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Mary O'Neal
GRANT - Mary O'Neal, 97, longtime resident of Grant died April 9, 2001, at the Golden Ours Convalescent Home.
She was born April 1, 1903, in Hennipen, Ill., to Lewis and Minnie Tottersman Gardner. They moved to a farm west of Grant in 1909.
On Nov. 23, 1921, she married Theron O'Neal. They lived on a farm south of Grant until 1927, when they moved into town. They continued to operate the farm until 1949. She was the manager and later owned the Red and White Grocery Store in Grant. She moved to the nursing home in 1995.
Mrs. O'Neal is survived by two nieces, Geneva Miller and Marjorie O'Neal, both of Illinois; and other nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1997; and two sisters, Clara Lair and Mable Gump.
Services will be at 2 p.m. at the Bullock-Long Funeral Home in Grant with the Rev. Larry Nothstine officiating. Burial will be in the Grant Cemetery.
James R. Peterson
GOTHENBURG - James R. Peterson, 53, of Gothenburg, died April 9, 2001, at his home in Gothenburg.
He was born Jan. 23, 1948, in Gothenburg to Reuben Ludvic and Margaret Marie Garrison Peterson. He graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1966.
On April 27, 1974, he married Cherry Kimball at Callaway. He served in the U.S. Navy from Dec. 12, 1966, to Dec. 18, 1970, during which time he was stationed in San Francisco as an engine mechanic. He served in the U.S. Naval Reserves for two additional years. He was employed at Farmland Feed Mill in Gothenburg.
He enjoyed outdoor activities including boating, skiing and hunting. He was a member of the Evangelical Free Church in Gothenburg.
Mr. Peterson is survived by two daughters, Kristy Peterson and Lauren Ashley Peterson, both of Gothenburg; a son, Scott of Gothenburg; his fiancé, Linette Swanson of Gothenburg; a brother, Larry Peterson of Gothenburg; and two nephews, Jeremy Peterson of Witchita, Kan., and Jeff Peterson of Gothenburg.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial has been established.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Evangelical Free Church in Gothenburg with the Rev. Rick Rehmert officiating. Burial will be in Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell with military honors by the Gothenburg Firing Squad.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Thursday at Blase Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg.
Raymond A. Wright
Raymond Arthur "Teddy Bear" Wright, a long time resident of North Platte died April 7, 2001, at the York General Hospital. He was 40.
He was born April 11, 1960, in Salina, Kan., to Raymond Martin and Glenda LaVern LaRue Wright. They later moved to Nebraska.
He worked for the City of North Platte in the 1980's then became a truck driver with various companies. He had been employed with Rawhide Carriers of Chapman.
He enjoyed fishing, playing the guitar and being around family and friends.
Mr. Wright is survived by his children, Rodney J Wright, 20, Billy Martin Wright, 19, and Sandi Joy, Wright, 16; thier mother, Hilda Wright; his father, Raymond Martin (Betty Jean) Wright of Carson City, Calif.; three sisters, Sheila (Russell) Sternberg of Gresham, Patricia (Allen) Geiser of Giltner and Linda Wright of Grand Island; a grandchild; and several nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for his children.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Odean Colonial Chapel in North Platte with the Captains Kris and Mary Ann Wood of the Salvation Army officiating. Burial will be in the North Platte Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and before the service Wednesday at the funeral home.
Daniel Eugene Armstrong
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Daniel Eugene Armstrong, formerly of North Platte, died Feb. 24, 2001. He was 59.
He was born Oct. 9, 1941, to Jesse Robert and Violet Gwendolyn McCullough Armstrong in Roscoe. As a youth, he accepted Christ as his Savior.
He grew up in North Platte, where he was a member of the band and orchestra in high school, played the saxophone, sang in the choir, and more recently, played the keyboard and sang in the Young at Heart Choir.
After graduation from North Platte High School in 1960, he joined the U.S. Navy where he served as a fire control technician on the USS Manley. He then went on to earn a bachelor's degree in wild life biology from Humboldt State College in Acadia, Calif. He had worked for the Bureau of Land Management since 1971.
