Obituaries

Melvin LaRue Miner April 15, 1927 - July 14, 2018 GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Melvin LaRue Miner, 91, of Grand Island, formerly of McCook, passed away on Saturday, July 14, 2018. To honor Melvin’s wishes, cremation has taken place and there are no services at this time.  His ashes will be buried in the Wilsonville Cemetery at a later date...

Samuel J. Solko May 6, 1942 - July 11, 2018 ATWOOD, Kan. — Samuel J. Solko, 76, of Ludell, Kan., died Wednesday (July 11, 2018), at Good Samaritan Society in Atwood, Kan. He was born May 6, 1942, in Oberlin, Kan., to Albert and Lucille (Marintzer) Solko. He graduated from Herndon High School and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He farmed and ranched in the Herndon-Ludell area. He was a member of St. Mary’s Assumption Catholic Church and Knights of Columbus in Herndon...

Marilyn Irene Gaster Nov. 26, 1949 - July 12, 2018 INDIANOLA, Neb. — Marilyn Irene Gaster of Indianola passed away Thursday, July 12, 2018, at Hillcrest Nursing Home after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 68 years old. Marilyn was born on Nov. ...

Thelma “Myrt” Burtch Dunn-Howard Aug. 29, 1925 - May 4, 2018 LINCOLN, Neb. — Thelma “Myrt” Geraldine Burtch Dunn-Howard died on May 4, 2018, in her home. A Celebration of Life is Saturday, July 14, 2018, 10 a.m., at St. James United Methodist Church at 1501 Franklin St., Bellevue, NE. ...

Samuel Solko LUDELL, Kan. — Samuel Solko, 76, of Ludell, died today (June 11, 2018), at Good Samaritan Society in Atwood, Kan. Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin, Kan.

William Kent Jr. Sept. 13, 1937 - July 9, 2018 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — William Kent Jr. passed away on July 9, 2018, at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. He was born on Sept. 13, 1937, to Marian (Breinig) and William Kent Sr. He attended country school north of Holbrook through the eighth grade, and graduated from Holbrook High School in 1955. ...

Wilva Harchelroad June 22, 1929 - July 3, 2018 WAUNETA Neb.— Wilva Delores Harchelroad (nee Richards) passed away July 3, 2018, in Wauneta at the age of 89. Wilva was born June 22, 1929, in Stratton, Neb., to Clarence and Ora Richards. Wilva, also known as Willie, was one of seven daughters. ...

Nathan L. Witt April 26, 1938 - uly 6, 2018 COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Nathan L. Witt, 80 years, of Council Bluffs, died July 6, 2018.   He was born April 26, 1938, in Palisade, Neb., to Alvy and Emma (Carey) Witt.   Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Donna McKeeman and son, Larry Witt...

Shirley Jean Johnson March 14, 1927 - July 9, 2018 McCOOK, Neb. — Shirley Jean Johnson, 91, passed away July 9, 2018, at Brookdale Assisted Living in McCook. Shirley was born March 14, 1927, in McCook to Carl and Amanda Axelson. She graduated from McCook High School in the spring of 1944...

Vendla Tacha Jan. 10, 1923 - July 7, 2018 NORTON, Kan. — Vendla Tacha, 95, formerly of Jennings, Kan., died Saturday (July 7, 2018), at Whispering Pines in Norton. She was on born Jan. 10, 1923, in Delphos, Kan., to Ralph and Ruby (Klotz) Allison. She graduated from Delphos High School and attended Salt City Business College in Hutchinson, Kan., for two years...

Harvey Eugene Esslinger June 19, 1945 - July 7, 2018 McCOOK, Neb. — Harvey Eugene Esslinger, age 73, of McCook, passed away on Saturday, July 7, 2018, at his home. He was born on June 19, 1945, at Arapahoe, Neb., to Walter and Viola Ida (Leibbrandt) Esslinger...

Verena V. Wetter March 12, 1929 - July 3, 2018 NORTON, Kan. — Verena V. Wetter, 89, died Tuesday (July 3, 2018), at the Andbe Home in Norton. She was born March 12, 1929, to William F. and Mary M. (Kilian) Seiler in Wakita, Okla. She earned an associate degree in business from Sacred Heart College in Wichita, Kan., and worked at a bank in Wichita prior to her marriage. She married John J. Wetter on Jan. 16, 1954, in Wichita. They lived in Norton...

