Frank W. Otte
Geneva resident, 89
Frank W. Otte, 89, of Geneva, the widower of Dorothy L. Otte, died Sunday, Jan. 25, 2004, in Geneva.
He was born Nov. 25, 1914, at Grafton, the son of William and Sophia (Baumann) Otte.
Survivors include his son, Jerry (Peggy) Otte of Grafton; daughter, Judith (Ron) Tischer of Baraboo, Wis.; sisters, Phyllis Otte of Denver, Colo., and Eunice (Beryl) Gerdes of Columbia, Mo.; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Thursday, at Grace Lutheran Church in Geneva. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Wednesday, at Farmer and Son Funeral Home in Geneva. Graveside services will be held at the Geneva Public Cemetery with Pastor Matt Zimpelmann officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Fillmore County Hospital or the American Cancer Society.
John Lindstrom
Former Gresham resident, 90
John Melvin (Pat) Lindstrom, 90, of Wichita, Kan., and formerly of Gresham, died Thursday, Jan. 15, 2004.
He was born May 24, 1913. He was a retired Boeing inspector.
He was a 32nd degree mason and an active member of the Great Plains Transportation Museum.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret; son, John and his wife, Jane of Blanchard, Okla.; two sisters-in-law, Janet (Gerald) Burgess of Pantego, Texas, and Lois (Elmer) Tuepker of York; and many friends and relatives.
There will be no visitation.
Memorial services were held Monday, Jan. 19, at First Church of the Nazarene.
LaVern L. Ochsner
York resident, 80
LaVern L. Ochsner, 80, of York, died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004, at York.
He was born Feb. 25, 1923, at Saronville, to Adam and Caroline (Trautman) Ochsner.
LaVern was employed at Gambles in York for three years before working at General Foods based in Grand Island for several years. On Aug. 24, 1947, he was married to Irene L. Sackschewsky at Thayer. For the next 16 years, LaVern farmed at Thayer and Benedict and then purchased Vern's Frontier Service in York. It was later changed to Vern's Husky Service. He then went to work at the Pork Plant in York until his retirement in 1987. He then moved with his wife to Columbus. After her death in 1994, he moved back to York.
A World War II veteran, he was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in York, the York VFW and the York American Legion Bolton Post #19. He enjoyed spending time with his family, as well as gardening, cooking and playing cards.
He is survived by three sons, Dennis (Carol) Ochsner of Laurel; Doug (Sue) Ochsner of Maxwell, and David (Kimberly) Ochsner of Geneva; three daughters, Joyce (Dale) Wittgren of Stromsburg, Jean (Dan) Farnham of Elkhorn, and Janice (Randy) Ediger of Hampton; 17 grandchildren; two step-grandsons; eight great-grandchildren; brother, Raymond Ochsner of York; and a sister, Thelma Kalberg of Hastings.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and two grandsons.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 30, 2004, at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in York with the Rev. Arthur Brinkmeyer officiating. Military graveside services will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in York. Memorials may be directed to Emmanuel Lutheran Church. Visitation has begun at Metz Mortuary in York.
The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Mortuary.
Ronald Phillips
Osceola resident, 56
Ronald Hal Phillips, 56, of Osceola, died Monday, Jan. 26, 2004, at Annie Jeffrey Memorial County Health Center in Osceola.
He was born March 19, 1947, to Francis Hal and Anna Marie (Mahan) Phillips in Alliance. He graduated from high school in Cody, on May 24, 1965, and then attended Chadron State College and Kearney State College.
On June 11, 1971, he was united in marriage to Jennifer Diane Marlatt. To this union, two sons were born. The family moved to Lincoln in 1971 where Ron worked as a union carpenter until 1981. He then began attending the Nebraska Law Enforcement Training Center in Grand Island, graduating on June 18, 1982.
He served as chief of police in Syracuse from August of 1984 until December of 1988. He then served as chief of police in Minden from October of 1989 until August of 1993. He served as chief of police in Ainsworth from August of 1993 until July of 1999. On Dec. 16, 1999, he was hired as road deputy for the Polk County Sheriff's Department. On Jan. 9, 2003, he was promoted to sergeant of the Polk County Road Division where he was currently employed. Ron studied and had a particular interest in forensic science and recently passed his forensic technician exam.
Ron was past vice-president of the Carpenters Union in Lincoln. He was also a member of the Police Officers Association of Nebraska and the Nebraska Sheriff's Association.
Survivors include his wife, Jennifer of Osceola; two sons, Shannon and Matthew, both of Seward; one sister, Debora Herman of Alliance; other relatives and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004, at 10 a.m., at Roberts-Dubas Funeral Home in Osceola with Rev. Richard Dimond officiating. Visitation was held at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Prairie Center Cemetery at Havens Chapel north of Kearney at 3 p.m., on Thursday, Jan. 29.
