Francis Fred 'Frank' Stute Jr.

WAUNETA -- Frank Stute, 73, died Wednesday (Nov.13, 2002) near his farm north of Wauneta.

Frank was born to Francis Fred "Frank" and Hazel Irene (Trout) Stute Sr. at their rural farm home north of Benkelman. He attended rural Hoover School until the eighth grade when he quit to help with the family farm.

On June 4, 1946, he married Ardith Jean Moon at St. Francis. To this union three daughters were born. They made their home on a farm north of Benkelman. In 1962, they moved to a farm near Hamlet until 1969, when they moved to McCook.

Frank worked for Producers Livestock Company until 1972, when they moved to Imperial and became co-owners of Imperial Livestock Auction and Chappell Livestock Auction until Frank's retirement in 1980. He continued to auctioneer farm and household sales and order buy cattle until the time of his death.

Frank was a member of the Imperial United Methodist Church and served as Sunday School Superintendent for many years while a member in Wauneta. He served on the Hamlet School Board, Hamlet Coop Board and was Chase County Commissioner for eight years.

He loved hunting coyotes with his greyhounds, farming with his draft horses, playing cards with his friends, music (especially whistling), story telling, and most of all spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Frank and Hazel Stute; and two brothers, Roy and Carl Stute.

Survivors include his wife, Ardith Stute, of Imperial; three daughters, Gwendolyn and husband, Mickey Brunkhorst of Wauneta, Janice and husband, Terry Buss, of Chappell and Donna and husband, Jim Hall, of McCook; two brothers, John Stute and wife, Leona, of Ft. Collins, Colo., and Larry Stute and wife, Arlene, of Benkelman; three sisters, Doris DeVinny of Lebanon, Ore., Iva Jean and husband, Fred Lewis, of Witter, Ark., and Karolyn Connelango of Grand Island; sister-in-law, Jean Stute of Imperial; seven grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren; numerous nephews, nieces, family and a host of friends.

Services will be Monday, 1 p.m., at the Imperial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Murray Schmechel, Don Egle and Johnny Walker officiating. Burial will be in the Wauneta Riverside Cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. at Liewer Funeral Home in Imperial.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be given in his name.

Liewer Funeral Home of Imperial is in charge of the arrangements.