U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Alta (Harris) Eckerd
Alta (Harris) Eckerd was born Aug. 17, 1911, in the Blanche Community in Wauneta, Neb., the daughter of John Albert and Laura Harris.
She moved to Sumner, Wash. in 1941 and resided at the same residence for 62 years. She passed away Dec. 10, 2003.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas B. Echerd, in 1971.
Her surviving children are Thomas J. Eckerd of Roseburg, Ore., Alice Sigmen of Sumner, Wash., Patsy Serafine of Spokane, Wash.; six grandchildren; five great grandchildren; two great, great grandchildren; one sister Zella Bailey of Paxton, Neb.; two sisters-in-law Amy Harris of Imperial, Neb. and Doris Harris; and many nieces and nephews.
She filled our hearts with joy and laughter and sometimes frustration. We will miss her.
Orpha Maris
Orpha Louise Maris was born July 1, 1931, on a farm north of Haigler, Neb., to Edward W. and Pauline L. (Schwenk) Buffington.
As a young girl she attended grade and high school in Haigler.
Orpha married Dale LaVerne Maris on March 15, 1950, at the Eden Missionary Church, south of Wauneta. The couple settled on a farm near the Eden Community, in rural Hitchcock County, where they farmed until Dale’s death in 1994. Orpha then made her permanent home in Wauneta.
Orpha passed away Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003, at her home. She was 72 years of age.
She enjoyed many hobbies including quilting, patchwork, and canvas painting. She attended the Hamlet Union Church.
Survivors include: father, Ed Buffington of Wauneta; sons: Vern Maris of Wauneta, Leon Maris and wife, Dawn, of Paullina, Iowa, and Devon Maris of McCook, Neb., and eight grandchildren.
Orpha was preceded in death by her mother, Pauline and husband, Dale.
Funeral services were held Friday, Dec. 19, 2003, at 10 a.m. CT at the Hamlet Union Church, Hamlet, Neb., with Rev. Kevin Fink officiating.
Music was provided by Mrs. Delores Flaming, organist, and soloist, Mr. Ivan Flaming.
Casketbearers were Roger Maris, Jeff Maris, Leland Maris, Michael Maris, Lloyd Lapp and Ray Buffington.
Interment was at Riverside Cemetery, Wauneta, with Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrange- ments.
Glen Dale Houston
Glen Dale Houston was the first of eight children born at home on April 20, 1915, in Yuma County, Colo. in the sandhills near Wray, Colo. to Walter and Minnie (Leech) Houston.
He passed away early Dec. 18, 2003, at the Imperial Manor.
When he was five years old his family moved to Buckingham, Colo. where he was raised and graduated from high school in 1934.
In 1936 he moved to Imperial to work for his uncle Hugh Leech at the Leech Chevrolet Garage.
He married Marguerite Edith Drabing on June 4, 1938 in St. Francis, Kan.
He was drafted into the Army on Dec. 20, 1943. He served with the 256 Engineer Combat Battallion, Technician Fourth Grade and fought in battles in Rhineland, Germany.
While serving in the Army he received the Eamet Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and Victory Ribbon and received an honorable discharge on May 2, 1946 at the war’s end.
When the war ended he returned to Imperial to work for his uncle again, and following that worked for several irrigation companies in Chase County.
In 1963 their nieces Linda and Vicki Banks came to live with them following the death of their parents, Marguerite’s sister Ferne and her husband Leland Banks, who were killed in an automobile accident.
Glen is survived by his wife, Marguerite Houston; his sister Lorene (Tiny) Miller and husband Dewey of Colorado Springs, Colo.,; his sister Fay Rogers of Fort Morgan, Colo.; Bennett Houston of Longmont, Colo. and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Raymond, his infant sister Rose Marie and sisters Delpha Thomas and Olive Willet.
Services were held Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003, at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Imperial, Neb. with Pastor Murray Schmechel officiating.
Pianist was Mrs. Marcia Bauerle and singers were Mr. and Mrs. Irvin and Garneta Bauerle.
Casketbearers were members of the VFW Post #4688 in Imperial, Neb.
Military Rites were by VFW Post #4688, Imperial.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial with Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Esther E. Smith
Esther E. Smith, age 95, of Imperial, Neb., formerly of Cimarron Court in Kearney died Dec. 18, 2003.
