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Pansy Lowery Branstetter
Pansy Lowery Branstetter, 85, of Garfield, died Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2000, at her home. She was born July 7, 1915, in DeWitt to Tilly and Nellie Elizabeth Upson Lowery.
She married
Heber Conway Branstetter on April 11, 1936, in DeWitt. She worked for the U.S. Postal Service in Little Rock as a rural route carrier. While living in Little Rock, she and her husband became involved in the foster children program and, over the years, opened their home to more than 40 foster children.
She later moved to El Cajon, Calif., where she was a housekeeper for the head of Groffmont School District and the nursery of the church she attended.
In 1993, she moved to Garfield. She was a volunteer for Garfield Elementary School from 1993 to 1995. She shared a home in Garfield with her granddaughter, Lynnita Cudmore, and her husband, Ronald Cudmore. She was a member of Garfield First Baptist Church and a leader of AWANAs.
She was preceded in death by a son, Roy Wirt Branstetter; a granddaughter, Terry Crudgington; two brothers, Tilly Lowery and Frank Majestic Lowery; and a sister, Nell Lucille Guthrie.
Survivors include her husband, Heber Conway Branstetter of Marksville, La.; three daughters, Nita Oliver of Bryant, Marion Lowrey Parker of Bella Vista, and Lynn Rhinehart of Gutine, Texas; two sisters, Ruth Turner and Juanita Cox, both of El Cajon, Calif.; 10 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation was from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at Garfield First Baptist Church. Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, at Garfield First Baptist Church with the Rev. Benny Thompson officiating. Burial was at Ruddick cemetery in Garfield, with arrangements by Sisco Funeral Home of Pea Ridge.
Memorials may be made to the Garfield First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 59, Garfield, Ark. (72732).
Albert A. DeMott
Albert A. DeMott, 88, of Bella Vista, died Nov. 8, 2000, at Bates Medical Center in Bentonville. He was born July 29, 1912, in Hopkins, Mo., to John William and Bertha DeMott.
He married
Lucille Lett in Cameron, Mo., on March 17, 1934. They moved to Bella Vista in 1977 from Bedford, Iowa.
He was a retired farmer and breeder of registered angus cattle. He was a board member of Nodaway Worth Rural Electric Association of Missouri and Iowa for 27 years, and on the board of the Northwest Electric Association in Cameron for 10 years.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Bella Vista, the Men’s 18-Hole Golf Association, the Men’s 9-Hole Golf Association and the Bella Vista Sand Hogs. He was an avid bridge player.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Lucille; a daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Robert Webb of Bella Vista; two sons, Lanny DeMott and wife Jan of Bedford, and Steve DeMott and wife Karen of Hot Springs; a sister, Peggy Rolfe of Fort Worth, Texas; 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, a number of nieces and nephews.
Memorial services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at Wray United Methodist Church in Hopkins, Mo., with the Rev. Harrell Guard of Bella Vista and the Rev. Susan Noakes of Hopkins officiating.
Memorials may be made to Hopkins (Mo.) cemetery; or to Benton County Sunshine School, 2309 Moberly Lane, Bentonville, Ark. (72712).
Jim Ferch
Jim Ferch, 77, of Bella Vista, died Thursday, Nov. 9, 2000, at a cancer treatment center in Oklahoma. He was born Jan. 23, 1923, in Independence, Wis., to the Rev. Henry and Ella Nienas Ferch of Ripon, Wis.
He graduated from Menomonee Falls (Wis.) High School in 1941. He served in the 391st Anti-Aircraft Battalion in World War II in England and France. In 1949, he graduated from North Central College in Naperville, Ill.
He married
Shirley Hofmann on Aug. 20, 1949. The couple moved to Cropsey, Ill., where he taught science and math at Cropsey High School and Fairbury High School. He received a master’s degree from Colorado State College at Greeley. He did post-master’s work in administration at Northern Illinois University and at Northwestern University.