Mr. Armstrong had a deep appreciation for nature and enjoyed capturing its beauty in photography. He also enjoyed motorcycle riding and was a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association.
He was a volunteer in the Big Brother program and was a wilderness firefighter. He spent many years as a judge in the environmental category for the University of New Mexico's science fair in the high school category. He was a Red Cross blood donor and had received his 5-gallon pin.
He will be remembered for the strength of his quiet and gentle spirit. He was a patient father and friend to his children, encouraging and allowing each to grow in the gifts God gave them.
Surviving him are his three daughters, Angala (Raymundo) Lopez of Phoenix, Dannell (David) Anderson of Wichita, Kan., and Heather (Dan) Smith of Angwin, Calif.; his parents of Albuquerque; a sister, Gwen (Ken) Noyes of Idaho Falls, Idaho; a sister-in-law, Joleen Armstrong of Idaho Falls; four grandchildren, Kyle Anderson and Steven, Shawn and Samantha Lopez; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Jason.
Betty Jean Branch
DENVER - Betty Jean Branch, formerly of North Platte and Ogallala, died April 9, 2001, in Denver. She was 74.
She was born April 2, 1927, in Chicago to Rudolf and Elsie Chestner.
In September 1945, she married Bill M. Branch in Denver. He preceded her in death in 1995.
Mrs. Branch is survived by her three children, Randy (June) of Austin, Texas, Stephen (Stephanie) of North Platte and Sandy (Mark) Frederick of Morrison, Colo.; and five grandchildren, Mark Branch of Miswa, Japan, Craig Branch of Lincoln, Jessica Branch of Denver and Chandler and Taylor Frederick, both of Morrison.
Memorials are suggested to the Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation or the Alzheimer's Foundation.
Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. Friday in Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell. The Rev. Nathan Wadewitz of the First Lutheran Church will officiate.
Wilsie Cross
ARTHUR - Wilsie Logan Cross, 88, formerly of Arthur County, died April 11, 2001, at the Garden County Hospital at Oshkosh.
He was born Nov. 29, 1912, in Alma, Kan., to Henrey and Lillian Golzio Cross. The family moved to Arthur County in 1914. The family returned to Kansas after his mother's death.
After his father married Caroline Rettke in 1919, the family then moved back to Arthur County. He graduated from Arthur High School in 1930. He attended Kearney State College and also took classes through correspondence During the summer, he took classes off-campus where they were offered. In 1965, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in education.
He taught school at District 1 from 1930 to 1934 and at Middle School from 1934 to 1939.
On May 22, 1939, he married Ruth Rasmussen in Sidney. They lived on the Hurlburt Homestead northwest of Arthur. In 1941, they moved to the Plant Homestead.
Mr. Cross was treasurer of the District 7 school board and for the Arthur High School board of regents from 1946 to 1977. He was clerk of the school board from 1977 to 1983. He was coordinator for the high school board from 1983 to 1986.
He served as Arthur County Superintendent of Schools from 1955 to 1986. He was active in the 4-H program from 1950 to 1968.
He received the Conservation Award in 1979 and the Stewardship Award in 1986. Mr. Cross has been a member of the Arthur Historical Society since 1936 and a member of the Keith-Arthur County Extension Board. He was a charter member of the Arthur Lions Club. He also served as chairman in Arthur County for the Cancer Society, the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross. Wilsie moved to Indian Hills Manor in July 1999 and then to the Garden County nursing home in Oshkosh in December 1999.
Survivors include his wife Ruth of Arthur; a daughter, Nanna Cross of Cheyenne, Wyo.; five sons, Rex (Doris) and Robert (Jeanelle), all of North Platte, Donald (Sandra) of Golden, Colo., Harry (Anita) of Oshkosh and Wayne (Betty) of Madison; two brothers, Jean (Lucille) and Percy (LaVaughn) Cross, all of Arthur; 15 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
A memorial has been established to a scholarship fund with the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Arthur Baptist Church with the Rev. Glendon Epp officiating. The casket will be open at the church. Burial will be in the Arthur Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday at the Draucker Funeral Home in Ogallala.