She was born at Davey, Neb. in Lancaster County on Jan. 9, 1908, to Nels and Anna (Palmstein) Anderson.
She married Theodore (Ted) Smith on March 16, 1926 at Smith Center, Kan. They lived in and around Hazard and Pleasanton, farming from 1945 to 1973. They moved into the town of Pleasanton where Ted passed away in 1986. Esther stayed in her home there until 1991 when she moved to Cimarron Court in Kearney. In August, 2003, she moved to Pine Grove Senior Living apartments in Imperial, Neb.
She was preceded in death by a son, Delmar, in 1991.
She leaves to mourn her son, Harlan and wife, Joy of Imperial, Neb.
Services were held at Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasanton on Dec. 23, 2003 at 10:30 a.m.
Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasanton.
Diana (Rowley) Fontaine
Diana Kay Fontaine was born Aug. 21, 1954 at Holyoke, Colo. to Max and Genny (Hedges) Rowley.
As a young girl she attended grade school in Enders and graduated from Chase County High School in 1972.
In June of 1973, Diana entered the U.S. Navy serving three years, something that was a little unusual for women in those days and she put forth great effort in her accomplishments.
After her discharge, Diana attended college in Greeley, Colo. to obtain her licenses in radiology. She then entered into employment with Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial, Neb. in the X-ray department.
Diana went on to other employment including the Animal Research Center of the Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo. While in Fort Collins she instructed the veterinarians on staff about reading X-rays.
Her last employment was with a Corpus Christi Medical Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Because of her health, Diana returned to Imperial in September of 2002.
Diana passed away Thursday evening, Dec. 11, 2003 at the Chase County Community Hospital in Imperial, Neb. She was 49 years of age.
Survivors include her parents Max and Genny Rowley of Imperial, Neb.; brother Dan Rowley of Imperial, Neb.; sister Brenda Florea and husband Greg of Lincoln, Neb.; six nieces and nephews Kelly, Tracy, Mike, Angie, Crystal and Eric; seven grand nieces and nephews, Grant, Kimberli, Cody, McKenzie, Travis, Taylor and Chase.
Diana was a very positive, down to earth and adventurous person-from sky diving to Jeep ice racing. She wasn’t afraid to try anything and always put her best effort into whatever she was doing.
Diana had many hobbies including camping, hiking, fishing and hunting and enjoyed playing and singing tunes with her Dad, her favorite being "The Green, Green Grass of Home."
She also enjoyed painting pictures of outdoor scenery. One of her best accomplishments in her life was her photography and you never saw her without her camera on hand.
She also had a great love for animals. One of her long time companions was Foxy, whom she came upon as a pup and with whom she shared 17 years and she treasured time with her latest dog, Gertie.
Diana also enjoyed spending time with her family and her many close friends. She was always willing to go out of her way to help out where ever needed.
Christmas was a special time for Diana. One of her favorite things to do was playing the accordian with her Dad and singing Christmas songs.
Diana was always the life of the party and always had a very good sense of humor, even to the end.
She was a member of the VFW Posts in Colorado and Texas.
Diana was also baptized in the Lutheran Church at Loveland, Colo. with Fred and Hazel Wagner of Imperial as sponsors.
Memorial services for Diana (Rowley) Fontaine were held Monday morning at 11 a.m. at the Wesleyan Church of Imperial with Rev. Francis Baker officiating.
Organist was Mrs. Marcia Bauerle and soloist was Mrs. Lenore Weatherly.
Military rites were by the VFW Post #4688, Imperial, Neb.
Inurnment will follow at a later date.
A memorial has been established to the VFW Post #4688 in Imperial, Neb.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Linda Brown
Linda Sue Brown was born June 16, 1946, southwest of Imperial, to Harry and Mattie (Redden) North.
As a young girl, Linda grew up in Imperial, Neb., graduating from Chase County High School in 1965.
She then married Robert Lee Brown on June 6, 1965, at Champion, Neb., and the couple settled west of Champion, where Robert was employed by Bob Schilke.
They then lived in several southwestern Nebraska communities before making a permanent home in 1978 at Palisade, Neb.
