Murray Dalgarn. Iola grew up south of Wallace, attending rural school. She started high school in Wallace where she attended three years before finishing high school at the Curtis School of Agriculture.
After her graduation, she helped her mother at the telephone company in Wallace.
Iola was married to Glen Farmer in Grand Island on Aug. 17, 1935. They made their first home in Wallace and then lived in various communities until 1959 when they moved to Sterling, Colo.
They moved to Greeley, Colo., in 1964 where Iola worked as a nurse's aide at the Weld County Hospital for 12 years. Glen died in 1996 and Iola moved to Calhan, Colo. in 1997 to be closer to family.
Iola had been moved to the Pikes Peak Hospice in Colorado Springs where she died Sunday afternoon, May 15, 2005. She had reached the age of 89.
In addition to her parents and husband, Iola was preceded in death by one sister, Iva, and one brother, Donald.
She is survived by two daughters, Roberta and husband Jerry Charles of Calhan; and Connie and husband Ken Johnson of Sterling, Colo.; one grandson, Joshua Johnson of Sterling; other relatives and friends.
Committal services were held on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 at the Morningview Cemetery in Wallace with Pastor Jerry Charles officiating.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Terry Eugene McCormick
Terry Eugene McCormick, 52, of Lewellen, Neb., passed away on Friday, April 22, 2005 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.
Terry was born on Nov. 6, 1952 in Lewellen to Neil 'Pike' and Norma Jeane (Dodson) McCormick. He grew up on his parents farm east of Lewellen and attended District 45 country school through the third grade, Lewellen Grade School, and graduated from Lewellen High School in 1972.
Terry furthered his education at Mid Plains College at North Platte, Neb., where he graduated in 1974 and received an associate degree in air conditioning. While attending college, he worked for Lloyd Kerr at South Jeffers Plumbing and Heating in North Platte. After graduation, Terry worked for Union Pacific Railroad until 1978 when he started farming and raising cattle.
On Nov. 5, 1983, he married Rose Mary Strange of Denver, Colo., at the United Methodist Church in Lewellen.
To this union two sons were born, Dustin Eugene in 1984 and Curtis Lee in 1986. They have spent all of their married life on the family farm east of Lewellen. Terry loved the farm life and especially loved working with the cattle.
They enjoyed traveling and vacationing in Puerto Vallarta and celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in Cancun, Mexico.
Terry was a member of the United Methodist Church in Lewellen.
He loved hunting and fishing and he met a lot of his close friends doing these activities.
Terry will be sadly missed by his loving family, they include his wife, Rose of Lewellen, Neb.; sons, Dustin McCormick of Lincoln, Curtis McCormick of Milford and Dustin's special friend, Jessie Batt; his parents, Neil 'Pike' and Norma McCormick of Lewellen; sister, Nicki and husband Sid Colson of Elsie, Neb.; brother, Pat and wife Karen McCormick of Lewellen; mother-in-law, Helen Strange of Lewellen; father-in-law, Truman Strange of Eldon, Mo.; brother-in-law, Jim and wife Heather Davis of Dallas, Ore.; sisters-in-law, Ronda and husband Bob Gottschall of Craig, Colo., Karen and husband Dave Miller of Las Vegas, Nev., Cheryl and husband Phil Gustte of Doylestown, Pa.; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ralph and Hazel Dodson and Alfie and Jane McCormick.
Memorial services were Wednesday, April 27, 2005 at the Lewellen Rural High School in Lewellen with Pastor Ray Weinerman of the United Methodist Church officiating.
Holechek Funeral Home in Oshkosh is in charge of arrangements.
