Obituaries from December 2019

Edwin ‘Smiley’ Edward Raile Oct. 1, 1927 - Nov. 28, 2019 BIRD CITY, Kan. - Edwin ‘Smiley’ Edward Raile, 92, died Nov. 28, 2019, at his home in Bird City. He was born Oct. 1, 1927, in Cheyenne County, Kan. He was a farmer and real estate agent. Survivors include his wife, Wanda J. (Cawthron) Raile of Bird City; children, Pete (Kay) Raile of St. Francis; and brother, John (Debbie) Raile of Edson, Kan.; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren,...

F. Patrick Berry Sr. March 17, 1939 - Oct. 10, 2019 MAYWOOD, Neb. — F. Patrick Berry Sr., 80, died Oct. 10, 2019, in Aurora, Colo., of natural causes. He was born March 17, 1939, to John and Aileen (McCrohan) Berry in Raton, N.M. Pat’s early life was on a ranch on Johnson Mesa, northern N.M. The family moved to San Luis Valley, Colo., in 1945, to continue ranching. He attended school in the valley until his family moved to Albuquerque in 1952. He graduated fromValley High School in 1958...

Lorene Marie Phillips Nov. 14, 1933 - Dec. 5, 2019 KINGSLAND, Texas —Lorene Marie Phillips, 86, of Kingsland, passed away Dec. 5, 2019. She was born to Alvin and Mary (Sughroue) Rothmeyer on the family farm near Oberlin, Kan., on Nov. 14, 1933. Later the family moved to McCook, Neb., where Lorene graduated from high school in 1950...

Marvin Henry Helms Oct. 4, 1945 - Nov. 30, 2019 POWAY, Calif. — Marvin Henry Helms died Nov. 30, 2019, at Pomerado Hospital in Poway. Marvin was born Oct. 4, 1945, at North Platte, Neb., to Reinhold and Tillie (Jorgensen) Helms. He was baptized at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, North Platte, and was confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church, Arapahoe, Neb. The family lived at Curtis, Neb., moving to Orland, Calif., in 1946. They then moved to Arapahoe in 1950...

Margie Maxine Mathias May 14, 1924 - Dec. 10, 2019 McCOOK, Neb. — Margie Maxine Mathias, 95, of McCook, died Tuesday (Dec. 10, 2019), at Hillcrest Nursing Home. In keeping with her wishes, she will be cremated and a memorial service will in the spring...

Justin Todd Black Sept. 24, 1980 - Dec. 7, 2019 BIRD CITY, Kan. — Justin Todd Black, 39, of Bird City, died Saturday (Dec. 7, 2019), at Philedelpjia Pa. He was born Sept. 24, 1980, in Punxsutawney, Pa. He was a manager at Harness Wiring Co. Survivors include his wife, Cristen Black of Bird City and brothers, Brian and wife, Dana Black and Adam and wife, Kelly Black...

Jeri Hoxsey Aug. 15, 1934 - Dec. 9, 2019 WOODWARD, Okla. — Jeri Hoxsey, 85, of Woodward, died Monday, Dec. 9, 2019. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 13, 2019, in the First Christian Church. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery with the Billings Funeral Home in charge of arrangements...

Betty Lou Roper McCOOK, Neb. — Betty Lou Roper, 79, of McCook, died Tuesday (Dec. 10, 2019) in Kearney, Neb. A memorial service will take place at a later date. Online condolences can be left at www.carpenterbreland.com. Carpenter Breland Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements...

Mildred Jane Farr June 30, 1922 - Dec. 12, 2019 KEARNEY, Neb. — Mildred Jane Farr, age 97, of Kearney, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, at St. Luke’s Nursing Home in Kearney. Mildred was born to parents, Orva and Josephine (Heitmann) Trosper, on June 30, 1922, on a farm south of Cambridge, Neb., and grew up the third of 13 children. ...

Francis Eugene “Gene” Liggett Feb. 19, 1920 ~ Nov. 27, 2019 VANCOUVER, Wash. — Francis Eugene “Gene” Liggett was born Feb. 19, 1920, in Almena, Kan. Gene grew up on ranches around Flagler, Colo., and Shelton, Neb. He graduated from Shelton High School in 1938 and the University of Nebraska in Jan. ...

Robert Thomas Berkheimer Feb. 18, 1937 - Dec. 11, 2019 OBERLIN, Kan. — Robert Thomas Berkheimer, 82, died Wednesday (Dec. 11, 2019), in Oberlin. He was born Feb. 18, 1937, in Miller, Neb., to Lee Cloyce (Jim) and Jennie Elnore Boyd Berkheimer. He married Yukiko Segawa on Nov. 18, 1959, in Naha, Okinawa, Japan...

Darlene Joyce Burr Feb. 16, 1933 - Dec. 13, 2019 BIRD CITY, Kan. — Darlene Joyce Burr, 86, diedFriday (Dec. 13, 2019), at Fort Morgan, Colo. She was born Feb. 16, 1933, in Guide Rock, Neb. She was a homemaker. She was preceeded in death by her husband, Wiliam Burr; and son, Richard Burr...

Robert Dean “Bob” Kitt March 13, 1934 - Dec. 17, 2019 WAUNETA, Neb. — Robert Dean Kitt was born March 13, 1934, to Kenneth V. and Erma (Lorance) Kitt in rural Chase County, Neb. Bob married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Ann Newman, on Oct. 12, 1952, and the couple began the dream of owning their own farm and raising a family...

Brent R. Liesemeyer May 5, 1958 - Sept. 24, 2019 KAILUA, Hawaii — Brent R. Liesemeyer, 61, of Kailua, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Baltimore, Md., after a long and brave battle with leukemia. He was born in Lincoln, Neb., on May 5, 1958. ...