Debra Lynn Murra
Debra Lynn Bedke Murra, 34, of North Platte died April 10, 2001, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center.
She was born Sept. 23, 1966, to Ruth Fletcher Bedke and Sam Bedke at Omaha. She grew up in Blair and graduated from Blair High School in 1984. She enjoyed fishing and the outdoors. She also loved schnauzers, especially her dog "Winnie."
Survivors include her daughter, Amanda Kephart of Blair; her parents, Ruth Bedke of Blair and Sam and Cindy Bedke of North Platte; three sisters, Marlene (John) Warrick and their children, Heath Reyzlik, Jared and Olivia Warrick and Julie and Monte Flynn and their children, Natalie, Jenna and Meredith, and Teri Sue and Rich Warrick and their children Morgan, Maggie and Colin; her grandmother, Elizabeth Fletcher of Shenandoah, Iowa; and aunts and uncles, Mary Jo and Marlin Tillman of Shenandoah, Evelyn Speicher of Omaha, Margaret Bedke of Pleasanton, Phyllis and Howard Lux of Ravenna, Marlene and Terry Tatman of North Platte, Lois Varley of Wood River; stepgrandparents, Harry and Phylis Hancock of Fremont; stepsisters, Angie and Rebecca Wiese; and stepbrothers, Ted and Tim Wiese; many cousins and many good friends from Alcoholics Anonymous; and a special friend, Debra Heimbuch of North Platte.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to "The Amanda Kephart Scholarship Fund."
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Valley Christian Church with the Rev. Dennis Olsen officiating. Burial will be in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens.
There will also be a memorial service at 10 a.m. Monday in Blair at the Country Bible Church.
Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home.
Mary O'Neal
GRANT - Mary O'Neal, 97, a longtime resident of Grant, died April 9, 2001, at the Golden Ours Convalescent Home.
She was born April 1, 1903, in Hennipen, Ill., to Lewis and Minnie Tottersman Gardner. They moved to a farm west of Grant in 1909.
On Nov. 23, 1921, she married Theron O'Neal. They lived on a farm south of Grant until 1927 when they moved into town. They continued to operate the farm until 1949. She was the manager and later owned the Red and White Grocery Store in Grant. She moved to the nursing home in 1995.
Mrs. O'Neal is survived by two nieces, Geneva Miller and Marjorie O'Neal, both of Illinois; and other nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1997 and two sisters, Clara Lair and Mable Gump.
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at the Bullock-Long Funeral Home in Grant with the Rev. Larry Nothstine officiating. Burial will be in the Grant Cemetery.
Martha D. Gies
KEYSTONE - Martha D. Gies of Keystone died April 16, 2001, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She was 72.
She was born Jan. 29, 1929, in Lewellen to William B.S. and Mabel C. Tokey Hill. She graduated from Arthur High School. In 1953, she moved with her family to Keystone.
On Oct. 9, 1953, she married Theodore Gies in Holyoke, Colo.
She enjoyed traveling and visiting museums and historical places whenever she could. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting and making silk flowers as well as reading books of any kind.
Mrs. Gies is survived by four sons, Monte (Waleta) of Broken Bow, Jerry (Patricia) of Brighton, Colo., Bryan (Debra) of Seward and Kelly (Reba) of Ogallala; two sisters, Mabel (Robert) Statler and Lois Vath, both of Keystone; two sisters-in-law, Sylvia Hill of Ogallala and Eunice Gies of Keystone; a brother, William "Bill" (Louise) Hill of Keystone; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Sept. 1, 1971; a son, Bradley Kent Gies in 1981; her parents; and a brother, Charles Hill.
A memorial has been established.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Baptist Church in Ogallala with the Rev. Curtis Tschetter officiating. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. in the Arthur Cemetery with the Rev. David Dobbertien of St. Paul's Lutheran Church officiating.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at the Gubser Funeral Home in Ogallala
