Scottsbluff Star Herald
May 2007

GERING - Derek Lane LOVESEE, 35, of Gering, died May 6, 2007 in Scottsbluff. 
Funeral services  May 10, 2007 at the Mitchell Berean Church. Cremation will 
be held after the service at Sunset Memorial Park Crematory. His ashes will be 
interred at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering at a later date. Born July 15, 1971 in 
Kimball to Terry and Patricia (Hoefler) Lovesee. Tara Ann Binette and Derek were 
married August 3, 1991 in Rapid City, S.D. To this union were born Jordan David, 
Bradley James and Nicole Dawn. 

SCOTTSBLUFF - Gale E. JUSTIS, 89, of Scottsbluff, died May 1, 2007. 
Cremation has been held at the Jolliffe Funeral Home Crematory in Scottsbluff. 
A private inurnment will be in West Lawn Cemetery in Gering at a later date. 
Gale was born Nov. 6, 1917, at Hollenberg, Kan., the son of Arron and Gladys 
(Correll) Justis. He enlisted in the Army Air Force, Feb. 23, 1942. Married to 
Nellie Mae Riddle Jan. 2, 1947, at Harrisburg. Marriage to Katherine Young, 
May 8, 1982 at Scottsbluff. Preceded in death by his parents; wife: Nellie 
Mae July 5, 1980; and brothers: James and Russell.

GERING - Frieda E. PRESTER, 85, of Gering, formerly of Mitchell, died May 4, 2007. 
Memorial Funeral Services held May 11, 2007 at The Federated Churches in Mitchell. 
At her request, cremation has taken place at the Jolliffe Funeral Home Crematory 
in Scottsbluff. Jones Mortuary in Mitchell is in charge of the arrangements. 
Born Nov. 1, 1921 at Alliance to Jacob and Anna (Reichel) Hamburg. Married Walter 
Prester Mar 2, 1941 in Scottsbluff. To this marriage two daughters were born, Jan 
and Judy. Preceding her in death were her parents; her husband: Walter; daughter: 
Jan Hanson; sisters: Rachel Welsch, Leah Kukas, Helen Ott; and brother: Jake Hamburg.

SCOTTSBLUFF - John VASQUEZ, 84, of Scottsbluff, died April 30, 2007, at his home.
A funeral mass was held May 3, 2007 at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Scottsbluff. 
Interment was in Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell with military honors 
provided by the Paxton American Legion Post No. 303. Born May 2, 1922, at 
Garden City, Kan. to Catalino and Josephine Vasquez. Served in the U. S. Army 
during WWII form 1942 to 1945 as a paratrooper. On Aug. 27, 1943, he married 
Ruby Thomas at Paris, Texas. Preceded in death by his parents; one brother; 
two sisters; and son-in-law: Dennis Brewer.

GERING - Gus ENGSTROM, 94, of Gering, died April 30, 2007 following a short 
illness. Funeral services were May 3, 2007 at St. John's Lutheran Church. 
Interment was in Fairview Cemetery. Born to Gustav A. and Mollie (Margheim) 
Engstrom on Oct. 24, 1912, in Mitchell. Gus' father passed away when Gus 
was a very young child. Gus' mother remarried Fred Ott Sr. and had three 
brothers, Fred Ott Jr., George Ott, and Bill Ott and two sisters, Irene and 
Betty from this marriafe. Married Mollie Schwartz of Scottsbluff on Nov. 25, 1934. 
To this union were born three sons, Johnny, Tommy, and Billy Engstrom.
Preceded in death in 1988, by his wife of 63 years, Mollie; a daughter, two 
brothers, two sisters, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. 

SIDNEY - Dean BAYNE, 63, passed away Friday, May 18, 2007 in Scottsbluff. 
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, May 25, at the First United 
Methodist Church in Sidney. Private Inurnment will be in the Greenwood 
Cemetery in Sidney. The son of Leonard E. and Vera E. (Hogan) Bayne was 
born June 9, 1943 in Dalton, Neb. He was united in marriage to Sharon Onken 
May 31, 1963, in Sidney. Preceded in death by his parents, brother, Ray Bayne 
and sisters, Bev Wieser and Carol Hazlitt.  
 
Albert H. BUTH, 81, of Scottsbluff, died May 17, 2007. His 
remains were cremated. A private memorial service is planned. 
Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services is assisting 
the family with arrangements. Born in Shawano, Wis. on Sept. 12, 1925, 
to Albert and Violet (Stengel) Buth. He married Leona Ott in 1950. 
Married Lila Gaiser in 1990. Preceding him in death were his parents, two 
brothers, and an infant sister. 
 
HAY SPRINGS - Donald L. GARRETT, 87, passed away May 20, 2007. 
Graveside services May 23 at the Hay Springs Cemetery. Chamberlain-Drabbels 
Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements. Born Mar 28, 1920, in Morrill, to 
Vincent and Grace (Kernohan) Garrett. There were nine children, three girls 
and six boys. He joined the US Army Air Corp in 1942. Married Margaret Gayman 
on Mar 30, 1947 and they had three children, two sons and a daughter. 
Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Ross, Sam, Clyde, 
Clarence and Hubert (Bill) and sisters, Esther Jones and Marguerite Lopp.  
 
