U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Mildred E. Hudson
STRATTON -- Mildred E. Hudson, 97, died Wednesday (Sept. 26, 2001) at Community Hospital of McCook.
She was born Nov. 26, 1903, on the family farm in Hitchcock County to Amos A. and Jennie E. (Johnson) Wood. She attended McCabe Country School near her home south of Stratton, and later attended Stratton High School where she graduated in 1923. She attended normal school, and taught school in rural Dundy and Hitchcock counties while attending summer school to obtain her lifetime certificate.
On July 29, 1930, she married
John H. Palmer at Stratton. She continued teaching for three years. On October 1, 1936, she opened a beauty shop behind her husband's barbershop. She was a beautician for more than 33 years.
On Sept. 4, 1969, she married
Jesse D. Hudson at her home in Stratton.
She was a member of Community United Methodist Church of Stratton, the United Methodist Women, the Stratton Garden Club, and the American Legion Auxiliary. She made and donated several quilts to Grandview Senior Center where they were used in fund-raising projects, and volunteered her time to help with activities at the center. She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands, John Palmer, and Jesse Hudson; two sons, Norman and Kent Palmer; and two sisters, Austa Bennett-Clark, and Florence Nelson.
Survivors include one step-son, Neal Hudson and wife, Shirley of Trenton; one half-sister, Pearl Onita Pitner of Reno, Nev.; step-sister-in-law, Velma Wood of Portland, Ore.; three step-grandchildren; five step-great-grandchildren; and eight step-great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be Monday, 10:30 a.m. (CDT), at Community United Methodist Church in Stratton with Rev. Norman Prather officiating. Interment will follow at the Rose Hill cemetery in Stratton.
Visitation will be Sunday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., at Forch Funeral Chapel of Stratton
Forch Funeral Chapel of Stratton is in charge of arrangements.
Norma Peterson
HAYES CENTER -- Norma Jean Nitsch was born at White on July 10, 1932, to Carl L. and Leona E. (Lewin) Nitsch. She attended elementary school in rural Hayes County and graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1949. Norma lost a courageous battle with cancer on Wednesday (Nov. 21, 2001).
Norma and Richard Peterson were united in marriage on Feb. 17, 1950, and made their home east of Hayes Center. Two children, Bruce and Lana, blessed their marriage. In 1976, they moved to Hayes Center where they have lived since.
Norma taught one year in rural Hayes County. Through the years, she worked at the A.S.C. office, the Hayes County Clerk's office, and served as bookkeeper at the local elevator. She retired as office manager at the Hayes County Farmers Co-op in 1999.
She was an active member of the Union Congregational Church of Christ and various other community organizations, serving most recently on the Board of Directors of the Hayes County Senior Center. A few of Norma's favorite things, besides her two grandchildren, Nolan and Rhea, included watching birds in her backyard, garden flowers, a good game of cards, a balanced ledger at the end of the business day, completing a crossword puzzle, homemade ice cream, May's little donkeys, Florida sunshine, Christmas Eve, the last snow of winter, and the first birds of spring.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents; and one sister, Carol Nitsch Fuller.
Survivors include her husband, Richard; one son, Bruce of Marathon Key, Fla.; one daughter, Lana and husband, Rick May of Hayes Center; grandchildren Nolan May and Rhea May, students at Nebraska Wesleyan University; one brother, Joe Nitsch of Hayes Center, nieces, nephews, other family and a host of friends.
Funeral services were today at the Union Congregational Church in Hayes Center with the Rev. Rod Church officiating. Interment was at the Hayes Center Cemetery.
Memorials may be given in her name.
Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.
Steven J. Birkmann
KEARNEY -- Steven J. Birkmann, 58, of Kearney, died Friday (Nov. 23, 2001) at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
He was born April 5, 1943, at Lincoln to Elmer F. and Savilla Marie (Myer) Birkmann. He graduated from University High School at Lincoln in 1961. He attended the University of Nebraska until 1964 when he entered the service.
He served in the U.S. Army until he was discharged in 1967 and moved to Kearney.
On Nov. 24, 1974, he married
Lana L. Vandament at Arapahoe. They lived in Kearney where he was employed in the transportation department at Cash-Wa Distributing until he retired on June 29, 2001.
He was a member of the First Lutheran Church and Alcoholics Anonymous. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his father-in-law Robert Vandament.
Survivors include his wife, Lana of Kearney; three daughters, Misti Birkmann of Ames, Iowa, Kristie Bridges and husband, Matt of Lincoln, and Karmin Birkmann of Lincoln; one brother, Richard Birkmann of Aurora, Colo.; his mother-in-law, Irene Vandament of Arapahoe; two sisters-in-law, Bonnie Kimberly of Holdrege, and Linda Hamel and husband, Mark of Arapahoe; one brother-in-law, Jim Vandament and wife, Donna of Coweta, Okla.; and two grandchildren.