He and his wife moved to Deerfield, Ill., where he taught junior high school science for two years and was an elementary school principal for 23 years. The couple moved to Libertyville in 1967. He retired in 1983 and worked as head custodian at the United Methodist Church for three years.
In Crospey, he taught a young adult Sunday school class and sang in the choir. While in Deerfield, he was a member of the Pastor’s Parish Committee and was chairman when the EUB and Methodist churches in Deerfield merged into one. He sang in the choir, was co-sponsor of the youth group, and was active in the young adult group.
At the Libertyville church, he served on the Board of Trustees, the Pastor’s Parish Committee, the Conference Certification Board and the Maintenance Board. He taught an adult Sunday school class, was a conference delegate and was a conference representative for the Rainbow Mission Group.
He and his wife moved to Bella Vista in 1987. He was a member of Friends of the Library for six years and served as president for four years. At church, he taught Disciple I, Disciple II and Disciple III Bible classes.
He administered the Men’s 9-Hole Golf Group for six years and served on the Administrative Board and Education Committee. As a Stephen Minister, he organized a widowers support group that included members from other churches.
Survivors include two daughters, the Rev. Debby White of Sheldon, Ill., and Priscilla Gallagher of Chicago; a son, Christopher Ferch of Ingleside, Ill.; and six grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 16, at Bella Vista First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Larry Williams and the Rev. Wayne Bartruff officiating.
Arrangements are by Nick Reynolds Funeral Service of Tulsa, Okla.
Memorials may be made to the music department of the First United Methodist Church of Bella Vista.
Robert Joseph Kramer
Robert Joseph Kramer, 42, of Bella Vista, died Friday, Nov. 10, 2000, at his home. He was born Feb. 28, 1958, in Milwaukee, to William R. and Patricia L. Kramer.
He moved to Bella Vista three years ago from Waukesha, Wis. He was a 1980 graduate of Northwestern University at Evanston, Ill.
He was a systems consultant for Keane Inc., formerly G.E. Medical Systems, for 12 years. He enjoyed billiards, golf, fishing and hunting.
Survivors include his parents, William R. and Patricia L. Kramer of Bella Vista; his paternal grandmother, Emma L. Kramer of Elcho, Wis.; two daughters, Jessica L. Kramer and Michelle A. Kramer, both of Sheboygan, Wis.; a brother, William F. Kramer of Waukesha; three sisters, Andrea L. Brew of Richmond, Va., Jeanette M. Bjerke of Waukesha and Patricia L. Koscinski of Big Bend, Wis.; a niece and three nephews.
Visitation was from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, at Bella Vista Funeral Home and Crematory. Rosary was said at 7 p.m.
A memorial Mass was celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 14, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Bella Vista with the Rev. Father Joseph J. Enderlin officiating.
Memorials may be made to Washington Regional Hospice, 4241 Gabel Drive, Fayetteville, Ark. (72703); or to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 6350 N. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (33309).
Gary Lea McDonald
Gary Lea McDonald, 60, of Bella Vista, died Monday, Nov. 6, 2000, at St. Mary 's Hospital in Rogers. He was born Sept. 11, 1940, in Somner, Mo., to Sylvan and Helen Geren McDonald.
He had lived in the area for nine years. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Vietnam. He was a retired civil engineer for the U.S. government and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.
Survivors include his wife, Carol McDonald; his mother, Helen Celestine Geren; two brothers, Sylvan G. McDonald Jr. of Birmingham, Ala., and Neil Geren McDonald of San Leandro, Calif.; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10, at Burns Funeral Home in Bentonville with the Rev. Paul Bokker officiating.
Harold Hunter Shores
Harold Hunter Shores, 93, of Bentonville, died Sunday, Nov. 5, 2000, at Beverly Health Care in Rogers. He was born July 23, 1907, in the Morning Star community, to Jeptha Montolvin and Effie May Woodruff Shores.
