U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Larry Rasmussen
Raised in Homer
Lawrence “Larry” Rasmussen, 91, of Petaluma, Calif., passed away May 15, 2004 in Petaluma.
Larry was born and raised in the Homer area. He was born and raised in Nebraska and in 1936 he married Evelyn Johnson and together they moved to California. Larry worked on several chicken and dairy ranches as well as driving a taxi. In the 1940s he began work at Mare Island Naval Shipyard. He worked his way up to supervisor of the plant. Larry retired in 1972 after 30 years of dedicated service to the shipyard. He loved to garden and work outside in his yard and was an avid Giants fan. Larry belonged to the Petaluma Senior Bowling League and was granted the Senior Bowler of the Year in June 2003.
Larry is survived by son Mark Rasmussen of Petaluma and numerous nieces and nephews.
He preceded in death by his wife Evelyn, three brothers and four sisters.
Kenneth Hansen
Longtime Waterbury farmer
Kenneth R. Hansen, 92, of South Sioux City died Thursday, July 22, 2004 at a Sioux City hospital after being stricken at home.
Services were Monday at First Lutheran Church in South Sioux City with the Rev. James Kruse officiating. Burial was in Memorial park Cemetery.
Mr. Hansen was born Feb. 1, 1912 in Waterbury, the son of Steven and Lena (Barr) Hansen. He married Elsie M. Gerling on July 17, 1938 in Ponca. The couple farmed in the Waterbury area for many years.
He was a member of First Lutheran Church in South Sioux City.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing and spending time with his relatives.
Survivors include his wife Elsie of 66 years, two daughters Karen and her husband Harvey Weidenfeld of Miami, Fla., and Sharon Hansen of Phoenix, Ariz., two brothers Elmer Hansen of Waterbury and John and his wife Kay Hansen of Sioux City, five grandchildren: Dawn, Marc, Cory, Craig and Chad, and nine great grandchildren: Kelsey, Blaine, Delaney, Shelbey, Morgan, Cole Cassandra, Calvin and Stephanie.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers George and Harry Hansen, sister Martha Hansen and a great grandson, Cody.
Pallbearers were Wilbur Hinz, Mike Birkley, Adolph Hingst, Lloyd Wendell, Clifford Rasmussen and Bruce Kriens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association Big Sioux Chapter, P.O. Box 3716, Sioux City, IA 51102-3716.
Andrew Stephens
South Sioux resident
Andrew Jackson Stephens, 74, of South Sioux City died after a brief struggle with cancer on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 at a South Sioux City nursing home.
The body was cremated and a private burial of the cremated ashes will be at a later date. Becker-Hunt Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Andrew was born Macy 17, 1930 in Cushing, Okla., the son of Charles and Lulu Stephens. He was a musician at 8 years of age, playing stringed instruments. He was a veteran of the Korean War. While in the Navy he played on the Armed Services radio and also did boxing. After his discharge he was a long haul over the road commercial truck driver.
He was of the Baptist faith and a member of the American Legion Post 307.
He enjoyed fishing, camping and traveling. He also had a great love for animals.
Survivors include a daughter Suzanne Christensen of Baltic, S.D., a son Andrew J. Stephens, Jr. and a granddaughter Holly Christensen.
Edward Nelson
Longtime SSC resident
Edward Nelson, 90, of South Sioux City died Thursday, July 22, 2004 at a South Sioux City nursing home.
Services were Monday at Becker-Hunt Funeral Home with the Rev. Janice Bennett officiating. Burial will be at a later date in the Omaha Valley Cemetery.
Edward was born Jan. 10, 1914 in South Sioux City, the son of John and Anna Christina (Mortensen) Nelson. He was a former resident and employee at Northstar Services in South Sioux City.
Survivors include a sister Dorothy Reed of Ida Grove, Iowa and a brother Lowell of South Sioux City.
Teresa Michalski
Married in Dakota City
Teresa Michalski, 52, of Thorntown, Ind., died Sunday, July 18, 2004 after a brief illness.
Memorial services were held July 23 at Russell/Husk Funeral Home.
Teresa was born Feb. 19, 1952 in Sioux City, the daughter of Joseph and Marian Persinger. At the age of 6 the family moved to Orange County, Calif., where she completed high school at Huntington Beach, Calif. She married Arthur Coffman in 1976 in Dakota City.
Survivors include two daughters Lisa and Krista of Indiana, four granddaughters, six nieces and nephews, four great nieces and nephews, a brother Randy and sister Debbie of Sioux City, Scott of Indiana, sister Sue Jones of El Cajon, Calif., and her mother Marian of Wichita Falls, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her father Joseph and nephew Jason Persinger.
July 22, 2004
Alice E. Copple
Dakota City resident
Alice E. Copple, 80, of Dakota City passed away on Monday, July 12, 2004 at a South Sioux City nursing home.
Memorial services were at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 16 at the Dakota City United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jim Moores and the Rev. Karen Kaye officiating. In keeping with her wishes, burial of the cremated remains was 2 p.m. Friday in Evergreen Cemetery at Walthill, Neb.