Memorials are suggested to any law enforcement agency of the donor's choice.
Mike Myers
Grand Island resident
Clarence F. "Mike" Myers, 81, of Grand Island formerly of Polk, died at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004.
Funeral services will be Saturday, Jan. 31 at 1 p.m., at the chapel of Solt Funeral Home in Polk with Rev. Bill Forbes officiating. Burial will be in the Arborville Cemetery near Polk. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to the Nebraska Veteran's Home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltfh.com.
Mike was born on Sept. 28, 1922, in Polk to John B. and Lulu A. (Orndorff) Myers. He grew up in Polk and received his education in the Polk Schools and later earned his high school diploma through the military. Mike enlisted in the United States army in 1943 and served in the Philippines. He was honorably discharged in 1946 and returned to live in Polk where he was a mechanic. Mike also lived in North Platte and Idaho for several years where he continued his work as a mechanic. In the late 1950s, he returned to Polk and worked for the Union Pacific Railroad. Mike had been living at the Nebraska Veteran's Home in Grand Island since 2002.
Mike enjoyed gardening, cooking, hunting and fishing.
Survivors include two sisters, Vivian Bayer of Polk and Bette Jo Stapleton of Vancouver, Wash.; one brother Raymond and Wilma Myers of Grand Island; many nieces and nephews including Steve Funk of Independence, Mo.; Pat Funk of Omaha; Karen Funk of Washington D.C.; Christine Funk of Lincoln; and Mary Beth Dodson of North Platte.
He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Dwight, Allan, Robert, and infant brother Donald; and one sister Ellen Jane Matson.
William "Ed" Rice
Lexington resident, 78
Services for William Edward "Ed" Rice, 78, of Lexington, were held Wednesday, Jan. 28, in Lexington. Burial with military honors was held at the Robb Cemetery at Lexington.
He died Friday, Jan. 23, 2004, at the Tri-County Hospital in Lexington.
He was born May 22, 1925, at Merna to Edward and Helen Rice. He grew up in Custer County, attending the Merna and Broken Bow schools.
He served his country in the United States Navy during World War II from Dec. 29, 1943, to April 22, 1946, when he was honorably discharged. He served overseas.
Following his discharge from the service, he was married to Goldie Applegarth and to his union three children were born. He later married Peggy Moore.
He worked for Luther Gravel Company of Lexington until his retirement. Ed loved animals. After his retirement, he kept busy raising all sorts of little exotic animals. He raised a lot of chickens and sold eggs. He loved it when people came to buy eggs. He also loved to fish and spent many hours at the sandpit near his home.
Survivors include one daughter, Francis Leslie, of Brigham City, Utah; four brothers, Don (Helen) Rice of Bayard, Harold Rice of Richfield, Minn., Charles Dale (Joann) Rice of Bradshaw, James Rice of Bayard; two sisters, Ardyth (Harry) Mills of Wakefield, Katherine (Dick) Nolan of York; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Peg; and infant daughter, Sharon Kay; a son, James Dale; and a sister, Helen.
Memorials are suggested to the donor's choice.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington was in charge of arrangements.
Eldon W. Anderson
York resident, 81
Eldon W. Anderson, 81, of York, passed away on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 2, 2003, at Bryan-LGH Medical Center East in Lincoln.
Eldon was born on April 28, 1921, northeast of Polk, to Arthur C. and Hannah A. (Lind) Anderson. He attended country school District #12 through the eighth grade and graduated from Polk High School in 1938.
Eldon worked in a grocery store and a produce station in Polk and on Sept. 5, 1942, was sworn into the U.S. Army. He was stationed at Camp Chaffee, Ark., and served with the 16th Armored Division in France, Germany and Czechoslovakia. He was discharged from the Army on Feb. 3, 1946. Eldon was united in marriage to Elizabeth Rose Bedient on Dec. 15, 1944, at York. After discharge from the Army, he worked in Stromsburg, at the Jack and Jill grocery store, and also at Central Electric and Gas Company, and in September of 1956 he joined the New York Life Insurance Company, where he remained until his retirement. Eldon was baptized and joined the Swede Plain Methodist Church in July of 1930, and at the time of his death had been a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in York.
He is a member of Bolton American Legion Post #19 at York, and was a past member of the Sertoma Club of York and past member of the Life Underwriters Association of Lincoln.