Lester “Lee” Joe Loker Sept. 1, 1950 - Dec. 17, 2019 MCDONALD, Kan. — Lester Lee Joe Loker, 69, of McDonald, died Tuesday (Dec. 17, 2019), at Boulder, Colo. He was born Sept. 1, 1950, in Stratton, Neb. Survivors include his wife, Tish Loker of McDonald; children, Sheila (Todd) Konitzer of Overland Park, Kan.; brothers, Gary Loker, J.B. Loker of McDonald and Brad Loker of Parks, Neb; sister, Lila Howard of McDonald; four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren...

Betty Jean Brauer Sept. 16, 1929 - Dec. 14, 2019 WESTMINSTER, Colo. — Betty Jean Brauer, 90, of Westminster, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, at the Denver Hospice inpatient care center. She was born Sept. 16, 1929, in Nebraska, the daughter of Arthur and Gladys (Branscomb) Burton. Betty married Harold Brauer on June 4, 1947, and together they shared 65 years of marriage, until Harold’s passing in 2013...

Kenneth E. Meissner Nov. 12, 1942 - Dec. 15, 2019 COZAD, Neb. — Kenneth E. Meissner of Cozad passed away Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, at the Cozad Community Hospital at the age of 77. He was born Nov. 12, 1942, in rural Frontier County, Neb., to Leo and June (Carroll) Meissner. Kenneth graduated from Maywood High School and worked numerous jobs in the McCook, Neb., area...

Keith Levoy Anthony Nov. 8, 1937 - Dec. 19, 2019 ATWOOD, Kan. — Keith Levoy Anthony, 82, died Thursday (Dec. 19, 2019), at the Good Samaritan Society of Atwood. He was born Nov. 8, 1937, in Lyle, Kan., to George and Ruth (Brunk) Anthony. He graduated in 1955 from Decatur County High School and from McCook Junior College in 1957. He worked at AT&T in Houston, Texas, and then owned Keith’s Market in Norcatur, Kan...

Gerald Eugene Disney Jan. 28,1940 - Dec. 17, 2019 McCOOK, Neb. — Gerald Eugene Disney, age 79, of McCook, formerly of Arapahoe, Neb., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, at the Kearney Regional Hospital in Kearney, Neb. He was born on Jan. 28, 1940, on a farm four miles west of Hendley, Neb., to Raymond E. and Edith E. (Hokanson) Disney...

Lois Marie Berends Oct. 14, 1931 - Dec. 21, 2019 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Lois Marie Berends passed away at the age of 88 on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, at C.A Mues Good Samaritan Center in Arapahoe. Lois was born on Oct. 14, 1931, at Everly, Iowa, to parents, Ernest and Irene (Snell) Mohni. On March 10, 1951, she was united in marriage to Leslie Everett Berends at Ocheyedan, Iowa. To this union three children were born...

Harlan E. Drain Sept. 20, 1936 - Dec. 24, 2019 SIDNEY, Neb. — Harlan E. Drain, 83, of Sidney and formerly of Benkelman, Neb., passed away at home on Dec. 24, 2019. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 30, 2019, in the St. Joesph’s Catholic Church in Benkelman, with Father Matthew Eickhoff officiating...

Donalee O. “Sonny” Wilson April 25, 1932 - Dec. 21, 2019 CAMBRIDGE, Neb. — Donalee O. “Sonny” Wilson, age 87, of Cambridge, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, at the Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge. He was born April 25, 1932, at Wilsonville, Neb., to Harry and Margaret (Eliker) Wilson...

Marjorie May ten Bensel May 21, 1925, - Dec. 24, 2019 ARAPAHOE, Neb. — Marjorie May ten Bensel (Huxoll), 94, of Arapahoe, died Tuesday (Dec. 24, 2019), at the Assisted Living Center at the Seward Memorial Hospital in Seward, Neb. She was born on May 21, 1925, on a farm northwest of Arapahoe to Frederick and Laura Louise (Koeteman) Huxoll. She married Clarence “Joe” ten Bensel at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church on Sept. 8, 1947. She and her husband owned Joe’s Package Store...

Linda S. (Carskadon) Schutte Aug. 3, 1948 - Dec. 26, 2019 MALCOLM, Neb. — Linda S. (Carskadon) Schutte, 71, of Malcolm, died Thursday (Dec. 26, 2019). She born Aug. 3, 1948, to Ihling L. (Brick) and Selma C. Carskadon. She graduated from Arapahoe High School in 1966 and from Kearney State College in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education. She taught in Cozad and was a substitute teacher. She worked at the Veterans Administration until 2011...

Bob Kutz March 17, 1931 - Dec. 27, 2019 GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Robert Dale Kutz, 88, of the Kuester Lake community near Grand Island, died at home on Friday, Dec. 27, 2019. A memorial service will be at All Faiths Funeral Home in Grand Island on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, at 11 a.m., with a luncheon to follow...

Mary Jean Steward Oct. 7, 1940 - Dec. 17, 2019 WESLACO.Texas – Mary Jean Steward, 79, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019, at Knapp Medical Center in Weslaco. Mary Jean was born Oct. 7, 1940, in Van Nuys, Calif., to Louis J. and Pearl (Sonnenburg) Krajewski. ...

David L. Lykins Oct. 22, 1944 - Dec. 29, 2019 TRENTON, Neb. — David L. Lykins of Trenton passed away Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, at Community Hospital in McCook, Neb. He was 75 years old. David was born on Oct. 22, 1944, in Blythe, Calif., to parents, Monta Ray and Frances (Mason) Lykins. He served in the United States Army until his honorable discharge...