Alice was born on Jan. 21, 1924 in Walthill, the daughter of Nels and Olga A. (Johnson) Pearson. She graduated from Walthill High School and attended Wayne State Teacher College. She married Eddie G. Copple Jan. 30, 1943 in Ponca, Neb. He died Feb. 8, 1974 in Rochester, Minn.
She taught in the Thurston County Schools several years, was a Cub Scout leader, a volunteer at St. Luke’s Hospital and retired as postmaster from the Dakota City Post Office.
She was a member of the Dakota City United Methodist Church.
Survivors include three sons and their wives: Richard and Carol Copple of Dakota City; Robert and Kathy Copple of Louisville, Neb.; Jerry and Cheryl Copple of Dakota City; a brother, John Pearson of Homer; three sisters: Mary Ann Schmeideskamp of Adel, Iowa, Hilda Pearson of Cheyenne, Wyo., Donna Berger of Sun City Center, Fla.; six grandchildren: Jason, Nick, Justin, Brandon, Katie and Kyle; four great grandchildren: Taylor, Bailey, Gavin and Madeline; and many nieces and nephews.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, a son, one grandson, one granddaughter, two brothers and two sisters.
Lillian S.
LaVerdure
South Sioux graduate
Lillian S. LaVerdure, 92, of Brighton, Colo., formerly of Winnebago, passed away Friday, July 9, 2004 in Jackson. Due to poor health and at her request, she had just recently returned to Nebraska to live with her great niece.
Memorial services will be at a later date and burial of the cremated ashes will be in the Winnebago Indian Cemetery beside her late husband George. Becker-Hunt Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Lillian was born Nov. 4, 1911 in Winnebago, the last of five children born to Levi and Anna (Frenchman) St. Cyr. She graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1930, on the date her mother suddenly passed away. She entered the federal service shortly after graduation at Winnebago as a secretary and stenographer. She married George LaVerdure, a fellow employee, July 6, 1940, in Dakota City, Neb. During World War II, she served as an accountant at the Flandreau Indian School in Flandreau, S.D. She ended her federal career at the end of World War II to devote full time to homemaking.
She is survived by her son Doyle LaVerdure of Brighton, Colo., three granddaughters and three great grandsons, one great granddaughter, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, cousins and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, George, on March 27, 1999 in Thornton, Colo., her parents and a sister.
Clarence R. Jeffrey
Former Allen resident
Clarence R. “Bud” Jeffrey, 81 of Allen passed away Saturday, July 17, 2004 at Heritage of Emerson Nursing Home in Emerson.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 24 at the First Lutheran Church in Allen with Karen Tjarks, student pastor, officiating.
Bud was born Sept. 21, 1922 in rural Dixon County, the son of James G. and Nellie M. (Onderstahl) Jeffrey. At the age of 4 he moved with his family east of Allen. He attended South Valley County School and Allen consolidated High School graduating at the age of 15. He entered the U.S. Army in 1944 and served until 1946. He married Doris E. Barnes Feb. 21, 1947, in Wayne. He was recalled to service in January of 1951 and served until November of that year. after his discharge he measured land for the department of USDA in Ponca. He farmed south east of Allen until his appointment as postmaster of Allen in 1958. He was selected to train several new postmasters in the area. He retired in 1984. He served on the Allen Fire and Rescue and was one of the first group of the Allen Rescue team to receive their E.M.T. training. He also had served on the board of directors for low cost housing in Allen.
He was a member of the First Lutheran Church in Allen. He was a member of the American Legion, the Community Club and N.A.P.U.S. of the postal department.
Survivors include his wife Doris; four daughters, Caryl and her husband Tom Reed of Dakota City, Glenda and her husband Daniel Keenan of Kansas City, Mo., Janet Broderson of Hastings, Neb. Sandi Monson of North Bend, Wash.; two brothers, Earl of Portland, Ore., Lloyd of Camarillo, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant daughter Sharon Kay Jeffrey, a brother Merlin and a sister Betty Lunz.
Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren Annette Fales, Christopher Keenan, Rebecca Johnson, Matthew Keenan, Jeffrey Reed, Jamilee Scholtman, Michael and Dr. Chad Connor.
In lieu of flower memorials may be directed to Hospice of Siouxland or the First Lutheran Church in Allen.
Kelly McGinty
1981 South Sioux grad
Kelly V. McGinty, 42, of Downey, Calif., formerly of South Sioux City, died of a sudden heart attack at his residence Tuesday, July 6, 2004.
The funeral mass was said Tuesday, July 13 at St. Raymond’s Catholic Church in Downey.
Kelly was born June 3, 1962 in Norwalk, Calif., the son of Gerald V. and Josephine A. (Kneifl) McGinty. He grew up in South Sioux City and graduated from South Sioux City High School in 1981. He moved to California in 1982 and was employed at Com-Cash Cable Company in the Downey area.
He married Gina Plagman.
Survivors include his wife Gina, a son Ryan, and a daughter Nicole, all of Downey; his mother Josephine McGinty of South Sioux City; three brothers: Patrick of Omaha, Casey of South Sioux City, and Christopher of Minnesota; two sisters: Dr. Peggy McGinty of Ponca and Kathleen Martin of South Sioux City; his grandmother Agnes Kneifl Long of Ponca, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Gerald.
