U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Vivian Thayer
Vivian Thayer of Wallace died March 1, 2004.
Services will be today (Thursday, March 4, 2004) at the Wallace Methodist Church in Wallace at 1:30 p.m. CT.
Vivian is the mother of Rod Thayer of Imperial.
Howard E. Olson
Howard E. Olson of Carterville, Mo. passed away Feb. 27.
He was in the hospital in Joplin, Mo.
He was a long-time resident of the Chase and Champion communites.
Services were Tuesday, March 2 in the Nazarene Church in Webb City, Mo.
Paula Leah Friesen
Paula Leah Friesen was born Sept. 10, 1966 to Carma Eggen and was placed in the Nebraska Children’s Home. At the age of six weeks, Paula was adopted by a wonderful couple, Darlene and Jim Pierce of Fairbury, Neb.
Paula lived most of her life in the Fairbury area. She married Douglas Friesen in 1991 and to this union was born a son, Connor, who was only with them for four months and was called home to be a child of God.
Paula was a professional photographer and owned her own photography studio in Fairbury.
At the age of 20 Paula became very ill and it was at that time discovered that she was having kidney failure. At the age of 21 she was placed on kidney dialysis as both kidneys had failed. Paula received a kidney transplant in 1991, but lost it in 1995.
In 1999, letters were exchanged between Paula and Carma Sazama and on July 4, 2000 they met for the first time since Paula’s birth. A wonderful relationship developed between Paula and Carma and her adopted family.
In 2001, Carma was tested to be a kidney donor for her daughter, but due to some medical problems, could not be a donor. Paula became seriously ill this last week and passed away Friday, Feb. 27, in Bryan LGH Hospital in Lincoln at the age of 37.
Funeral services for Paula were held Tuesday, March 2, at United Methodist Church in Fairbury.
Paula’s survivors include her husband, Doug; her mother, Darlene; brother, Mark and his family; her birth mother, Carma; aunts and uncles, cousins and many friends.
Paula is preceded in death by her father, Jim, and son, Connor.
Paula was loved by many and will be missed by all.
George L. Todd
George Lee Todd was born at Nehawka, Neb. on Dec. 29, 1917.
He was the eldest of nine children born to Flossie and Harold Todd.
George lived most of his life in Chase County. He attended school in Imperial, Neb.
On Aug. 20, 1938, he married Iona Pearl Browning, who went by Nonie. Through their union four sons were born: Jim, Gary, Joe and Randy.
George spent several years engaged in farming before working as a mechanic for Leach Chevrolet and later Winkelman Ford in Imperial. George then worked several years at the Frenchman Valley Farmers Coop. where he retired.
For all who knew George, he especially liked chocolate. He loved his two German Shepherds, both named Duke and later in life, his two cats, Fluff and Midget.
George also maintained an aquarium for most of his adult life. During his free time, he enjoyed square dancing, playing cards, boating, fishing, hunting and working on cars.
Family was always important to George. He looked forward to visits from his siblings as well as his sons and their families. He especially enjoyed every moment he spent with his grandchildren.
Following a stroke in 1997, he resided in Omaha, at the Remington Heights Assisted Living Facility and more recently at the Millard Good Samaritan Center, where he passed away on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2004.
George was preceded in death by his parents, wife Nonie, son Joe and his siblings Bud, Margaret, Charlotte and Wayne.
Survivors include sons Jim and wife Paula of Manassas, Va., Gary and wife Ann of Omaha, Neb. and Randy of Mancos, Colo.; daughter-in-law Mary Todd of Garland, Texas; seven grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; brothers Jack Todd and wife Betty of Grant, Neb. and Bill Todd and wife Jean of Littleton, Colo.; sisters Maxine Fosbinder and husband Kermit of Grant, Neb. and Marion Titze and husband Dan of Omaha, Neb.; sisters-in-law Vivian Todd of Imperial, Neb. and Mary Todd of Leota, Kan.
Funeral services for George Todd were Tuesday afternoon, March 2, 2004, at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Imperial with Pastor Murray Schmechel officiating.
Organist was Mrs. Marcia Bauerle and singers were Mr. and Mrs. Irvin and Garneta Bauerle.