Linda loved crafts of all kinds especially producing Christmas cards with paper embroidering.
She also worked part-time as a cook for the Pioneer Cafe in Palisade.
Linda passed away Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003 at Perkins County Hospital, Grant, Neb. She was 57 years of age.
Survivors include husband Robert of Palisade, Neb.; daughter Constance Lawless and husband, Greg of Palisade, Neb.; daughter Veronica Gurciullo of North Platte, Neb.; six grandchildren; brothers Harry North and wife Celia of Grant, Neb., Marion North and wife Karen of McCook, Neb. and Ron North of Central, Alaska; and sister Donna Heim of Hanford, Calif.
Graveside services for Linda Brown were held Friday, Dec. 12, 2003, at 1 p.m. (CT) at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Neb. with Mr. John Long officiating.
A memorial has been established in Linda’s memory.
Liewer Funeral Home of Wauneta and Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant was in charge of arrangements.
Petra Marie Pruen Garrison
Petra Marie Pruen Garrison, the child of Alfred and Lore Pruen, was born on June 24, 1965 in Stuttgart, Germany.
She was also baptized in 1965 and attended her First Communion at the age of 13 years, in 1974 also in Stuttgart.
Petra departed this life on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2003 in Lincoln, Neb. at the age of 38 years.
Petra met Danny Garrison at a rodeo in Germany while Danny was stationed their in the military.
They flew back to the United States on one of Danny’s military leaves and were married on Aug. 18, 1988 in Littleton, Colo. To this union one daughter, Sarah Marie, was born.
Petra worked as a secretary at a Mercedes Benz plant in Germany before making her life in the United States.
Danny and Petra lived one year in Goodland, Kan. while Danny attended mechanics school, then settled in Imperial. Petra worked for seven years at the Imperial Kwik Stop.
She is survived by her husband, Danny of Imperial and one daughter, Sarah Marie, also of Imperial; her parents, Alfred and Lore Pruen of Stuttgart, Germany; grandmother Hedwig Hindennach, Black Forest, Germany; and mother-in-law and father-in-law, Dan and Dorene Garrison, Imperial, Neb.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Imperial, Neb. with Rev. Robert Frank officiating.
Casketbearers were Kevin Garrison, Rick Dreiling, Rodney Baird, Curt Garrison, Duane Dreiling and Lloyd Lapp.
Liewer Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Basil Bentz
Basil Bentz, age 89, of Ogallala, died on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2003 at the Ogallala Community Hospital.
Basil was born on Nov. 3, 1914, on the Kincaid land north of Oshkosh, Neb. where his parents homesteaded.
He was the son of Roy and Anna Jensen Bentz.
He received his education at the Hutchenson School, north of Oshkosh.
Basil was united in marriage to Vera A. Keenan on Dec. 26, 1936 at Lewellen, Neb. The couple resided on a farm south of Oshkosh working together as they farmed and ranched. After several moves they bought a ranch just north of Imperial, Neb. They lived there for 41 years making their dreams come true. They retired in 1996 and moved to a small acreage south of Ogallala, Neb.
Basil was a member of the Presbyterian Church of North Platte, Neb.
Basil and Vera had 66 years together. They loved their family and worked hard to provide for them. Basil enjoyed farming and ranching.
Basil especially treasured the time spent taking care of his livestock and horses and depended on the help of his faithful dog. His hobbies included hunting and would invite friends to accompany him as he piloted his plane checking pastures and windmills.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Vera, infant son Rodney and four brothers-in-law.
Survivors include four daughters: Anne (Chuck) Parcell of Flintridge, Calif., Maxine Bentz of Aurora, Colo., Sharon (Garry) Spady of Imperial, Neb. and Lana Jo (Richard) Westfahl of Colby, Kan. Also six grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; four sisters, Ruth Merril of Sutherland, Neb., Lila Wallace of Cheyenne, Wyo., Viola Dunkin of North Platte, Neb. and Darleen Moore of Twin Falls, Idaho.
Funeral Service were Monday, Dec. 15, at 10 a.m. at Draucker Funeral Home with Pastor Duane Dunwoody officiating.
Interment followed in the Ogallala Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in his memory.
Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala was in charge of arrangements.
