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Ruth Iva Munshaw
Ruth Iva Munshaw, 87, of Gering, died Monday, June 28, 2004 at Heritage Health Care Center. Funeral arrangements are pending at Gering Memorial Chapel.
Paul Emile Phaneuf
ALLIANCE — Paul Emile Phaneuf, of Alliance, died June 27, 2004, at Box Butte General Hospital. Civic leader, former manager of Panhandle Rural Electric Membership Association and longtime president of Friends of Carhenge, he was 83 years old.
Born Nov. 14, 1920, in Concord, N.H., he graduated from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, 1943, with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. Paul and Margaret Mercer met in Cleveland, Ohio, where they were married July 1, 1944. On Valentine’s Day of this year, they celebrated the 60th anniversary of their first date, an alumni reunion at Antioch.
Paul was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1945 and worked for consulting electrical engineers from 1946-1950. In 1950, he became manager of Panhandle Rural Electric and continued in that role until retiring in 1987. He served state and regional rural electric organizations and the Institute of Electrical Engineers. In 1982, he was part of a technical delegation that spent five weeks in China, helping that nation tap Western knowledge of electric power distribution systems.
From 1988 through 1996, he served on the Alliance City Council. He had also served on the Alliance Planning Commission and the Board of Adjustment.
Phaneuf lettered in tennis in high school and picked up the sport again in his late 50s. A charter member of the Alliance Tennis Club in the 1960s, he played the game until last fall. His love of the sport and his interest in youth led him to volunteer as an aide to the Alliance High School men’s tennis coach for 13 years. In 2000 and 2001, he taught a physical education unit in tennis for eighth-grade boys. For several years he provided tennis instruction to children ages 5 through 8 through the WMCA.
Paul’s support of the Alliance schools and the community included, along with his wife Margaret, hosting three exchange students from Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Belgium and Thailand. Paul also served as a judge in speech and debate contests. He received the Charles J. Sherlock Senior Citizen Booster Award for 2000-2001. The Alliance Times-Herald named him 2001 Person of the Year.
Phaneuf served on the governing board of the First Presbyterian Church of Alliance for several terms and was a member of the mission committee at the time of his death. As an elected member of the Presbytery of Plains and Peaks (governing body of the denomination’s churches in western Nebraska and eastern Colorado), he served on several committees including Justice and Representation. He co-chaired a Presbytery task force on Advocating Survival of the Family Farm, Ranch and Rural Community. He raised funds to support the clearing of land mines in war-torn countries.
After Phaneuf and others founded “Friends of Carhenge” in 1988, he served as president for more than a decade. With the friends group, he organized events that helped generate national and regional media attention for the unusual attraction.
A member of the Alliance Rotary Club for more than two decades, he served as president from 1996-97 and as a board member. A Paul Harris Fellow, he chaired the Rotary Youth Leadership Award program for several years and hosted Rotary Group Study Exchange participants five times.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret, of Alliance; daughters, Jean Farnsworth of Omaha, Mary Jo Jeffers of Valentine and Carol Farnsworth of Denver; two sons-in-law, two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
His brother preceded him in death.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, July 2, at the First Presbyterian Church of Alliance. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the First Presbyterian Church of Alliance, 515 Emerson Ave., Alliance, NE 69301; or Prairie Haven Hospice, 2 W. 42nd St., Suite 2300, Scottsbluff, NE 69361.
Mildred Martischewsky Waitman
09/4/1914 - 6/29/2004
Mildred Martischewsky Waitman, 89, of Bridgeport, formerly of Scottsbluff, died Tuesday, June 29, 2004 at Morrill County Community Hospital. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Friday at Plymouth Congregational Church in Scottsbluff with Pastors Rod Wetzig and Rick Parker officiating. Interment will be in the Mitchell Cemetery.
Friends may call at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel between 9:00 A.M.-8:00 p.m. Thursday and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.
Mildred was born September 4, 1914 in Mitchell, NE to Josiah and Ellen (Hockett) Baird. She received her education in the Sunflower School. She married Frank H. “Marty” Martischewsky November 1, 1932 in Scottsbluff. Mildred worked at Quality Cleaners for several years. Frank preceded her in death in 1990 and she married Max Waitman May 6, 1995 in Scottsbluff. She loved living on the Center Valley Ranch near pumpkin creek valley.
Mildred was a lifetime member of the Plymouth Congregational Church. She was active in Al Anon for several years. She loved bowling and the outdoors especially fishing. She loved her grandchildren very much and had a host of friends.