Casketbearers were Jerry Rowley, Doug Todd, Steve Todd, Gary Todd, Jim Todd and Wayne Spickelmier.
Interment followed at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
A memorial has been established in George’s memory.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Harley Phares
Harley LeRoy Phares died Monday, Feb. 23, 2004, at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte. He was 94 years old.
Harley was born on Dec. 10, 1909, in Hayes County, Neb., to Reuben Leslie and Anna D. (Romersheuser) Phares.
He graduated from Palisade High School in 1928.
He attended the University of Colorado in Boulder and also attended Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Ind. earning a Radio Technician Certificate.
He moved to Watertown, S.D. and worked as a D.J. for a radio station for a short time. He returned to Palisade where he opened his own radio shop and sold and serviced radios.
On July 18, 1937, he married Dessa Frances Richter at her parents’ home in Hayes County. To this union three daughters were born.
They moved to Ogden, Utah where Harley was employed by the Civil Service for the Communications Defense Depot.
They returned to the Palisade community in 1946 and settled on the family farm. He retired from farming in the mid 1980’s. They remained on the farm until 1999, at which time they moved to Palisade. After his retirement, Harley continued to do some farming.
He was a member of the Palisade United Methodist Church for over 75 years. He was committed to his church serving on many boards, active head usher and member of the Builders Class. He was also a member of the Rural Fire Board, having an instrumental part in getting the building for the present fire station; Hayes and Hitchcock Historical Society; Community Service Club; was an active community booster; Hitchcock County Election Board (Beverly Precinct); Tri-State Amateur Radio Club; and Farm Bureau, serving as an officer and state delegate.
He loved to spend time with his ham radio, enjoying his yard and flowers and attending all of his children and grandchildren’s activities.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Reuben and Anna Phares; his brothers, Albert and Richard Phares; an infant sister; an infant granddaughter, JoLee Ann Schutte; and son-in-law, Bernie Schutte.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Dessa Phares; three daughters, DeAnna Schutte, Judy and husband, Gary Malone, and Jenene and husband, Jerry Smith, all of Palisade; brother, Phil Phares and wife, Rita, of Ogallala; aunt, Freida Romersheuser of Indianola; sister-in-law, Wilma Phares of Salem, Ore.; six grandchildren, Michael Schutte and wife, Leota, of Seward, Michelle Schutte of Ravenna, Elizabeth and husband, Scott Susag, of Scobey, Mont., Christyn and husband, Justin May, of Duluth, Minn., Jeffrey Smith and wife, Julie, of Chandler, Ariz. and Matthew Smith and wife, Jamie, of Mesa, Ariz.; seven great-grandchildren, Alex, Elisabeth and Ethan Schutte, Daniel, Shania and Tristyn McCormick and Samuel Smith; and numerous family and friends.
Funeral services were Friday, Feb. 27, 2004, 2 p.m., at the Palisade United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Jeff Thurman and Rev. Michael Laing officiating.
Burial was in the Palisade Cemetery.
Memorials may be given in his name.
Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook was in charge of the arrangements.
Richard Lingbloom
Richard "Rick" C. Lingbloom, was born Aug. 28, 1953 at Grant, Neb., to Ray and Velda Jackson Lingbloom.
Lingbloom was united in marriage to Marilyn Patch in 1976 and they have lived in Maxwell, Neb., for the past 23 years.
Lingbloom was in Law Enforcement for 27 years and was with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department for 21 years. Through the Sheriff’s Department, he was very instrumental with the D.A.R.E. Program which has impacted over 2,000 kids in Lincoln County.
Lingbloom was a member of the Valley Christian Church where he was a Deacon and taught Sunday School.
Survivors include his wife, Marilyn of Maxwell, Neb.; his mother and dad, Velda and Lloyd Cornelius of Wallace, Neb.; two daughters, Shawn and husband Jason McWill-iams of Denver, Colo., and Tammy and husband Jeremy Epp of Holdrege, Neb.; a son, Ryan and wife Blair Lingbloom of Joplin, Mo.; two half sisters, Rachelle and husband Jonathan Richman of Imperial, Neb., and Cindy and husband Ron Ahlers of Omaha, Neb.; a step-brother, John Cornelius; his father, Ray, of Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Charles and Goldie Jackson.