He was a farmer, and had worked on the Beaver Lake Dam site from the beginning to its completion in 1965. He retired from Ralston Purina in 1972.
He was a member of Bella Vista Church of Christ. He served in the U.S. Army from 1940 to 1945, and was discharged from the military as a T-4 sergeant.
For the past 15 years, he had lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Jane E. and Rodney Harmon of Bentonville.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Wyman Shores, in March 1985.
Survivors include a son, H. Wyman Shores of Pittsfield, Mass.; a daughter, Jane E. Harmon of the home; two brothers, John Shores of Coolidge, Ariz., and Herbert Shores of Alma; a sister, Geneva Smith of Winslow, Ariz.; two grandchildren, Lindsey Harmon and Trent Harmon, both of Bentonville; an honorary grandchild and a great niece.
He had made a decision several years ago to donate his body to The University of Arkansas Department of Science in Little Rock.
Arrangements are by Burns Funeral Home of Bentonville.
Memorials may be made to Bella Vista Church of Christ.
Audrey J. Smith
Audrey J. Smith, 92, of Gravette, died Friday, Nov. 10, 2000, at Gravette Manor Nursing Home. She was born Nov. 13, 1907, in Baileyville, Kan., to Samuel Lindon and Bertha Marshell Harper.
She moved to the Hiwasse area from Emporia, Kan., in 1960. She worked at Rex Drugstore in Emporia before she moved to Arkansas.
She married
Elmer George Smith on Jan. 14, 1925. She was a member of First Christian Church of Hiwasse and First Christian Church of Hiwasse Women 's Club. She enjoyed reading and crocheting.
She was preceded in death by her husband, two sons and a brother.
She is survived by a son, Norwood Smith of Hiwasse; two daughters-in-law, Ann Smith of Gentry and Betty Smith of Bentonville; four grandsons, Gary and Terry Smith, both of Gentry, Scott Smith of Tulsa, Okla., and Kirk Smith of Arizona; four granddaughters, Mary Hankins of Siloam Springs, Sherry Gibbs of Hiwatha, Kan., Karie Roberson and Cherie Smith, both of Gentry.
Visitation was from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, at the Callison-Lough Funeral Service chapel in Gravette. Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, at the Callison-Lough chapel. Burial was at Mt. Pleasant cemetery near Hiwasse.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Callison-Lough Funeral Service.
Florence W. Boman
Florence W. Boman, 73, of Lincoln, Neb., and formerly of Bella Vista, died Feb. 4, 2001. She was born Aug. 25, 1927, to John and Myrtle Hoffman Fox in Yankton, S.D.
She and her husband, Charles Boman, lived in Bella Vista from 1996 to 2000.
She was preceded in death by a son, Jack; a brother, Gerald Fox; and three sisters, Ruby Fox, Virginia Hansen and Ethel Turner.
Survivors include her husband, Charles Boman of Lincoln; three sons, the Rev. James Tiegs of Omaha, Neb., Robert Tiegs and Thomas Tiegs, both of Lincoln; stepchildren Reg Boman of Phoenix, Ariz., Steve Boman of Walla Walla, Wash., Ron Boman of Los Angeles and Melanie Boman of Highland, Calif.; brother and sister-in-law Robert and Donna Fox of Sioux City, Iowa; sister and brother-in-law Dorothy and E.G. Chytka of Lakewood, Calif.; sister and brother-in-law Jean and Darold Holmes of Independence, Mo.; her sister, Sister Jacqueline Fox of Canon City, Colo.; numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Wake service was at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation was from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Feb. 6 at the funeral home. Memorial Mass was at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, at New Cassel Center Chapel in Omaha with the Rev. James Tiegs officiating. Private interment was at Lincoln Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to the family, in care of Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S. 14th St., Lincoln, Neb. (68512).
Nina Jean ‘Clock’ Erickson
Nina Jean “Clock” Erickson died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2001, in Bentonville, after an extended illness. She was born Oct. 24, 1928, in Detroit, Mich., to Andrew L. and Ruby D. Houber.