Mildred is survived by her husband Max, son and daughter-in-law: Ron and Shirley Martischewsky of Scottsbluff; grandchildren: Jeffrey and his wife Shelly Martischewsky of Scottsbluff and Lori Martischewsky of Gering; great grandchildren: Ryan, Meghan, Macy and Chase Martischewsky and 2 great-great granddaughters: Alyssa and Ashleigh and several nieces and nephews.
Her parents, first husband, Frank H. “Marty” Martischewsky , four brothers and five sisters preceded her in death.
Alma McHale Anker
TORRINGTON, Wyo. — Graveside memorial services for former Torrington resident, Alma McHale Anker, 89, will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, July 10, at Torrington Valley View Cemetery with Reverend Ora Dailey officiating. Alma died June 11, 2004, in Dallas, Texas. Cremation has taken place.
She was born April 24, 1915, in Mt. Vernon, Mo., the daughter of Waldo and Ida Johnson. Alma lived in Torrington for almost all of her 89 years. She moved to Dallas, in 1997 due to health problems, and to be closer to her daughter, Donna Rae McHale Hulbert.
Alma enjoyed traveling throughout the world; she loved history and her family. One of Alma’s greatest accomplishments was re-entering college, attending Eastern Wyoming College, at the age of 75. She dearly loved her time at EWC and the family has established a memorial in Alma’s honor to provide a scholarship for a deserving student. Memorials may be made to the “Alma Anker College Fund,” c/o Donna Hulbert, 16911 Village Lane, Dallas, TX 75248.
She is survived by her son, John McHale; daughter, Donna Hulbert and her husband Larry; two stepchildren, Bruce (Barbara) Anker and Cathy Crandall; brothers, Morris Johnson and Dan Johnson; sisters, Virginia Starkey and Alice Vaughn; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Clifford McHale and Peter Anker; and her brother, Jack Johnson.
Audrey Lorraine Eckhoff
Audrey Lorraine Eckhoff, 92, of Gering, died Saturday, July 3, 2004, at the Northfield Villa Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, July 9, at the Northfield Villa Chapel with Pastor Nancy Tomlinson officiating. Cremation was held at Sunset Memorial Park Crematory in Scottsbluff. Inurnment will be held at a later date in the Archer Evangelical Community Cemetery. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.geringchapel.com
Audrey was born Jan. 15, 1912, five miles northeast of Ames, Iowa, to George Fay and Maude Ellen (Stuart) Taylor. She received her education in Ames and graduated from Ames High School. She married Dean E. Eckhoff on Sept. 6, 1935, in Ames. Audrey was employed with the National Park Service, the Methodist Church, in both Central City and Scottsbluff, and was the secretary of the LPN school in Alliance.
Audrey was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Scottsbluff and enjoyed reading and sewing.
Survivors include her daughter, Lois N. Eckhoff of Littleton, Colo.; brother, Noel B. Taylor, of Grinnell, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Audrey was preceded in death by her husband, Dean; and brothers, Maurice, Ralph and Lloyd.
Lola Gadeken
BUSHNELL — Lola Gadeken, 89, of Bushnell, died Sunday, July 4, 2004, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, July 9, at Cantrell Funeral Home in Kimball with Pastors Virgil Johnson and Richard Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in the Kimball Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, July 8. If friends wish, memorial gifts may be given to the Nebraska Commission for the Visually Impaired.
Cantrell Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.
Lola was born Aug. 15, 1914, in Bushnell, to Charles and May Beatrice (Eisele) Evertson. She graduated from Bushnell High School in 1933. On June 1, 1938, Lola and Arnold William Gadeken were united in marriage in Sidney. Together, they traveled the area while he was an extension agent. She assisted him by managing 4-H clubs, particularly when they lived in Banner County.
Later, her husband was stationed at Ft. Dix, N.J., where he was an Ordinance First Lieutenant. During his service overseas, Lola sewed leather bomber jackets for the war effort. During the war, she returned to Nebraska and enrolled in Capital Beauty School in Omaha, graduating in 1945. They later lived at Bull Canyon Ranch, where Arnold was a foreman, moving in 1953 to his family’s farm at Bushnell; relocating to her father’s farm in 1974.
Mrs. Gadeken was very knowledgeable of area history and enjoyed sharing this with others. She was a member of Golden Sheaf Rebekah Lodge #380 and held various offices including Noble Grand. She belonged to the Calvary United Methodist Church of Bushnell, First Baptist Church of Kimball, and later the Dix Bible Church, where she taught many Sunday school classes. Lola was active in various community clubs and organizations.