A memorial has been established.
Memorial services were held Saturday, Feb. 28, at Maxwell High School Gym with Kent Turnbull officiating.
Cremation was chosen. Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte was in charge of arrangements.
James Henry Felt
James Henry Felt, 86, Commerce City, Colo. died Jan. 11, 2004.
He was born March 3, 1917 in Champion, Neb. to Dessie and Henry Felt.
After his father died, he helped Ida Kimberling on her cattle ranch. There he learned to love the cattle business. After a short stay in Wyoming, he came to Colorado where he farmed, ranched and finally was crane operator for Great Western Sugar Company, Brighton, Colo. for 20 years.
After retiring from Great Western, he worked for Mitchell’s factory condo’s and Quick Porch. That was his fun job. He still missed the ranch, cattle and his horse. He and his family moved to Commerce City and lived in the same house almost 48 years.
Jim is survived by wife Dorothy of 64 years; daughter Rosma Walker and son Jimie Felt; four grandchildren; three great grandchildren; one brother Leonard Felt and one sister Eva Cowles and many nieces and nephews and a great big church family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, twin brothers, four sisters, a son and a daughter.
Jim loved the Lord and his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Donations can be made to Hospice North or Church of Servant’s Heart in Commerce City.
Helen Blomstedt
Helen Bessie Blomstedt of Wauneta, Neb. died Feb. 14, 2004, in Wauneta.
She was born Sept. 5, 1915 at Dannebrog, Neb.
Funeral services were Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, at 2 p.m. at Liewer Funeral Home in Wauneta with Pastor Greg Stuckwisch officiating.
Organist was Lisa Kissinger and soloist was JoanAnn Blomstedt.
Casketbearers were grandchildren and honorary casketbearers were Dennis Ferguson and Richard Minor.
Interment was at the Palisade Cemetery, Palisade, Neb. with Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Boyd Mead
Boyd MacDonald Mead, 80, was born Sept. 21, 1923 at Champion, Neb. to Russell June and Anna Elizabeth Hall Mead, and died Feb. 20, 2004, in Ft. Collins, Colo., after a short illness.
Mr. Mead lived most of his adult life near Tulsa, Okla. From 1962 until his move to Colorado in 2002, he lived on an acreage east of Broken Arrow, Okla., where he bred and raised Appaloosas and Ponies of America. He also operated a bookstore and hardware business in downtown Broken Arrow for 16 years. Prior to that he was employed by Ryder Truck Rental Company.
Boyd attended grade school and two years of Alpha Rural High School at Champion, Neb. then finished his high school, graduating from Chase County High School, Imperial, Neb. in 1941. He entered the United States Navy in September, 1942, at Omaha and trained at Great Lakes, Ill., Memphis, Hollywood, Fla., Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville, Fla.
He was an Aviation Radioman in the Pacific Theatre of World War II, with duty on Bougainville and Munda Islands and Australia and New Zealand. He received the Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal. Following discharge from the Navy, Boyd entered and graduated from Colorado College, Colorado Springs, where he was a member of Veta-Omega Chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
He then entered business with Ryder Truck Rental Company, moving to Tulsa in 1951, where he met and married Beatrice Hudson.
Boyd’s interests included breeding and raising horses; Western, Native American and Wildlife Art and Sculpture; and gardening and fishing. He especially enjoyed attending art shows and his Appaloosas and P.O.A.s won many awards.
Boyd is survived by a brother, J. Russell and wife, Fern, Central City, Neb.; three sisters, Phyllis Stinnette, McCook, Neb., Norma Mead, San Mateo, Calif. and Carol Medsker and husband, Frank of Ft. Collins, Colo.; five nieces and four nephews and sister-in-law, Beulah Bertling, Coweta, Okla.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 36 years, his parents and infant brother Corwin Enfield Mead.
A memorial service was held Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004 at 11 a.m. in the clubhouse at the Sunflower Adult Community where Boyd’s home was. Goes Funeral Care was in charge of local arrangements.
Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Tulsa, Okla. following a memorial service at Moore’s Eastlawn Chapel in Tulsa.
