McCook Daily Gazette 7.25.2005 - 7.29.2005 OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Richard Lee "Dick" BEST, 63, died July 17, 2005 after fighting colon cancer for six months. He was born April 25, 1942, in Forest City, Iowa, to Frank and Bertha (Kennedy) Best. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was preceded in death by his mother, Bertha Kennedy Best and a brother, Ronald. His remains will be interred at the Greenwood Cemetery in Chadron where his grandmother is interred. Zelma "Pauline" ESCH, 88, died Saturday (July 23, 2005) in McCook. She was born Jan. 30, 1917, to Arthur E. and Myrtle Gladys (Branscom) Burton in Furnas County. On March 21, 1937, she married Carl Esch at St. John's Lutheran Church at Ash Creek. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Carl; and two sisters, Ethel Crocker and Leona Mathana. Services will be Tuesday, at Peace Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery. RUSSELL, Kan. -- Raymond B. RITTER, 83, died Friday (July 22, 2005). He was born Nov. 20, 1921, at Dresden, to Bernard and Philomena (Kruse) Ritter. On Aug. 6, 1955, he married Bernadine Colling at McCook. He was preceded in death by his parents; and three brothers, Dennis, Seraphim and Cletus Ritter. Services will be Tuesday, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Russell. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Russell. CAMBRIDGE -- Elma F. SHIFFLET, 89, died Saturday (July 23, 2005). She was born Jan. 13, 1916, north of Holbrook, to Charles and Cecil Lathorp. On March 31, 1934, she married Raymond Shifflet at Norton, Kan. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Raymond in March 1980; and two sisters, Merna Fiddler and Bernice Halloran. Funeral services will be Wednesday, at Lockenour-Jones Mortuary in Cambridge. Interment will be at the Fairview Cemetery in Cambridge. NORTH PLATTE -- Edwin "Ed" C. SCHWARTZ, 80, died Tuesday (July 26, 2005) at his home in North Platte following a brief battle with cancer. He was born July 8, 1925, on the family farm south of Max to Edwin Clarence and Eda Lena (Mundt) Schwartz. On Dec. 28, 1949, he married Betty Joan Foster in Benkelman. He was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law, Leo and VaLeita Foster; and step mother-in-law, Irene Morrison Foster. A memorial celebration of life will be Saturday, at First Evangelical Lutheran Church. The body has been cremated. CASPER, Wyo. -- Rosemary J. COLLING, 84, died Monday (July 25, 2005). She was born May 4, 1921, at Cambridge, to Thomas and Josephine (Houghnon) Jones. On May 25, 1944, she married Bernard Harlan Colling at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Indianola. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a son, Tom Colling; a granddaughter; and an infant sister. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Casper. Burial will be at the Oregon Trail State Veterans' Cemetery in Evansville. ATWOOD -- Gladys Eileen (Kyte) FIKAN, 84, died Wednesday (July 27, 2005). She was born Feb. 27, 1921, to Donald Lester and Lela May (Minor) Kyte on the family farm southeast of McDonald. On May 12, 1940, she married Reno Fikan in Atwood. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Reno in 2003; son, Lyle in 2004; three sisters and two brothers, one of whom was her twin. Services will be Saturday, at Williams Funeral Home chapel. Interment will follow at the Atwood Fairview Cemetery with fraternal rites by the Order of Eastern Star. John William BECK, 88, formerly of the McCook area, died Thursday (July 28, 2005), at Hays, Kan. Services will be Tuesday at McCook Christian Church. Interment will be at Riverview Cemetery in McCook. Arlington Richard TERRELL, 80, died Thursday (July 29, 2005). He was born March 5, 1925, to Earl J. and Mary Olive (Nealeigh) Terrell. He entered the U.S. Marine Corps and served during World War II. On Feb. 19, 1947, he married Lela Mae Boyd at McDonald, Kan. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Lela on Aug. 2, 1998. Funeral services will be Tuesday at the United Methodist Church in Trenton. Interment, with military honors will follow at the Trenton cemetery. CURTIS -- Leland Douglas WELCH, 67, died Thursday (July 28, 2005). He was born Sept. 20, 1937, at Farnam, to Robert and Mildred (Spencer) Welch. He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1963. On Nov. 11, 1964, he married Reva Rigdon in North Platte. She preceded him in death Feb. 17, 1990. He married Terry Cole on Dec. 15, 1985, in Indianola. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Reva; and a sister, Ruth. Funeral services will be Monday at the Berean Fundamental Church in Curtis. Burial will be at the Moorefield Cemetery at Moorefield. McCook Daily Gazette 7-11 to 7-15, 2005 Idalene Ruth EGAN, 98, died Saturday (July 9, 2005). She was born Jan. 20, 1907, in Granville, Mo., to George and Ida (Mitts) Martin. On May 2, 1925, she married William Grant Egan at Oberlin. She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; and two sisters Wilma Yost and Velma Horn. Services will be Wednesday, at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in McCook. Internment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook. David John EVANS, 69, died Friday, July 8, 2005 in Kearney. He was born June 8, 1936, in Stratton to John R. and Clara Maime (Marquissee) Evans. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. He married Dorothy Lucille Smith on Feb. 20, 1961 at Pierre, S.D. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Cleo; and two sisters, Bonnie Bell (an infant) and Myrna Clifford. Donald "Don" O. WALLEN, 77, died Friday, July 8, 2005 in Kearney. He was born June 9, 1928, in McCook, to Lynn A. and Alice M. (Confer) Wallen. He married Shirley Muffley on June 12, 1949, at the Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook. Preceded in death by his parents; his father and mother-in-law Robert and Francis Muffley; and his sister-in-law, Anne Muffley. Services at Memorial United Methodist Church. Internment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- James K. 'Jim' BAIRD, 87, died Wednesday (July 6, 2005) in Tallahassee, Fla. He was born June 6, 1918, at Chester, Pa. to George and Jessie (Kilpatrick) Baird. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corp as a squadron leader of fighter aircraft in the South Pacific during WWII. He married Edith Allen on March 31, 1946. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith, and a brother, Thomas Baird. Services will be Friday, at Herrmann Memorial Chapel. Interment will be in Riverview Cemetery. LINCOLN -- Meredith "Ike" COLE was born May 7, 1942, to Myrtle and Roy Cole. He departed from life June 11, 2005, in Lincoln. He married Maria Dillon in Trenton. BEAVER CITY -- Irene JACOBS, 89, died Monday (July 11, 2005). She was born Nov. 26, 1915, at Beaver City to Glide and Leora Belle (Strickland) Williams. She married Franklin "Jake" M. Jacobs in 1939 at Norton, Kan. The couple divorced in the mid 1960's. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Don Williams; sister, Beryl Kinsman; and nephew, Ed Kinsman. Services will be Wednesday, at Wenburg Funeral Home, Beaver City, with Bill Weaver officiating. Internment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. ATWOOD -- Darlene May (Wicke) PHELPS, 65, died Saturday (July 9, 2005) in Denver, Colo. She was born May 2, 1940, to Clarence and Esther (Neuhart) Wicke at their rural home north of Blakeman, Kan. She married David Phelps on Sept. 16, 1961 at Grace Lutheran Church. Services are Thursday, at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church, Atwood. Interment will follow at Atwood Fairview Cemetery. Wayne "Bud" Eldon CALLAN, 86, formerly of Bartley, died Wednesday (July 13, 2005). He was born June 6, 1919, in Red Willow County to Henry H. and Mildred E. (Wolfe) Callan. He served in the U. S. Army during World War II. He married Charlotte Maxine Hall in Santa Maria, Calif., on July 5, 1942. She preceded him in death in June,1990. On Jan 2, 1991, he married Athol May Hansen in McCook. Preceded in death by his parents; wife, Charlotte; 1 granddaughter, Marcia Elizabeth Callan; 3 step-grandchildren, twin boys Larry and Lonnie Foster and Kristy Sayer. Funeral services July 18, 2005, at Memorial United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, with full military honors. Eugene Gilbert HOUGHTELLING, 78, died July 14, 2005. Eugene was born on April 16, 1927, at McCook, to Gilbert and Millie (Roberts) Houghtelling. He entered the U.S. Army on Nov. 14, 1945. Eugene married Devona Mae Carr on June 17, 1950. Preceding him in death were his parents, Gilbert and Millie Houghtelling; his infant daughter, Tira Houghtelling; two brothers, Charles and Milton; and three sisters, Norma, Elda and Ellen. Funeral service will be Tuesday July 19, 2005, at