Obituaries from May 2017

Reva E. Marshall OBERLIN, Kan. — Reva E. Marshall, 75, died Saturday (April 29, 2017), at her residence in Oberlin. Funeral services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin.

Carson C. Williams June 14, 1924 - April 15, 2017 HOLDREGE, Neb. — Funeral services for Carson C. Williams were Friday, April 21, 2017, at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, with Pastors Paul Bauman, Murray Jones, and Harold Berry, officiating. Interment was in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege, following the services with military rites provided by the United States Navy Funeral Honors Team...

Mary Anne Eklund Jan. 4, 1930 - May 5, 2017 McCOOK, Neb. — Mary Anne Eklund, age 87, of McCook, passed away at Hillcrest Nursing Home on Friday, May 5, 2017. Mary was born in Kansas City, Mo., was orphaned at an early age and at around the age six or seven, she and her sister were adopted by Sylvia Dorweiler. ...

Alice Marilyn (Townley) Darling July 14, 1923 - May 4, 2017 NORTH PLATTE,Neb. — Alice Marilyn (Townley) Darling, 93, passed away on May 4, 2017, at Linden Court in North Platte, Neb. She was born July 14, 1923, in Boulder, Colo., to Richard and Lela Belle Townley. ...

Bernard Wickizer March 16, 1934 - May 5, 2017 CAMBRIDGE, NEB. — Bernard Wickizer, age 83, of Cambridge, passed away at the Cambridge Manor on Friday, May 5, 2017. He was born in Max, Neb., on March 16, 1934, to Clarence and Ruth (Clements) Wickizer. Bernard attended school in Max...

Lewis Junior Parks Feb. 1, 1934 - May 6, 2017 McCOOK, Neb. — Lewis Junior Parks was born Feb. 1, 1934 in Norton, Kan., and passed away May 6, 2017, at the age of 83. Lewis was the fourth child born to Rex Senior Lewis Parks and Caroline Zelda (Moss) Parks. The family moved from Norton to Cambridge, Neb., when Lewis was a young boy and he attended Cambridge Schools...

Donna Joyce (Fickenscher) Brubaker Aug. 20, 1929 - May 7, 2017 LINCOLN, Neb. — Donna Joyce (Fickenscher) Brubaker, 87, formerly of Maywood, Neb., passed away May 7, 2017, in Lincoln. Donna was born Aug. 20, 1929, to Paul and Irene (Bellamy) Fickenscher of Moorefield, Neb.  She grew up in Moorefield and graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis, received her teaching certificate from McCook Junior College and taught at rural Bluff View elementary school in Frontier County.. ...

Jerry Lee Vrbas Sept. 30, 1946 - March 26, 2017 ATWOOD. Kan. — Jerry Lee Vrbas was born Sept. 30, 1946, in Colby, Kan., to James and Genevieve (Heble) Vrbas. He grew up in Atwood, Kan., where he attended Sacred Heart grade school and graduated from Atwood High School in 1964...

Virginia A. Myers May 30, 1925 - May 9, 2017 LINCOLN, Neb. — Virginia A. Myers, 91, of Lincoln, passed away Tuesday, May 9, 2017. She was born May 30, 1925, in Dawson, Neb., to Charley C. and Mary E. (Heim) Bilsing. She was a member of College View Seventh-day Adventist Church. She formerly lived in McCook, Neb., where she volunteered at McCook Senior Center. She and her husband lived on a farm south of Culbertson, Neb., for 37 years...

Leslie Bennett Stretch June 3, 1923 - May 13, 2017 HAMLET, Neb. — Leslie Bennett Stretch of Hamlet, Neb., passed away Saturday, May 13, 2017, at Broken Bow Care and Rehabilitation Center in Broken Bow, Neb. He was 93 years old. Leslie was born on June 3, 1923, in Hayes County north of Wauneta, on the family farm to parents Ira “Mart” and Flora (Bennett) Stretch. He graduated from Wauneta High School with the Class of 1942...

Betty L. Reichert June 24, 1937 - May 11, 2017 BENKELMAN, Neb. — Betty L. Reichert was born June 24, 1937, at Havelock, N.D., to Peter and Elizabeth(Wogh) Jung. Betty was the youngest of 12 children. As a young lady, she graduated from High School in New England, N.D.,, in 1957...

Randy C. Roberts Nov. 2, 1955 - May 14, 2017 OBERLIN, Kan. — Randy C. Roberts, 61, died Sunday (May 14, 2017), at his home in rural Oberlin. He was born Nov. 2, 1955, in Norton, Kan., to Bobby and Charlotte (Posson) Roberts. He attended Norton Community High School. He was a produce manager at Rayes Grocery in Oberlin...

Vesta Roth SELDEN, Kan. — Vesta Roth, 86, of Abilene, Kan., formerly of Rexford, Kan., died Tuesday (May 16 2017), at the Village Manor in Abilene. Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home in Selden, Kan.

