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Vena Lorene Russell 1919-2002
Vena L. Russell, 82, formerly of Potter, died Saturday, Jan. 26 at Heritage Health Care Center in Gering. Her funeral is today at 1 p.m. at Holechek Funeral Home in Sidney with Pastor H. Eldin Wells officiating. Burial will follow in the Potter Cemetery. Holechek Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be today from 9 a.m. until the service time.
Memorial contributions may be made in Vena’s name to the Potter Senior Citizens Center.
Vena Lorene Russell, was born Oct. 21, 1919 in Scottsbluff, the daughter of Leonard Wayne and Mabel Fannie (Hollenbeck) Prickett. She attended Lyman schools.
On Nov. 26, 1937 Vena was united in marriage to Leonard W. Russell in Norton, Kan. The couple lived in the Stamford and Orleans, Neb. areas until 1941 when they moved to the Gering valley. Vena and Leonard then moved to Ordville (Sioux Ordinance Depot) in 1946. In 1949, they moved to Potter where Vena worked a short time as a cook at the Potter Cafe, Potter schools and the Memorial Hospital.
Following her husband’s death in 1993, Vena sold her home and moved to Sidney for a year and then back to the Scottsbluff-Gering area.
She enjoyed crocheting, knitting and bird watching.
Vena was preceded in death by her parents, husband and two brothers, Allen and Earl.
Survivors include two sons, Wayne Russell and wife Bernice of Gurley and Vaughn Russell, Sr. of Scottsbluff; two brothers, Lawrence Prickett of Henry and Eugene Prickett of Caldwell, Idaho; one sister, Rachel Harmon of Gering; 12 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Hattie Barton 1916-2002
Hattie Barton, 85, a long-time Peetz, Colo. resident, died Wednesday, Jan. 23 at Memorial Health Center in Sidney. Graveside services will be Friday, Jan. 25 at 10 a.m. at the Forrest Lawn Cemetery in Morrill with Richard Gillham officiating.
Friends may call today from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Holechek Funeral Home in Sidney. Memorials have been established to the Osteoporosis Foundation.
Hattie Barton, the second child of Joseph and Anna (Benes) Skarka was born April 27, 1916 in Clarkson, Neb. She moved with her family as a small child to a farm northeast of Potter, where she grew up and attended country school. Hattie worked at several different jobs, including working as a housekeeper for families, at the old Taylor Hospital and as a waitress in Sidney.
She married Wellrose Barton in Morrill Oct. 15, 1947, and as a result, became an instant mother of three teenagers. To this union three additional children were born. The family lived in several different communities before moving to Peetz in the early 1960s. She worked in the kitchen at the Peetz school for many years after the family was raised.
Hattie had a strong faith and was a member of the Evangelical Free Church in Sidney. She was a loving wife and a devoted mother and grandmother.
Hattie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one step-son, Charles Barton and two brothers, Arnold and Leonard.
Survivors include one son, Kenneth Barton and wife Miriam of Olney Springs, Colo.; two daughters, Judy Houser and husband Rodney of Iliff, Colo. and Barbara Jane Hemphill and husband Dennis of Burlington, Colo.; three brothers, Cliff Skarka and wife Jean of Sidney, Howard Skarka and wife Doris of Sidney and Harold Skarka and wife Maxine of Grand Island, Neb.; two step-daughters, Betty Thorness of Rancho Mirage, Calif. and Jo Brand of Dadeville, Ala.; one step daughter-in-law, Gayle Barton of Breckenridge, Minn.; one sister-in-law, Faye Skarka of Sterling, Colo.; seven grandchildren; several step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and several step great-grandchildren.
Freda Anna Batt 1915-2002
for the Sidney-Sun Telegraph
Freda Anna Batt, 87, Topeka, Kan., died Tuesday, Jan. 22 at a local care facility. Her funeral will be Friday, Jan. 25 at 11 a.m. at the Draucker Funeral Home with Rev. David Dobbertien of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Ogallala officiating. Graveside services will follow at 2 p.m. in Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney. Draucker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be Friday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service.
Freda Anna Batt was born Jan. 7, 1915 in Hastings, Neb., the daughter of Henry and Anna (Heimbicher) Libsack. She married Herman Batt Feb. 10, 1932 in Gering. The couple farmed in the Sidney area until Herman’s death on Dec. 27, 1955. Freda then worked for Sidney Memorial Hospital as a nursing assistant. In 1965 she moved to Sioux Falls, S.D. to live with her daughter. The family moved to Topeka in 1985.
Freda was a former member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sidney.
She was preceded in death by her husband, son, Jack Batt in 1938 and daughter, Loretta Batt in 1935.
Survivors include her daughter, Jean Batt of Topeka; three sons, Robert and wife Lee Batt of Ogallala, LeRoy and wife Jeanine Batt of Pinebluff, Wyo. and Rocky and wife Arlinda Batt of El Paso, Texas; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Louise Reese Holms
Louise Reese Holms, 94, a resident of Tijeras, N.M. since 1982, died Saturday, Jan. 12. A memorial service will be Saturday, at 1 p.m. at French Mortuary with Rev. Clyde Stanfield officiating. Cremation has taken place. Burial will follow at a later date in Sidney.
Contributions may be made to the Salvation Army.
Louise graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1931 with a degree in education and taught in a one-room schoolhouse.
She later went to business school in Lincoln and worked for Bankers Life Insurance Co.