Survivors include her son, John, of Bushnell; two sisters-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Arnold, Jan. 30, 1997.
Marjorie Marie Roe
MORRILL — Marjorie Marie Roe, 80, of Morrill, died July 4, 2004, at the Mitchell Care Center. Her graveside service will be held at 10 a.m., today, July 7, at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Morrill with Milton Mott officiating. Memorials may be given to the Morrill Rescue Unit. Visitation will be from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., today, at Jones Mortuary in Mitchell.
Marjorie was born April 3, 1924, at Fairbury, the daughter of Dr. George W. and Frances Elizabeth (Armstrong) Mathews. The family moved to Scottsbluff when she was a young girl. She attended school at Scottsbluff, McGrew and Gering. She married Larry Magnuson and the couple later divorced.
She then married Russell Roe who preceded her in death. She moved to Denver for 28 years and worked as a banquet waitress until her retirement in 1988. She returned to Morrill, where she made her home until her death.
Marjorie liked animals. She rescued and took care of them. She cared for her niece and nephew during the summer while their parents worked. She washed the nephew’s hands often; he liked dirty hands. Marjorie’s niece and aunt liked the pretty clothes and shoes she wore and how good her perfume smelled. She took children on carnival rides and through the fun houses during Oregon Trail Days. She liked to make special fish dishes and cookies for her dogs.
She is survived by her sister, Thelma Ingraham of Morrill; and two nieces and four nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; grandparents; one sister and one brother.
Randolph Lee ‘Randy’ Schlager
TORRINGTON, Wyo — Funeral services for Randolph Lee “Randy” Schlager, 52, will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, July 9, at the Colyer Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Rick Carroll officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow at the Valley View Cemetery.
Randy died July 2, 2004, at his home in Downs, Ill. Visitation hours will be held at the Colyer Funeral Home, Thursday, July 8, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Virginia Mae VanPelt
Virginia Mae VanPelt, 83, of Scottsbluff, died July 1, 2004, at Regional West Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, July 8, at First Christian Church in Scottsbluff with Pastor Michael Stein officiating. Interment was held at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering. Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com
A memorial has been established to the First Christian Church of Scottsbluff, or the Banner County Museum.
Virginia was born Jan. 11, 1921, in Bushnell, to Louis E. and Hazel M. (Grubbs) Van Pelt. She received her education in Potter. Virginia lived in Denver, Colo., where she was employed at the Gates Rubber Company in the advertising department for 10 years. She moved to Scottsbluff and was employed at Ranchway Western for 12 years and K-mart, as a cashier, for eight years. She retired in 1984.
Virginia was a member of the First Christian Church in Scottsbluff.
She is survived by her niece, Gayle Werme, of Bridgeport; great-niece, Jodee Prickett; and great-great nieces, Ronnie and Michelle Prickett.
Her parents; and two sisters, Edna Poppert and Marge Bakken, preceded her in death.
Patricia Friesen
Funeral services for Pat Friesen, 63, of Gering, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 12, at the Northfield Assembly of God Church with Pastor Robert Nazarenus officiating. Pat passed away Wednesday, July 7, 2004, at her home, ending a courageous three-year battle with cancer.
Burial will be at West Lawn Cemetery. A memorial in Pat’s name has been established to Prairie Haven Hospice. Visitation will be Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 6 p.m., at Gering Memorial Chapel.
Pat was born May 3, 1941, to Rolland and Lily (Schaneman) Baker in Torrington, Wyo., where she also graduated from high school. On December 28, 1958, she married Allen, the man with whom she celebrated her 45th wedding anniversary this past year. As a young couple, Pat and Allen lived in numerous states in the region and eventually settled in Gering, where they resided for the past 34 years.
Pat loved gardening, shopping, preparing for the holidays, entertaining, traveling and vacationing with family and friends. She will always be remembered for her fabulous cooking/baking and for being an ever-gracious hostess. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Survivors include her husband, Allen; children, Dean Friesen of Littleton, Colo. and Brenda (Gary) Clarke of Newcastle, Wyo.; six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; mother, Lilly Baker; brother, Larry (Joyce) Baker; and sister, Debbie (Gerry) Bolger.
Her father, maternal and paternal grandparents and several aunts and uncles preceded her in death.
Gering Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
