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Bertha Friesen
Henderson resident, 89
Bertha E. Friesen, 89, widow of Klaus H. Friesen of Henderson, died early on Tuesday morning, Nov. 28, 2000, at the Henderson Care Center in Henderson.
She was born on Nov. 22, 1911, on a farm southeast of Henderson to David P. and Helena (Epp) Mierau. She graduated from Henderson High School in 1929 and then attended York College in York.
She was united in marriage to Klaus H. Friesen on Jan. 21, 1934, at her parents' farm home near Henderson. She and her husband farmed near Henderson all their lives. Klaus died on July 27, 1978. Bertha continued to live on the farm place until moving into the Henderson Care Center six years ago.
In prior years Bertha was very active in the Henderson Hospital Auxiliary, and was a member of the Community Bible Church at Lushton, where she was active in many organizations within the church. Her favorite activities included reading and writing letters and sending cards to her children and grandchildren on their birthdays and at Christmas time.
Survivors include nine children: Marjorie (and her husband, Harvey) Smith of Henderson, Evelyn (and her husband, Charles) Duerksen of Freeman, S.D., Milford (and his wife, Jean) Friesen of Douglas, Neb., Leroy (and his wife, Donna) Friesen of Menno, S.D, James (and his wife, Peggy) Friesen of Loup City, Neb., Arlyn (and his wife, Rosemary) Friesen of Mason City, Neb., Vernon (and his wife, Clarice) Friesen of Henderson, Beverly (and her husband, William) Brown of Cairo, Neb., and Eleanor (and her husband, John) Pauls of Sutton; 34 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
Bertha was preceded in death by her parents, David P. and Helena (Epp) Mierau, her husband (Klaus H. Friesen on July 27, 1978), three brothers (Gustav, Harry, and Rudolph), and two sisters (Edith and Helen).
Graveside Committal Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2000, at the E.M.B. cemetery southeast of Henderson followed by a Memorial Service at 11 a.m. at the Community Bible Church in Lushton. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until 8: 30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and on Saturday from 8: 30 a.m. until 9: 45 a.m. at the Lewis Funeral Chapel in Henderson. The family will greet friends and family from 7 p.m. to 8: 30 p.m. on Friday evening at the Funeral Chapel. Memorials may be made in care of Gideon's International. Lewis Funeral Chapel of Henderson is in charge of arrangements.
Rita Hruska
Rita J. Hruska, 65, of Ulysses died Sunday, Sept. 24, 2000.
She was born in Polk County on Nov. 22, 1934, to Edward J., Sr., and Lucile (Farmer) Rolene. She graduated from Ulysses High School in 1952, and taught in rural schools near Dwight and Ulysses. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ulysses where she was church organist and a member of the Altar Society. She served on the Ulysses Township Board, was a member of the Juvenile Diabetes Association, taught quilting classes and was a member of the State Quilters Guild, Blue Valley Quilters Guild in Seward, The Quilters in Shelby, Calico Quilt Club in Columbus and Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
She was survived by her husband, Ron Hruska, Sr.; sons Ron (Robin) of Lincoln, Mark (Janet) of Ulysses, Chris (Connie) of Blue Springs, Mo., Philip of New York, N.Y., Andy of Omaha, Joe (Diane) of Ulysses, Matthew (Denise) of Belmond, Iowa; daughters, Mary Hruska of Omaha, Ann (Joe) Giebler of Omaha, Jane (Dean) Baumert of Omaha, Joan (Jeff) Kisling of Lebanon, Ohio, Janice (Rob) Krohn of Boulder, Colo., Rita Mae Hruska of Omaha; 25 grandchildren; six sisters; and two brothers.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
A Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m., Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Ulysses with Father Val Bartek as celebrant and Father John Sullivan as homilist. Burial will be in Immaculate Conception Catholic cemetery in Ulysses.
Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until 4: 30 p.m., on Wednesday, Sept. 27, at Wood-Zabka Funeral Home in Seward and one hour prior to funeral mass on Thursday.
A Rosary prayer service will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Ulysses.
Memorials can be made to the donor's choice in care of the Hruska family.
Wayne Behnken
Wayne Behnken, 80, of Columbus died Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2000, at Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus.
Funeral services will be held at Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 10: 30 a.m., with the Rev. Michael Klatt and the Rev. Steve Williams officiating. Interment will be at the Greenwood cemetery at York, at 2: 30 p.m., Thursday.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 27, at Gass Haney Funeral Home in Columbus and from 9: 30 to 10: 30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at Peace Lutheran Church. A family prayer service will be at 10: 15 a.m., Thursday, at the church.
Wilmer Hamilton
Kearney resident, 76
Wilmer J. Hamilton, 76, of Kearney, died Monday, July 2, 2001, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
He was born Jan. 1, 1925, in Grand Island to Jesse and Grace (Ring) Hamilton. He grew up in Grand Island and graduated from Grand Island Senior High School in 1943. He entered the U.S. Army in 1943 during Word War II where he served until 1946. He served in the U.S. Army Reserve and was called to duty in 1961.