Louise met Frank Holmes in Lincoln. The couple eloped to be married in Reno, N.V. June 27, 1939, and then settled in Sidney in 1943.
Upon the death of her husband, Louise continued running their accounting business until her retirement in 1982.
She was an accomplished visual artist working in watercolor and clay and loved music, particularly opera. She sang soprano in the Light Memorial Presbyterian Church choir in Sidney for many years.
Louise was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Pynchon Holms in 1961.
Survivors include her son, John P. Holmes and wife Karin of Des Moines, Iowa; daughter, Barbara Gentry and husband Wilbur of Tijeras; sister Glenda Beltz of Atlanta, Ga. and one grandson.
Carol J. Hazlitt 1940-2002
Carol J. Hazlitt, 61, a longtime Sidney resident, died at her home in Sidney on Jan. 14. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 18, at the Christ Episcopal Church in Sidney with Fr. Ed Newburry of Kimball officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. Friends can call at the funeral home Thursday from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Memorials may be given to the Dorwart Cancer Treatment Center or to the Donor’s Choice.
Carol Jeanette Hazlitt was born on August 4, 1940 in Dalton, the daughter of Leonard and Vera (Hogan) Bayne. She was raised and attended school in Dalton and graduated from the Dalton High School in 1957. She was active in cheerleading during high school and loved riding her horse Topsy. Carol met Rich Hazlitt and they were married on February 14, 1959 in Dalton. Carol was a homemaker who very much loved her husband, children and grandchildren and enjoyed the many friends and family who visited with her in her kitchen. Her parents, one daughter, Susan McMillen, one granddaughter, Melissa McMillen, one sister, Bev Wieser and one brother, Ray Bayne preceded her in death.
Survivors include, her husband, Rich of Sidney; two daughters and son-in-law, Nancy Osborn of Sidney and Cherie and Charlie Cox of Gurley; one son and daughter-in-law, Rich and Andrea Hazlitt of Sidney; two brothers and sister-in-law, Rick and Judy Bayne of Bridgeport and Dean Bayne of Sidney; one brother-in-law, Dave Wieser of Potter; two sisters-in-law, Judy and Sharon Bayne both of Sidney; 9 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Gehrig & Son Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Margaret J. Hamilton 1920-2002
Margaret J. Hamilton, 81, a long-time Sidney resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 8 at Memorial Health Center in Sidney. Her funeral will be held Friday, Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Church with Fr. Jim Novakowski officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. A Christian Wake service will be held today at 6 p.m. at St. Patrick’s Church.
Friends may call at the Gehrig & Son Funeral Home today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..
In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorials to St. Patrick’s Church. Margaret Jane Hamilton was born March 3, 1920 at Crook, Colo., the daughter of John P and Mary (Nelson) Reynolds. She
attended schools in Crook and at St. Agnes Academy in Alliance, Neb., graduating as Valedictorian in 1937.
She was married to Elden Hamilton.
Margaret worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone as an operator in Alliance and transferred to Sidney as manager in charge of operators in 1961. She retired after 37 years of service. Margaret was a devout Catholic and an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, including the Legion of Mary and the Altar Society.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Frank and Jan Hamilton of Northglenn, Colo.; daughters and son-in-law, Julie and Jack Anciaux and Marjorie Meyer all of Sidney; 16 grandchildren; and 16 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Evelyn Beiber and Ethelyn Wagers and one brother Harold Reynolds.
Gehrig Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Oren Cox 1918-2001
Oren Cox, 83, a longtime Sidney resident died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2001 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. today at the First United Methodist Church in Sidney with Rev. Alan Davis officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney.
Memorials may be given to the family’s choice.
Oren O. Cox was born on May 6, 1918 in Shelton, Neb. the son of Clarence E. and Stella (Bolton) Cox. He attended and graduated from Kimball High School. He moved to Sidney in 1941 after living in Potter. Oren had a long career in law enforcement; he was Cheyenne County Sheriff for four years, Deputy Sheriff for 8 years and a special deputy for 20 years. He was a member of the Police Officers Association of Nebraska, Nebraska Sheriff’s Association and the National Sheriff’s Association. He also worked for the City of Sidney and Marathon Oil Company. He was a member of the IOOF Lodge #91 and of Colfax #23 IOOF of North Platte and a past Grand Master State of Nebraska of the IOOF; he was also a member of the Rebekah Lodge #66. The Masonic Lodge recognized him as Citizen of the year in 2000. Many children knew him as “Santa” for 45 years during the Christmas season.
He was active in Boy Scouts of America for 50 years and received the Silver Beaver Award and assisted with the development and maintenance of Camp Fuller Boy Scout Camp in Sidney and was also active in Little League Baseball.
He was an originating member of the Oktoberfest committee and an active officer and member since the beginning. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sidney and a Lay Representative since 1999.
His parents and one brother Walter and one grandson Jeremy Cox preceded him in death.
Survivors include his wife, Earline of Sidney; one son, Larry Cox of Sidney; two daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and Melvin Flick of Morrill, Neb.; and Patricia and Bill Printz of Sidney; one brother and sister-in-law, Alva and Beverly Cox of Escalon, Calif.; 12 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Gehrig and Son Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Lowell N. Smitherman
Lowell N. Smitherman, 66, Sidney, passed away Thursday, Jan. 23, 2002 at Memorial Health Center in Sidney.
Funeral will be Saturday, Jan. 26 at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of the Nazarene in Sidney.
Holechek Funeral Home in Sidney is in charge of arrangements.
There will be no visitation.