Eldon is survived by his wife, Rose Anderson of York; two sons, Ronald (and his wife, Jan) Anderson of Garrison, N.Y., and Vaughn (and his wife, Jackie) Anderson of Seward; one granddaughter, Hannah and four grandsons: Kris (and his wife, Michele), Matt, Ben (and his wife, Natasha), and Avery.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003, at the First United Methodist Church in York with Rev. Ralph H. Ford and Rev. Lester Anderson officiating.
Interment will be in the Swede Plain Cemetery northeast of Polk, with Military Graveside Honors conducted by Bolton American Legion Post #19 of York. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday at the Lewis Funeral Chapel in York. Memorials may be made in care of the family. Lewis Funeral Chapel of York is in charge of arrangements.
Franklin Lueders
Seward resident, 78
Franklin Otto Lueders, 78, of Seward, formerly of Staplehurst, died Feb. 1, 2003.
He was born on Nov. 13, 1924, in Deshler, Neb., to Deitrich L. and Grace (Wiemers) Lueders. He served in the Army from 1945-1947. On Sept. 28, 1950, he was married to Ione V. (Davis) Wright in Ravenna, Neb. They farmed near Hazard, Neb., until 1954 when they moved to a farm north of Ulysses where they farmed until 1968, when they moved to the Staplehurst area. Franklin retired in 2001. He was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in rural Staplehurst. He was also a member of the American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ione, in 1997; his parents; sisters, Viola Gruhn, Rosina Sturgill, Evelyn Wagner, an infant sister; brothers, Elmer and Alvin Lueders; a nephew, Larry Lueders.
Survivors include his daughter, Lori (David) Swanson of Tucson, Ariz.; son, Terry (Cheryl) Wright of Cedarburg, Wis.; grandchildren, Chad (Mary) Wright of Colgate, Wis., Bryan Wright of Mannheim, Germany, Trisha, Rick, Sarah and Andy Swanson, all of Tucson, Ariz.; two great-grandchildren; sister, Louise Lueders of Peoria, Ill.; brothers, Edwin (Arlene) Lueders of Hazard, Lavern (Shirley) Lueders of Buffalo, Wyo.; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Bonnie and Duard Marshall of Kansas City, Mo.; many nieces and nephews; special friend, Audrey Janak of Seward.
Visitation is today, Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Feb. 5, at Wood-Zabka Funeral Home in Seward and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday, Feb. 6.The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, rural Staplehurst. The Rev. Lee Seetin will officiate. Burial will be in Seward Cemetery. Military honors will be given by VFW Post #4755, Seward.
Eldon Anderson
York resident, 81
Eldon Anderson, 81, of York died Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003, at Bryan LGH East Medical Center in Lincoln. Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time. An obituary will be published at a later date. Lewis Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Caroline Doering
York resident, 87
Caroline Louise Doering, 87, of York, widow of Louis Doering, died on Feb. 9, 2003, at The Hearthstone in York.
She was born one of eight children in rural Ruskin on May 20, 1915, the daughter of John and Anna (Kolling) Schlamann. She attended Daisy Dell Country School, District 69, near Nora. Caroline cleaned houses, was a nurse's aide to Dr. McFarland in Thayer County and cooked for servicemen in a camp on an island off the shore of Washington State.
She married Louis Doering on July 25, 1946, at Salem Lutheran Church in Superior. After marriage, Caroline and Louis lived on Louis' home place where they farmed together in Thayer and Nuckolls Counties.
In addition to being a homemaker, Caroline helped on the farm, did a lot of sewing for family and friends, and often helped care for the ill and injured. She was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church of Ruskin.
After Louis' death in May of 1979 Caroline moved into Deshler where she lived for about 10 years until moving to the Hearthstone in 1990.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Louis on May 3, 1979; an infant sister; brother, Walter Schlamann; sisters, Lena Garrelts and Alice Wilkens.
Survivors include her daughter, Karen (Allan) Houtwed of York; grandchildren, Angela (Joe) Johnson of York and children, Megan, Seth, Samantha and Mackinley; Brian (Becky) Houtwed of York and children, Christopher and Mason; and Debora (Brian) Mulinix of Lincoln and their children, Nicholas and Miranda; sisters, Mildred Jensen and Esther Schlamann, both of Superior, and Fern Schriever of Hastings; sisters-in-law, Irma Marquart of Hebron and Edna Doering of Hastings; many other relatives and friends.
Services will be held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Ruskin at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 13. Visitation will be Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Price Funeral Home, 210 S. Third St., Hebron. Burial will be in Zion Lutheran Cemetery in rural Deshler.
Memorials may be sent to Bethany Lutheran Church, Ruskin, or First Evangelical Lutheran Church of York. Price Funeral Home of Hebron is handling arrangements.