KIMBALL - Hellena N. KUHNS, 68, died May 17, 2007. Graveside funeral 
services May 21, at the Kimball Cemetery. Cantrell Funeral Home is in 
charge of the arrangements. Hellena Nancy Kuhns was born in Portland, Maine 
Aug. 24, 1938, the daughter of Harmon and Eva (Temple) Alexander. Married to 
Jack Kuhns Aug. 12, 1956, in Bath, Maine.
 
Alice M. LANE, 92 of Scottsbluff, died May 21, 2007 in Gering. 
Funeral arrangements are pending at the Jolliffe Funeral Home in Scottsbluff.  
 
BERTRAND - Charles Frederick LASHLEY Sr., 83, died May 20, 2007 in Holdrege. 
Funeral Services May 24, at the North Park Assembly of God Church in 
Holdrege, Neb. Interment will be at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege. 
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements 
Born Mar 31, 1924, in Mitchell to George Dewey and Edith Mae (Popkay) 
Lashley, the eldest of four children. Served in the U. S. Army during WWII. 
Marriage to Nora Mae Howlett Aug. 3, 1946, in Harrisburg and to this union 
eleven children were born, Gary, Roy, Floyd, Dale, Roger, Charles Jr., Linda, 
Nora Jean, Carl, Sharon and Walter. Preceding him in death were his parents; 
son, Dale Lashley Sr.; brothers, Almon Lashley and Richard Lashley; grandson, 
Gary Lashley Jr.; great-granddaughter, Marisol; brother-in-law, Charles Ashcraft; 
and a step-granddaughter, Amy Jo Henson.  
 
Michael O. LITTLE WOLF, 54, of Scottsbluff, died May 21, 2007 from injuries 
of a train-pedestrian accident. Funeral arrangements are pending at 
Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff.  
 
Guadalupe Piña MENDOZA, 78, of Gering, died May 18, 2007 in Scottsbluff 
with her family at her side. A funeral mass May 22, 2007, at Christ The King 
Catholic Church in Gering. Interment in the West Lawn Cemetery at Gering. 
Born Mar 17, 1929, at Salineño, Texas to Santiago and Manuela (Cruz) Piña. 
On May 6, 1946, she married Enrique "Henry" Mendoza Sr. Her husband, 
parents, a sister, and a brother preceded her in death.  
 
LYMAN - Carroll J. MOREHEAD, 81, of rural Lyman, died May 21, 2007 
at his home. Funeral Services May 25, at Jones Mortuary Chapel. 
Born Dec. 19, 1925, on his family homestead, near Lyman to Jerry and 
Anna (Bassett) Morehead. His parents, first wife Barbara, April 26, 1998; 
two brothers, a sister and a granddaughter precedes him in death.  
 
TORRINGTON, Wyo. - Mary W. "Bobbi" PITTMAN, 93, died May 18, 2007. 
Funeral services held May 23, at the Henry/Lyman Methodist Church. 
Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery in Torrington. Born July 8, 1913, 
in Cambridge, Neb. the daughter of John and Anna (Wheeler) Tate. Married 
Cecil "Mike" Pittman May 4, 1929 in McCook, Neb. Preceded in death by her 
parents; her husband; two brothers; four sisters; one granddaughter; and 
one great grandson.  
 
LaVonne V. POST, 88, of Gering, passed away May 18, 2007, in Scottsbluff. 
A funeral service was held May 23, at Harrisburg Community Church in 
Harrisburg. Interment will be in West Lawn Cemetery at Gering. Born 
July 26, 1918, near Underwood, Iowa, the daughter of Lee and Zella Vesey. 
Her father died in Feb 1919, when LaVonne was only nine months old. Married 
Russell W. Post Oct. 5, 1940. Preceded in death by her parents; her husband; 
and stepsister, Barbara Olsen.  
 
TORRINGTON, Wyo. - Joy SWARTWOOD, 50, died at her home on May 19, 2007. 
Funeral services May 23, at the Colyer Funeral Home Chapel. Burial in the 
Valley View Cemetery. Born Dec. 3, 1956, in Scottsbluff the daughter of John 
and Eunice (Loutzenhizer) Arends. Married Leon Swartwood May 9, 1974, in 
Scottsbluff. Her mother preceded her in death.  
 
OSHKOSH - Mary Louise "Peg" BRETZ, 80, of Oshkosh, died May 24, 2007. 
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., May 29, at the St. Elizabeth's 
Catholic Church in Oshkosh. Inurnment will be in the Oshkosh Cemetery. 
Holechek Funeral Home in Oshkosh is in charge of arrange-ments.  
 