Stanley Wayne Martin April 30, 1928 - May 3, 2017 PARKER, Colo. — Stan Martin was born into a family of railroaders in McCook, Neb., on April 30, 1928.  He was the son of Fred and Katie Martin and the youngest of eight brothers and sisters.   He started dating his future wife, Erna Coady Martin, in junior high and they danced their way through high school, while he played football and basketball for the Cardinals.  After graduating from Oxford High School, he worked for the CB&Q railroad.  Stan and Erna were married in Oxford, Neb., on Oct. ...

Donald Jack Lowry May 4, 1933 - May 19, 2017 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Donald Jack Lowry, age 84, formerly of Cambridge, passed away at the Good Samaritan Village / Perkins Pavilion on Friday, May 19, 2017. He was born in Winfield, Kan., on May 4, 1933, to Donald James and Mary Louise (Mullenix) Lowry. He grew up and graduated from Bell Plaines High School in Kan. in 1951...

Bruce Kim Donaldson Aug. 9, 1957 - May 13, 2017 MESA, Ariz. — Bruce Kim Donaldson, 59, of Mesa, was born on Aug. 9, 1957, in McCook, Neb., the son of Dr. J. Harold Donaldson Jr. and Evelyn Marie Donaldson. Sadly, he passed on May 13, 2017. Bruce will be well remembered for his free spirit, animated personality and love of music.  He graduated from McCook High School, attended the University of Kansas for music theory and composition, and graduated from DeVry Institute majoring in electronics.  Throughout his career, he played keyboards with various show bands across USA and entertained overseas troops for the U.S. ...

James L. Gaines OBERLIN, Kan. — James L. Gaines, 82, died Monday (May 22, 2017), at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Neb. Services are pending with Pauls Funeral Home in Oberlin.

Gary (Pete) Vernon Pedersen March 22, 1942 - April 10, 2017 GEORGETOWN, Texas — Gary (Pete) Vernon Pedersen, 75, of Georgetown, died on April 10, 2017, in Houston, Texas, at the home of his son. He was born on March 22, 1942, in Newark, N.J., to Wilfred Gerhardt Pedersen and Mattie Ethel (Hanke) Pedersen. He married Mary Inez (Prichard) on Dec. 19, 1963, at the Community Church in Gunnison, Colo...

Barbara J. “Barb” Dye July 1, 1946 - May 24, 2017 MITCHELL, Neb. — Barbara J “Barb” Dye, 70, of Mitchell, passed away Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at her home. Her funeral service will be Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at 2 p.m. at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff, Neb., with Rev. George Kilmer officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday at the chapel. A graveside service will be Wednesday, May 31, 2017, 2 p.m. (CST) at the Trenton Cemetery, Trenton, Neb...

Joshua Aaron Behnke Aug. 22, 1992 - May 21, 2017 KERNERSVILLE, N.C. — Lance Corporal Joshua Aaron Behnke, 24, passed away May 21, 2017. Graveside funeral services with Military honors celebrating his life will be Thursday, June 1, 2017, at Salisbury National Cemetery in Salisbury, N.C., at 1 p.m., officiated by Father Vince Smith...

Evelyn Taylor Tackels Jan. 22, 1922 - Feb. 7, 2017 HEMET, Calif. — Evelyn Taylor Tackels, 95, passed away Feb. 7, 2017, in Hemet. Evelyn Maria Axelson was born Jan. 22, 1922, in Oslo, Norway, to Amanda and Carl Axelson (a native of Stockholm, Sweden). ...

Norvin James Northrup Feb. 19, 1928 - May 19, 2017 ST. FRANCIS, Kan. — Norvin James Northrup, 89, died May 19, 2017, at St. Francis. He was born Feb. 19, 1928, in Cheyenne County, Kan. He married Donna Brown on, May 23, 1948. He was a farmer. Survivors include his wife, Donna; three children, six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchilden and two great-great-grandchildren...

Grace L. Reeves Oct. 25, 1914 - May 25, 2017 NORTON,Kan. — Grace L. Reeves, 102, died Thursday (May 25, 2017), at the Andbe Home in Norton. She was born Oct. 25, 1914, in Norcatur to Ora Gem and Nellie May (Dowling) Bell. She grew up in Norcatur and attended Norcatur High School and Decatur County High School. She married Leroy Eldon Eckhart and after his death, Neil Walter Reeves. She was a homemaker...

Granta M. Wach Jan. 19, 1924 - May 29, 2017 HAYES CENTER, Neb. — Granta Merle (Christensen) Wach of Hayes Center, entered into her heavenly home at the age of 93 on Monday, May 29, 2017, at Sunrise Heights in Wauneta, Neb. Granta, affectionately known as "Doll," was born on Jan. ...