After the service he returned to Grand Island and worked for Consumer Public Power, which later became Nebraska Public Power. On April 17, 1955, he married
Betty Jane Gustin in Grand Island. They lived in Grand Island, Ravenna, and Kearney until moving to York in 1972. He retired 1989. He moved back to Kearney in 1993 and worked part time as a meter reader for Nebraska Public Power.
He was a member of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Kearney, American Legion Post #19 of York, V.F.W. Post 759 of Kearney and United Commercial Travelers.
He was a member of Buffalo Lodge #38 of the I.O.O.F. in Kearney and was a past Grand Master of Kearney Lodge, past Grand Patriarch of the Grand Encampment of Nebraska, past Department Commander of the Patriarchs Militant of Nebraska and General Commanding Retired of the General Military Council I.O.O.F. of the World. He was also a member of the Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans in North Platte and Naomi Rebekah Lodge #12 of Kearney.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Jane Hamilton of Kearney.
He was preceded in death by one sister in infancy.
Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, July 6, at 9: 30 a.m. at the Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary in Kearney. Graveside services with military rites provided by the North Platte Veterans Group will be at Fort McPherson National cemetery at Maxwell. Visitation is planned Thursday from 4 to 8: 30 p.m. and prior to services at the Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary. Memorials are suggested to Buffalo Lodge #38 of I.O.O.F. or Good Samaritan Hospital Paramedics.
Gary Gassman
Texas resident, 56
Gary R. Gassman, 56, a York native and longtime Dallas, Texas, resident, died Wednesday, April 18, 2001 at Dallas. Services are pending at Metz Mortuary in York.
DeWayne P. Cavender
DeWayne P. Cavender, 81, of York, died Wednesday, April 12, 2000 in York. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, at Metz Chapel in York.
Roger K. Heers
Roger K. Heers, 76, of York, died Wednesday, April 12, 2000 at Lincoln. Services are pending at Metz Mortuary in York.
Max Meradith
York resident, 78
Max Meradith, 78, of York died Sunday, March 24, 2002, in Lincoln after a short illness.
He was born Aug. 18, 1923. After graduating from York High School, Max married
the love of his life, the former Laurene Kaspari on Aug. 16, 1949, at York. A lifelong farmer, he lived and worked on the land he was born on, raising crops, cattle, and four boys. He also ran a Grade A dairy farm until 1975. At this point, after 25 years of marriage, he sold the dairy, giving him more time to travel with his wife, while continuing to farm and raise beef.
Max and Laurene loved to dance and loved their many friends and family members. Later in his career, he was involved in the creation and development of Meradith Pumpkin Farms.
Max is survived by his wife of 52 years, Laurene; four sons, Steve and Cathy of Lincoln, Stan and Regina of Tampa, Fla., Eddie of Boston and Scott and Colleen of Lincoln; five beautiful grandchildren; sisters, Merna Bailey of McCool Junction, Jean Rouch of Beaver Lake, Neb., and Maxine and Marvin Stahr of Lincoln; and sister-in-law, Edna Meradith of York.
Max was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Mamie Meradith, and brother, Jay Meradith.
Services will be held at 10: 30 a.m., Wednesday, March 27, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in York. Rosary services will be at 7: 30 p.m., Tuesday, at Metz Chapel in York. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Memorials may be sent in care of the family. Metz Mortuary of York is in charge of arrangements.
Richard M. Mace
Arkansas resident, 74
Richard M. Mace, 74, of Conway, Ark., died Thursday, March 21, 2002, at Conway Regional Medical Center.
He was born Nov. 5, 1927, in Omaha, the son of Rolla M. Mace and Evylin Parker Robinson Mace. He worked in construction and was an Army veteran.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia Anderson Mace; a daughter, Meta Burgess; a sister, Gladys Kanter; and two grandchildren.
He is survived by two sons, Jack Mace of Conway and Robert Mace of Enola; two daughters, Pam Smith and Marie Owens, both of Conway; a brother, Harold Mace of Central City; ten grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Round Mountain cemetery with Scott Hairston officiating. A procession to the cemetery will leave Roller-McNutt Funeral Home of Conway, Ark., at 1: 30 p.m. Visitation is Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home. The family will gather at the home of Tommy and Marie Owens.
Harold Potter
Bridgeport resident, 72
Harold Keith Potter, 72, of Bridgeport, formerly of York, died Saturday, Feb. 10, 2001, in Bridgeport. He was born March 30, 1928, in Hershey to Edwin Homer and Lena E. (Huebner) Potter.
He attended Huebner Grade School District 26 and graduated from Hershey High School in 1946. Harold served in the U. S. Army during the Korean War receiving his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood and advanced training at Fort Belvoit, Va. He was stationed at Thule Greenland and helped build the air base there.