Memorial United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. McCook Daily Gazette Monday, July 18, 2005 CULBERTSON -- Andrew Joe LOOP, 40, died Friday (July 15, 2005) in North Platte. He was born May 30, 1965, at Oakley, Kan., to Leo Joe and Mary Aidyl (Stohler) Loop. He was preceded in death by his father, Leo, and grandparents, George and Bessie Stohler and Earl and Mabel Loop. Mass of the Christian Burial will be Wednesday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Paxton. Interment will in the Benkelman Cemetery. BEAVER CITY -- Dothen D. VENTLING, 87, died Saturday (July 16, 2005). He was born July 1, 1918, at Edison to Loyd & Lizzie (Cline) Ventling. He married Dora Harter on Sept. 1, 1940, at Oberlin. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dora; sons, Dale and Dothen Eugene; sister, Della; and brother, Orville. Graveside services at Bartley Cemetery. BENKELMAN -- Clyde Arnold BROWN, 92, died Sunday (July 17, 2005). He was born July 27, 1912, to William and Ellen (Breeder) Brown on their farm, northeast of Max. He married Ruth Maxwell in 1935. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Ellen Brown; two sisters, Elizabeth Phillips and Dorothy Heilers; two brothers, Roy Brown and Phillip Brown; and granddaughter, Karen Scott. Services will be Thursday at Forch Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at the Benkelman Cemetery. CULBERTSON -- Mildred Berniece HEINBIGNER, 76, died Sunday (July 17, 2005). She was born Dec. 20, 1928, at Stratton, to Joseph M. and Grace H. (Wilkinson) Schilz. She married Orville Paul Hazelton. He preceded her in death in 1957. On July 1, 1961, she married Jake Heinbigner in Culbertson. Preceding her in death were her parents, Joseph and Grace Schilz; her two husbands, Orville Hazelton and Jake Heinbigner; two brothers, Joe Jr. and Alvin; and four sisters, Hazel, Darlene, Opal and Hertha. Services will be Thursday, at the Culbertson United Methodist Church. Interment will be in Culbertson Cemetery. KEARNEY -- Roland "Stretch" WELCH, 91, died Tuesday (July 19, 2005). He was born March 17, 1914, at Manning, Iowa, to Benjamin and Abel (Deitz) Welch. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Elaine (Deforest); two brothers, Merlin and an infant brother; a brother-in-law, Mac McCullough; and a sister-in-law, Bobby Welch. Services will be Friday, at the First Presbyterian Church in Kearney. A private interment will take place at the Kearney Cemetery at a later date. Harlan D. GRAFEL was born Oct. 17, 1924, in Hitchcock County, Neb. to August P. and Mary (Wolfram) Grafel. He died July 20, 2005, from injuries suffered in a car accident. He was drafted into the U. S. Army in 1944 and served his country during World War II. Harlan and Norma M. Crocker were married Oct. 25, 1947. Harlan was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Harry, of Trenton, Neb., and one sister, Grace Dack, of McCook, Neb. Harlan was cremated and a memorial service will be held Saturday, July 23rd, at Republican Valley Event Center (Old Elks Building) in McCook, Neb. A private inurnment will be done at a later time. CAMBRIDGE -- John Donald KELLY, 79, died July 20, 2005. He was born Dec. 17, 1925, in Cambridge to Dean and Sadie (Wonderlick) Kelly. He was drafted into the U.S. Army and served his country from 1946 to 1949. In 1943 he married Joyce Harshfield. In 1993, he married Naomi (Young) Potts. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother Daryl. Funeral services will Saturday, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Cambridge. Interment will be at the Fairview Cemetery of Cambridge. Lester R. KETTERL, 84, died Tuesday (July 19, 2005) in McCook. He was born May 28, 1921, to Louis and Katherine Ketterl. On Nov. 20, 1945, he married Ruth Wolfram. She preceded him in death July 29, 1984. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth; a granddaughter, Amber R. Ketterl; two brothers, Lavern and Clarence; and a sister, Margaret Riener. Services will be Saturday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Herndon. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. OBERLIN -- Donald E. ROE, 77, died July 21, 2005. He was born March 24, 1928, to Earl and Elsie (Hesseltine) Roe at Cedar Bluffs, Kan. On May 18, 1948, he married Ardis Duckworth in Danbury. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister-in-law, Eunice Roe; and two nephews, Greg Roe and Brian Lindberg. Services will be Monday, at Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin. Interment will be at the Oberlin Cemetery. ATWOOD -- Raphael J. SABATKA Sr., 83, died Thursday (July 21, 2005). Mass of Christian burial will be Monday, at ST. John Nepomucene Church in rural Atwood. Interment will be at St. John's Cemetery. McCook Daily Gazette 6.20.2005 - 6.24.2005 SIDNEY -- Betty POWELL, 68 of Sidney, Nebraska died Sunday morning, June 19, 2005. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, June 22, 2005 in the Sidney Seventh Day Adventist Church. Cremation has taken place. Betty Joan Powell was born June 29, 1936 at Hutchinson, Kansas to Floyd Edward, Jr. and Roxie Jewell (Baker) Anderson. She married Roscoe E. Hansen on June 27, 1954. He died in July of 1958. She met Glen Powell and they were married in November of 1959. She was preceded in death by her husband Roscoe Hansen, her parents and one son, Mickeal Hansen Powell. ARAPAHOE -- Doris Ann TURVEY, 62, of Greeley, Colo., died Thursday (June 16, 2005) at her home. She was born April 6, 1943 at Holbrook to Harry and Verna (Graning) Blauvelt. On April 9, 1967, she married Dan Turvey at First United Methodist Church in Arapahoe. She is preceded in death by her parents, and one sister, Ruth Arlene Blauvelt. Services will be Tuesday at the First United Methodist Church of Arapahoe. Interment will be at Arapahoe Cemetery. HOLDREGE -- Donald William FREED of rural Loomis died Sunday, June 19, 2005. He was 80 years old. He was born May 27, 1925, on the family farm three miles north of Loomis, the oldest child of Roy and Ellen (Johnson) Freed. On Sept. 22, 1950, he was united in marriage to Mary Louise Callen, at Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook. He was preceded in death by his parents. Services will be Friday, June 24 at First United Methodist Church in Holdrege. Interment will be at the Moses Hill Cemetery in Phelps County. CURTIS -- Velma Irene NELSEN of Curtis died Monday, June 20, 2005, in Curtis. She was 82 years old. She was born Sept. 11, 1922, at Curtis, to Charles A. and Lena Dannehl Ramels. On Nov. 1, 1947, she married Robert LeRoy Nelsen, in McCook. To this union, seven children were born. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, an infant son, Charles, and a sister, Verda Cramer. Services will be Thursday, June 23, at the Congregational Church in Curtis. Burial will be in Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell. IMPERIAL -- Virgil Eugene SANDMAN, 88, of Wauneta, Nebraska, passed on Thursday, June 9, 2005. Virgil was born to Ralph and Gertrude Sandman on February 19, 1917, in Harbine, Nebraska. He enlisted in the Navy on Aug. 12, 1942. He was discharged on Dec. 23, 1945. Virgil married Eda Marie Snoke, on Oct. 6, 1946. He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, three sisters and one grandson Andrew Sandman. Memorial services for Virgil were held on June 13, 2005 with interment at Wauneta's Riverside Cemetery. Nancy Elaine PROSSER-WEEDIN was born July 26, 1944 in Alliance, Nebraska to Helen (Kenagy) and Leonard Prosser. In 1968 she married James Wesley Wilson in Grant, Nebraska. In 1980 she married Gene Weedin. She was preceded in death by her father Leonard Prosser and nephew Jason Prosser. Funeral Service will be Monday, June 27, 2005, at Memorial United Methodist Church. A private family inurnment will be held at a later time. AUBURN, Ill. -- Clarence LeRoy KAMER, 76, died June 18, 2005 in Auburn, Ill., after battling diabetes and Alzheimer's. He was born Sept. 13,1928. CHAMPION -- Lloyd MEESKE, 62, a longtime resident of the Champion area died Wednesday (June 22, 2005) at his home south of Champion. Graveside services at the Lakeview Cemetery, Champion. Inurnment will follow at the cemetery. ARAPAHOE -- Rolland George WESTERBECK, 77, died Wednesday (June 22, 2005), at the Grand Island Veterans Home in Grand Island. He was born Oct. 29, 1927, in Melrose Park, Ill., to John J. and Anna Leona (McCollam) Westerbeck. In 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. On Nov. 29, 1947, he married Emma J. Wheeler in Lincoln. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Emma; and his brother, Glenn. Graveside services will be Saturday at Arapahoe Cemetery, Arapahoe. Military rites will be presented by the Arapahoe and Edison American Legion. ====== Copyright © 2007 Nebraska Obituary Abstracts NEGenWeb Project