Joan (Leis) GREEB, 75, of Scottsbluff, died May 16, 2007. Cremation has 
been held at the Jolliffe Funeral Home Crematory in Scottsbluff. 
A Private Family Inurnment in Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff. 
Memorial Service May 21 at 10 a.m., at the Zion Evangelical Church 
in Scottsbluff. Born July 20, 1931 in Scottsbluff, the daughter of George 
and Charlotte (Hopp) Leis. Marriage to Harold Greeb, Aug. 8, 1948. 
Preceded in death by her parents, brother Harold Leis, sisters Dorothy 
Weisgerber, Florence Reichert and infant sister Phyllis Leis.  
 
Gary A. MARTIN, 59, of Gering, died May 17, 2007 in Scottsbluff. 
Funeral services held May 21, at the Jolliffe Funeral Home Chapel in 
Scottsbluff. Born June 13, 1947, in Scottsbluff, to David D. and Lydia 
(Buchhammer) Martin. Preceding him in death was his father David D. 
Martin, in July 1989, and his maternal and paternal grandparents.  
 
HAY SPRINGS - Jerry L. SUMMERVILLE, 68, died May 16, 2007 in 
Rapid City, South Dakota. Funeral services held May 21, at the 
United Methodist Church of Hay Springs, Neb. Burial at the Hay 
Springs Cemetery. Born July 22, 1938, in Mitchell to Lee and Helen 
(Groskopf) Summerville. On Oct 2, 1956, he married Avis Toof. 
His parents preceded him in death. 
 
LISCO - Mike DUTKO, 83, died May 23, 2007, at the Garden County 
Hospital in Oshkosh. A Mass of Christian Burial held May 26, at St. Gall's 
Catholic Church in Lisco. Interment will be in the Lisco Memorial Cemetery 
south of Lisco. Mike, was born Dec. 15, 1923, in Kropiwnik, Poland, to 
Stefan and Katazina (Kwolaska) Dutko, the oldest of two sons. 
He grew up in Przemysl, Poland. His parents and his younger brother 
preceded him in death. 
 
BRIDGEPORT - Don Arthur MIDDLESWARTt, 60, of Bridgeport, died May 23, 2007
in Scottsbluff. Funeral will be held at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 29, at the Bridgeport 
Church of Christ. Interment will be in Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery in Bridgeport. 
Born Dec. 9, 1946 in Alliance, the son of David L. "Meeks" and Margie M. (Sherlock) 
Middleswart. His grandparents, parents and a niece preceded him in death.  
 
ALLIANCE - Paul Alexander "Duke" Snyder, 68, died May 22, 2007 
in Rapid City, S.D. Funeral services will be held May 29, at St. John's 
United Lutheran Church. Burial with military rites will be in the Alliance Cemetery.
Born Nov. 23, 1938 in Northport, Neb., the sixth child to Carl and Elizabeth (Ehrhardt) 
Snyder. He served in the U.S. Army from 1962 to 1965. Married Geraldine L. (Jeri) Taylor 
Aug. 19, 1965. To this union three children were born, Jimmy, Paula and Troy.
His son Troy, his parents, two sisters, a brother and two brothers-in-law preceded 
him in death.     
 
HERMOSA, S.D. - Kathleen Lois "Kathy" WIERENGA, 68, died May 21, 2007, at 
her home east of Hermosa after a brief illness. Memorial service May 25, at the 
United Church of Christ in Hermosa. Born Sept 26, 1938, in Newcastle, Wyo., to 
Francis and Lois (Haynes) Brophy. Married Art Wierenga June 24, 1956, in 
Hermosa, S.D., and joined him in ranching throughout South Dakota, Nebraska, 
Iowa and Wyoming. Her husband Art; her parents; her brothers, Chuck and 
Terry and sister, Dorothy, preceded her in death.  
 
BAYARD - Orval D. "Butch" BLUE, 62, of rural Bayard, died May 30, 2007
at his home. Funeral will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, June 4, at the Rodeo 
Bible Camp Fellowship Church, located 2 ¾ miles east of Minatare on the 
south side of Highway 26 in the old Ankony Shadow Isle Sale Barn. Cremation 
will follow the funeral at the Jolliffe Funeral Home Crematory in Scottsbluff. 
Born Nov. 7, 1944 in Ainsworth, Neb., the son of Alvin and Inez (Robinson) Blue. 
Marriage to Becky Mues, Nov. 7, 1992 in Redington. His parents preceded 
him in death.  
 
RIO LINDA, Calif. - Robert L. Suhr, formerly of Bayard died May 9, 2007
at home of natural causes. Memorial services were held May 13, in Sacramento,CA.
Inurnment will be held at Sunset Memorial Park in Scottsbluff at a later date. 
Born Feb. 27, 1929. He married Mildred Schlauger Nov. 14, 1954 in Scottsbluff. 
They had five children. He enlisted in the Army in 1948. Preceding him in death 
were his parents, Louie and Martha (Rayborn) Suhr, son Dale Suhr, a 
brother and two sisters.  
 

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