She became an accomplished saxophonist while still in her adolescent years. She graduated from Cooley High School in Detroit in 1945. Immediately upon graduation, she traveled across the country with her own all-girl band, eventually settling in California. She continued her musical entertainment career full-time, appearing on the Steve Allen Show, as well as other venues.
She traveled to Alaska in 1961 to work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a draftsman, at the same time continuing her musical career with an all-girl trio. While in Alaska she met her husband, Verne Erickson.
In 1975 she and her husband retired to the Crow’s Nest on Beaver Lake in Benton County, Ark. Her music career continued with The Nina Clock Quartet, and she was a driving force in the Bella Vista Big Band and the Bella Vista Community Band. She played for two presidential inaugural balls.
She was a member of Village Art Club, Bates Fine Arts Council, Rogers Art Guild, the Detroit Federation of Musicians, Anchorage Elks Lodge and Bella Vista First United Methodist Church. She enjoyed music and oil painting.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Verne Erickson, in 1985.
She is survived by several out-of-state cousins and numerous friends.
A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, at Bella Vista First United Methodist Church.
Memorials may be made to Bella Vista First United Methodist Church.
Cremation arrangements are by Callison-Lough Funer Service of Rogers.
Gertrude Louise Ewing
Gertrude Louise Ewing, 75, of Rogers, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rogers. She was born June 16, 1925, in Monte Ne, to William “Bill” James and Ella Marie Andrews Rich.
She married
Frank Seth Ewin on Nov. 18, 1942, in Oklahoma City, Okla. She was a homemaker and former cook at Phillips 66 Truckstop in Guymon, Okla.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Seth Ewing, in 1981; two sons, Sandy Ewing in 1988 and Billy Ewing in 1986; two brothers; four sisters; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Survivors include 12 children, Ella Baldonado of Boise City, Okla., Tena Baldonado of Rogers, Jessie Dillon of Lamar, Colo., Sue Hogan of Rogers, Frank Ewing of Hindsville, Ga., James Ewing of Ponca City, Okla., Doris Oxford of Rogers, Joyce Williams of Wichita, Kan., Alice Rich of Bella Vista, Gary Ewing of Monte Ne, Mike Ewing of Decatur and Twila Oxford of Brightwater; three stepchildren, Racheal Maltbie of Gravette, Ida Williams and Lendal Ewing, both of Oklahoma; 47 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren.
Visitation was from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, at Burns Funeral Home in Rogers. Graveside services were at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 14, at McDaniel cemetery in Rogers with the Rev. Larry Morrison officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Ronald McDonald House.
Miller C. ‘Bud’ Ickes
Miller C. “Bud” Ickes, 78, of Bella Vista, died Friday, Feb. 9, 2001, at Bates Medical Center in Bentonville. He was born Aug. 7, 1922, in Junction City, Kan., to Miller C. Sr. and Anna Hausermann Ickes.
He was baptized in 1923 in the First Methodist Church of Junction City. He graduated from Junction City High School in 1940.
He served as a combat engineer in the U.S. Army during World War II, and was in the Battle of the Bulge. He retired after 41 years with Union Pacific Railroad, where he was a locomotive machinist foreman.
He was a member of Masonic Lodge No. 32 of North Platte, Neb.; a member of the Union Pacific Oldtimers; a member of the American Legion of North Platte; and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association.
He moved from North Platte to Bella Vista in 1983, where he became a member of Bella Vista Gun Club. He enjoyed metalworking and woodworking, fishing, hunting and re-loading ammunition.
He was preceded in death by a sister.
Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Mildred Ickes; two sons, Richard J. Stacy of Kearney, Neb., and Larry C. Stacy Sr. of North Platte; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorial visitation for friends was from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the Ickes residence. Graveside funeral services will be held at a later date in Fort McPherson National cemetery in Maxwell, Neb.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Cremation arrangements are by Stockdale Funeral Services of Bentonville.