Services will be Wednesday, 10 a.m., at the First Lutheran Church of Kearney with the Revs. Jack Balaban and Jer Gilbreath officiating. Graveside services and interment will be at 2 p.m. at the Arapahoe cemetery in Arapahoe.
Visitation will be Tuesday, 4 to 8:30 p.m., at the Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary in Kearney, and until the time of the service Wednesday at the church.
Memorials may be given in his name to the First Lutheran Church, the Good Samaritan Hospital Cancer Fund, or the American Cancer Society.
Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements.
Lonnie Kevin Cafferty
Lonnie Kevin Cafferty, 57, died Sunday (Nov. 25, 2001) at the Good Samaritan Home in Arapahoe.
He was born June 23, 1944, at Macon, Ga., to Donald and Lois Elaine (Smith) Cafferty. He attended Indianola Schools.
On Nov. 9, 1998, he married
Susan "Sue" Gonzales at McCook. He was employed by Harmon Grain for many years. He played guitar in the band Lonnie And The Seeing Eye Dogs.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Lois Cafferty; one son, Vance Cafferty; and grandparents, John and Ruth Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Sue, of McCook; two sons, Ben Gonzales and fiancé, Kathy Kautz, and John Gonzales, all of McCook; three daughters, Mary Judd and husband, Bernie, Gina Proud and fiancé, Kenny Yeager, and Kasey Cafferty, all of McCook; his father, Donald Cafferty and wife, Sally of Payson, Ariz.; one sister, Donna Klien and husband, Richard of Bear Cave, Ariz.; one aunt, Nelda Gull of McCook; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be Thursday, 2 p.m., Carpenter Breland Chapel in McCook with the Rev. Gary Brethour officiating. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
The rosary service will be Wednesday, 7 p.m., at Carpenter Breland Chapel.
Visitation is today until 5 p.m., and Wednesday, 9 a.m. until the time of the rosary service.
Memorials may be given in his name.
Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.
Donald Eugene Berry
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Donald Eugene Berry, a resident of Albuquerque, passed away suddenly on Oct. 7, 2001.
He was born to Clyde and Bessie (Stiner) Berry on Oct. 3, 1927, in Oberlin, Kan. He graduated from Decatur County High School.
During the Korean Conflict, he served in the U.S. Army in Korea.
Don's career for Mountain States Telephone and Telecommunications Co. began in Denver, Colo., until he transferred to Albuquerque in 1973 and became a computer supervisor. Since retirement in 1985, Don has willingly volunteered his time and services to many organizations and clubs. Some of those are the Telephone Pioneers of America, St. Joseph's Medical Center Auxiliary, San Gabriel Neighborhood Association, Sister Cities Association, Edelweiss AM Rio Grande German American Club, and was always a willing helper to a friend and neighbor.
Don and Shirley belonged to Desert Swingers Square Dance Club since 1977, Zia Drifters RV Club, Telephone Family Campers and veteran service organizations; some of them were the American Legion Post 49 and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
They traveled both here and abroad where they have friends and have especially dear friends in Helmstedt, Germany. Don was an avid Denver Broncos fan and has had tickets since 1965.
Don and the former Shirley Marie Ross of McCook were married
on Dec. 27, 1953. They had two children. Their son, James Scott Berry is married
to Lorraine. Their children are Errol, Jesse, Anna, Timothy, Andrew and Jonathan. Their daughter, Shawna Rae is married
to Jim Smith and they have three sons, Trey, Austin and Brandon.
His wife, Shirley, children, and grandchildren survive Don. He is also survived by his brother, Duane Berry and wife, Phyllis of Grand Junction, Colo.; sister, Eva Bryan of Oberlin; brother-in-law Richard Ross and wife, Maryan of Evergreen, Colo.; sister-in-law, Sharla Trotter and husband, John of Lakewood, Colo.; and brother-in-law, Dallas Ross and wife, Patricia of Larkspur, Colo.; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Louise; and brothers, Gerald, Carroll and Rex; and mother-in-law, Wilma Relph.
Don loved God, his family, friends, country and community. He was a loving husband and father. His grandchildren brought him great joy and delight and he spent much of his time with them and their activities.
The grandchildren were the pallbearers.
Shirley and family have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of sympathy, concern and help that has been forthcoming. It is sincerely appreciated and may God bless you.
Services were Monday, Oct. 15, at St. John's United Methodist Church in Albuquerque with the Rev. Jim Hawk officiating. Interment followed at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to either the Cowboys for Cancer Research Fund, Attn: Julie Emons, UNM Cancer Research and Treatment Center, 900 Camino de Salud NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87131, or to St. John's United Methodist Church, 2626 Arizona NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87110.
Arrangements by French Mortuary, 7121 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque, N.M. 87109.