Phyllis M. (Peters) Douglass May 27, 1926- June 23, 2018  CASPER, Wyo. — Phyllis M. (Peters) Douglass, age 92, passed away June 23, 2018, at Central Wyoming Hospice, surrounded by her loving family. Phyllis was born on May 27, 1926, in Bellwood, Neb., to Clarence and Margaret (Meysenburg) Peters. ...

Frank Delbert Weatherwax Oct. 13, 1926 - June 26, 2018 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Frank Delbert Weatherwax, 91, died Tuesday (June 26, 2018), at C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe, Neb. He was born Oct. 13, 1926, to Willie Delbert and Opal Lois (Odell) Weatherwax in Union Township, Furnas County. ...

Margie Mae Lemon July 22, 1932 - June 29, 2018 CURTIS, Neb. — Margie Mae Lemon, 85, of Curtis, died June 29, 2018, at Senior Living Choices in Curtis. Margie was born on July 22, 1932, on the family farm in Wilber, Neb., daughter of Robert John and Marie Lena Sophia (Vonderfecht) Kappelmann. Margie went to summer college at McCook Junior College and spent four years as a teacher before becoming a dedicated farm wife...

Onida Lee Anderson May 10, 1930 - June 28, 2018 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — Onida Lee Anderson, age 88, of North Platte, passed away June 28, 2018, at Great Plains Health. She was born May 10, 1930, to Gradie Lee and Nola Onida (Thompson) Stewart at Greeley, Colo. ...

Virginia I. Restano Oct. 24, 1922 - June 26, 2018 MONTICELLO, Ind. — Virginia I. Restano, 95, of Remington, Ind., passed away on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, at I. U. Health White Memorial Hospital, Monticello.  Virginia moved to Remington in 1993, having lived in San Francisco and Sonora, Calif., for many years...

Francis ‘Frank’ R. Conley Sept. 11, 1929 - June 22, 2018 McCOOK, Neb. — Francis “Frank” R. Conley, age 88, of McCook, passed away at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook on June 22, 2018. Frank was born in Max, Neb., on Sept. 11, 1929, to Ray and Lela (Hennis) Conley. At the age of 16, Frank quit school and began to work on the railroad. He worked as a section laborer, retiring after 47 years...

John Edward Hammond Nov. 28, 1957 - June 21, 2018 NORTH PLATTE, Neb. — John Edward Hammond, 60, of North Platte, died Thursday, June 21, 2018, at his home. John was born Nov. 28, 1957, to Jerry Dean and DeWinta Grace (McDowell) Hammond in Denver, Colo. ...

Blake Allen Lavery Sept. 15, 1965 - June 11, 2018 COLUMBUS, Neb. — Blake Allen Lavery, 52, of Columbus, died June 11, 2018, at the University Nebraska Medical Center. He was born in Lexington, Neb., to Murl and Bethine (Blakeslee) Lavery on Sept. 15, 1965. He attended school in Sumner, Neb., and Wauneta, Neb. He graduated from Wauneta High School. He worked on the farm and for other farmers. Blake worked at IBP at Lexington and BD in Holdrege and Columbus...

Donald Melvin Smith Aug. 5, 1927 - March 26, 2018 McCOOK, Neb. — Donald Melvin Smith, age 90, passed away Monday, March 26, 2018, at Community Hospital in McCook. Donald was born at Fort Morgan, Colo., to parents, Patrick M. and Catherine A. (Chandler) Smith on Aug. 5, 1927. The family later moved to a ranch north of Haigler, Neb., where Donald also attended a small country school...

Services are pending with Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel in McCook.

Shelby Lee (Kamer) Cano March 9, 1956 - June 16, 2018 OMAHA, Neb. — Shelby Lee (Kamer) Cano, age 62, of Omaha, was born in Pana, Ill., on March 9, 1956, and grew up in McCook, Neb. The heavens gained a wonderful angel on June 16, 2018. She was preceeded in death by her father, Leroy Kamer and mother, Bonnie Kamer (Neisman); sister, Kathy Kamer; and one nephew, Travis McMichael...