He married
Maxine Ludwick on June 30, 1957, in York. They lived in York where he began working for Ludwick Well Service. Harold purchased the business in 1975 and operated it until 1991 when he retired. Maxine preceded him in death in 1997 and he married
Helena Cox on Sept. 5, 1998, in Bridgeport. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
He is survived by his wife, Helena of Bridgeport; sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Linda Potter of Lincoln, Gary and Jenny Potter of York and Joel and special friend Amy Weiss, both of Lincoln; brother and sister-in-law, Gordon and Elizabeth Potter of Greeley, Colo.; step-children and their spouses, Karl and Jacque Cox of Amarillo, Texas, John and Mary Cox of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Karen and Bob Miller of Bridgeport; grandchildren, Rani Potter of Lincoln, Katrina, Stephannie, Nicole and Alexander Potter of York. He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife.
Funeral services were held this morning (Wednesday, Feb. 14) at the First Presbyterian Church in York with the Rev. Harry Brown officiating. Burial was in the Greenwood cemetery at York with military honors. Memorials are suggested to Prairie Haven Hospice in Scottsbluff or to the church. Metz Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
Dale D. Awtry
Dale D. Awtry, 77, of Ogallala died Jan. 15, 2002, at Columbus Community Hospital in Columbus.
He was born on April 21, 1924, at Stockville, Neb., to Oliver and Lydia Gifford Awtry. He attended school at Stockville and was a member of the Stockville High School class of 1943.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1945 with the 208th Engineering Construction Battalion. He saw action in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe. He was wounded in action and was awarded the Purple Heart and the Good Conduct Medal.
Dale married
Norma Thomsen on April 1, 1946, in Oberlin, Kan. He enrolled in the electrical department at Milford Trade School, and graduated in 1947. He was employed with several electrical contractors in York from 1947 to 1951.
He began work for Consumers Public Power District in 1951 and worked for Consumers and Nebraska Public Power District for 37 years in a variety of jobs. During this time he and his family lived in Superior, York and Exeter before moving to Ogallala in 1969. Dale retired from NPPD in 1987.
He was active in the church, the Oddfellows, RSVP, Meals on Wheels, and many other volunteer organizations.
After suffering a stroke in 1998, Dale resided at Indian Hills Manor in Ogallala. He moved to Columbus in 2001 to be near family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Norma; sister, Beulah; and brothers, Wayne and Gerald.
Survivors include sons Lonnie (Eva) Awtry of Grand Island, Donald (Jade) of Vallejo, Calif., and Philip (Tammie) of Columbus.
Following cremation, there will be a memorial service on Monday, Jan. 21, at 10 a.m. at the First Congregational, United Church of Christ in Ogallala with the Rev. Eric Wait officiating. Memorials have been established in his memory or they can be given to the donor's choice. Inurnment will be in Fort McPherson National cemetery at a later date. Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.
Alverta F. Petersen
Seward resident, 83
Alverta F. Petersen, 83, of Seward died March 26, 2002.
She was born on Oct. 23, 1918. Alverta was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Cordova and was a long-time waitress at Corner Cafe in Seward.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin; parents; granddaughter, Renee Flaherty; great-grandchildren, Geoffrey, Amanda and Logan Flaherty; and two brothers, Vernon and Rupert Wellman.
Survivors include her daughters and son-in-law, Melva Jean Elmore of Tacoma, Wash., Karen Kay and Tom Ashburn of Oro Valley, Ariz.; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Lydia Eley of Lincoln, Lorraine Delhay of Senora, Calif., Leona Wellman of Lincoln, Irene Wellman of York; nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from noon to 8: 30 p.m. on Friday, March 29, at Wood-Zabka Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 30, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Cordova with the Rev. Arnold H. Jurchen officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood cemetery in Seward. Memorials may be made to the donor's choice in care of the family.
Margie Lollich
Arizona resident, 75
Margie Holdeman Lollich, 75, of Scottsdale, Ariz., died Friday, March 2, 2001, at Scottsdale.
She was born May 8, 1925, at York to George H. and Jean (Butter) Holdeman. She was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority at the University of Colorado. During World War II she was an activities director in Washington, D.C.
On Nov. 10, 1956, she was married
to Bill Lollich at York.
She is survived by her husband, Bill of Scottsdale and one daughter, Rebecca J. Lollich, also of Scottsdale.
She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister.
Graveside services are scheduled for 10 a.m., Thursday, March 8, at the Greenwood cemetery in York. Memorials may be directed to the Special Olympics. There will be no visitation. Metz Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Harold Abresch
York resident, 78
Harold C. Abresch, 78, of York, former longtime Thayer area farmer, died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2000, at York. He was born Oct. 21, 1922, near Gresham to George and Marie (Hinze) Abresch.
On Aug. 20, 1944, he was married
to Laura Gruber at Thayer. Harold is a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church at York.
Survivors include his wife Laura of York; son Dewaine of York; two daughters, Carolyn (Lewellen) Nielsen of Osceola and Linda Sternberg and her fiance Duane Schroeder of Lincoln. Also surviving are six grandchildren. Preceding him in death were his parents, brother and son-in-law.
Due to the construction at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, funeral services will be held at the Faith Lutheran Church in York on Friday at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Art Brinkmeyer officiating. Burial will be in the Greenwood cemetery at York. Memorials may be directed to the donor's choice. Metz Mortuary of York is in charge of arrangements.
