U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Kenneth Herbig
AURORA -- Kenneth Herbig, 87, of Aurora died Sunday, Nov. 19, 2000, at Hamilton Manor in Aurora.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in Aurora. The Rev. Joe Scahill will officiate. Burial will be in the Aurora Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Higby Mortuary in Aurora.
Mr. Herbig was born on Aug. 14, 1913, in Marquette to Walter and Pearl (Pillard) Herbig. He lived in Hampton until he was 12 years old, when the family moved to Marquette. He attended Marquette High School until the 10th grade, when he quit school to start farming with his father.
He picked potatoes in western Nebraska to earn money for his future wife's engagement ring.
He married
Oral Day on March 31, 1935. They farmed near Marquette, and he worked with his father-in-law, who was a bricklayer in Hamilton County. In the 1950s, he bought a flying service at the Grand Island airport with Tom Hume and ran it for 10 years.
He bought an auto parts store in Aurora in 1973 and called it K&D; Auto Parts. During several winters while they were still farming, he worked for an aircraft manufacturer in Phoenix. When they left farming in 1975, they built a new home in Aurora. He actively ran K&D; Auto Parts until he retired.
The Herbigs enjoyed traveling to Europe, the Caribbean, Alaska and throughout the United States. They had a big garden and yard until 1998, when he entered Hamilton Manor.
He owned an Aeronica Champion airplane and flew it for a number of years. He was an accomplished water skier. He rode a motorcycle until he was 80. He built and restored sports cars and several boats, including a hovercraft and air boat.
He had served on the Marquette school board and the Valley View Golf Club board and ushered at the Evangelical United Brethren/Methodist Church. He organized and was active in the Civil Air Patrol during and after World War II.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Robert of Grand Island; one daughter, Sandra (Mrs. Michael) Burvant of Folsom, Calif.; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Donald; and one sister, Lillian Bickford.
Bettie Knapp
HASTINGS -- Bettie J. Knapp, 79, of Hastings died Sunday, Nov. 19, 2000, at Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church in Hastings. The Revs. Earl Higgins and Sam Rathod will officiate. Burial will be in Parkview cemetery in Hastings.
Visitation will be one hour before services Wednesday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the church or the Hastings College music department.
Brand-Wilson Mortuary in Hastings is in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Knapp was born on Dec. 9, 1920, at Hastings to Wilsey R. and Carrie (Russell) Wisner. She graduated from Hastings High School in 1938 and Hastings College in 1940. She taught instrumental music at Deweese in 1940-41.
She married
Donald L. Knapp on May 22, 1942, at Paine Air Force Base in Everett, Wash. They lived in Bremerton, Wash., from 1942 to 1944. She taught at George Dewey High School and worked at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. She taught private instrumental music from 1945 until her death in Hastings. She played Santa Claus at Allen's Department Store for many years and also handed out food samples at the store.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church for more than 70 years, church circles, the Methodist Church Brass Choir, Hastings "Dime" Symphony, Jane Griffith All-Girl Maverick Band, Hastings College band, Friendly Dozen Extension Club, YMCA, National Association of Letter Carriers Auxiliary, Nebraska Band Masters, Music Educators National Conference, Community Concert Association, Pinochle Club, election board, National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Order of the Eastern Star and La Danza Dance Club. She was grand marshal of the Hastings College Melody Roundup in 1968, was a member of the First United Methodist Orchestra in the 1930s and played Taps Echo with her husband at area memorial services.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Cindy Burham of Bienfait, Saskatchewan, Canada; two sons, Donald of Lexington and Gerald W. of Hastings; six grandchildren; one sister, Carolyn Cullip of Aurora, Colo.; and two brothers, J.R. Wisner of North Platte and Richard Wisner of Hastings.
She was preceded in death by one sister, Nellie Poore; and one brother, Robert Wisner.
Vincent Weber
SPALDING -- Vincent M. "Butch" Weber, 91, of Spalding died Monday, Nov. 20, 2000, at the Friendship Villa in Spalding.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Spalding. The Rev. Joe Hannappel will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary cemetery in Spalding.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday with rosaries at 4:30 and 7 p.m. at the church.
Dolce-Scheef Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Weber was born on Sept. 22, 1909, on the Weber farm north of Spalding to Joseph and Agnes (Glaser) Weber. He attended grade school at District 19 in Wheeler County. He worked on the family farm all his life except for his time in the military.
He enjoyed playing cards and getting together with family.
Mr. Weber was the last member of the Joseph Weber family. Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by five sisters, Ann Rainer, Mary Tomik, Clara Pfeifer, Nora Golden and Monica Kaiser; and three brothers, Frank, Emerick and Clement.
Rev. Kenneth VanOstrand
OLATHE, Kan. -- The Rev. Kenneth E. VanOstrand, 75, of Olathe, Kan., died Sunday, Nov. 19, 2000, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Shawnee Mission, Kan.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the First Church of the Nazarene in Grand Island. The Rev. Dominic Pecoraro will officiate. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. in Plainfield cemetery at Bradshaw.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6 to 7 p.m., Tuesday at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home in Grand Island.
Memorials are suggested to the Gideons International.
The Rev. VanOstrand was born on Jan. 23, 1925, at York to Walter and Lucy (Nickels) VanOstrand. He grew up and was educated in the York area.
He was drafted in 1945 and served in the occupational force in Japan until his discharge in 1946.
He attended Bethany Nazarene College in 1952 in Oklahoma.
He married
Myrna Teaque on April 18, 1954, at York. Returning to Nebraska, he began his ministering career, which spanned 33 years and included pastorships in Nebraska, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Dan VanOstrand of Round Rock, Texas; three daughters, Myra Lemons of Lenexa, Kan., Rebecca Medlin of Independence, Mo., and Martha Norris of Olathe, Kan.; eight grandchildren; one brother, Gerald VanOstrand of Bakersfield, Calif.; and four foster daughters and their families.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Chester VanOstrand.
'Ray' Dittmar
Charles R. "Ray" Dittmar, 78, of 2324 W. John died Saturday, Sept. 23, 2000, at St. Francis Medical Center.
He was cremated and graveside services will be at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association.
Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Dittmar was born Sept. 11, 1922, in Brush, Colo. As a small boy he moved with his family to Ogallala. He graduated from Ogallala High School.
Following graduation, he began his employment with Diamond Engineering while still living in Ogallala. His career with Diamond was interrupted by World War II when he entered the U.S. Navy and served as a Seabee with the First Battalion in the South Pacific.
He married
Phyllis Blacksten on May 21, 1947, in Colby, Kan. The couple lived in Grand Island where he continued his career with Diamond where his titles included superintendent, vice president, president and he retired as chief executive officer.
He was a member of the Riverside Golf Club, Saddle Club, Platt-Duetsche Society and the American Legion.
Survivors include his wife, one daughter, Linda Kay (Mrs. Robert) Dibbern of Olatha, Kan. and two grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Esther.
