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Garland O’Dell 1922-2004
Garland O’Dell, 81, of Sidney, died Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004 at the University Hospital in Denver, Colo.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 11, in the Holechek Funeral Home with Dennis Jacobs officiating. The American Legion Post #17, the V.F.W. Post #610 and the D.A.V. Chapter #40 will conduct military graveside services with burial in the Greenwood Cemetery.
Memorials have been established to the American Diabetes Association.
Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Holechek Funeral Home in Sidney.
Garland Leonard O’Dell, the son of John and Mamie (Dolson) O’Dell was born November 5, 1922 at Lisco, Neb. He grew up on the family ranch north of Lisco. He moved to California where he worked at a Safeway Store and at the Mera Island Naval Yard until entering the U.S. Army where he served until September of 1943. After his discharge he returned to the ranch.
On February 17, 1944 he was united in marriage to LaVonne Jacobs at St. Francis, Kan. They lived on the ranch before moving back to California where he worked construction. They returned to Oshkosh in the early 1970’s and later moved to Sidney where he worked construction on the Interstate 80 project.
Garland was a member of the D.A.V., and the Sidney Elk’s Lodge #1894.
Survivors include his wife, LaVonne O’Dell of Sidney; one son, Daniel O’Dell of Sidney; one daughter, Deb Stockman of Hermiston, Ore.; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers and one son.
Roberta Biggs 1921-2004
Roberta Biggs, 82, died at Memorial Health Center, Extended Care in Sidney on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2004. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Sidney with Fr. Jim Novakowski officiating. A Christian Wake service will be held at St. Patrick’s Church in Sidney today at 7 p.m. Burial will be held on Friday, Feb. 13, at 10 a.m. in the Crown Hill Cemetery in Powell, Wyo. Memorials may be given to Moyer Animal Shelter and St. Barbara’s Catholic Church both of Powell or MHC Hospice and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church both of Sidney.
Roberta Biggs was born on July 3, 1921 in Powell, Wyo. the daughter of Robert and Margaret (Bullock) Anderson. She attended schools in Powell.
She was married to Paul “Sandy” Biggs on June 10, 1939 in Powell.
They moved to Sidney in 1948 during the oil boom and moved back to Powell in 1975 after Sandy’s retirement. While living in Sidney Roberta worked for Dr. H.C. Nelson as a dental assistant. She was a member of St. Barbara’s Church in Powell. She recently moved to Sidney to be closer to her daughter and became a member of St. Patrick’s Church in Sidney. She enjoyed knitting garments for family members and playing bridge with her myriad of friends.
Her grandchildren were the “light of my life”, she would often say. Her parents and husband preceded her in death.
Survivors include one daughter, Dawn and husband John Brown of Sidney; four grandchildren, Steven Brown, Lisa Whalen, Michael Brown and Christopher Brown; and five great grandchildren.
Gehrig Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Don Spearow 1936-2004
Don Spearow, 67 of Keenesburg, Colo. died early Monday morning, Feb. 9, 2004 at the Hospice of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colo.
At his request, cremation has taken place.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 13, in the Community United Methodist Church in Keenesburg with the Rev. Keith A. McDonald officiating. Additional services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 17, in the First United Methodist Church in Sidney, with the Rev. Alan Davis officiating. Inurnment will be in the Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney.
Memorials have been established to the Hospice of Northern Colorado, 2726 W. 11th Street Road, Greeley, CO 80634; the Community United Methodist Church in Keenesburg or the First United Methodist Church in Sidney.
Holechek Funeral Home in Sidney is in charge of arrangements.
Don K. Spearow, the son of Herschel F. and LaRue (Haworth) Spearow was born Dec. 5, 1936 in Sidney. He was raised in Sidney, graduating from high school in 1955. He graduated from Colorado State University in 1960 and served in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1962. In 1962 he moved to Keenesburg and began a 41-year career in banking. He was employed by Colorado Eastern Bank and Trust at the time of his death.
Don was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Sidney. He was a devoted citizen of Keenesburg, serving in many civic capacities, including mayor and on various boards. He enjoyed gardening and collecting coins, stamps and antique toys.
He also enjoyed attending theatrical productions with friends in Denver.
Survivors include one brother, Howard Spearow of Johnson City, Tenn.; sister-in-law, Doris A. Spearow of Sidney; one nephew, William Spearow of Ridgecrest, Calif. and four nieces, Jamie Humphrey of Giltner, Neb., Sandy White of Sidney, Diana Woodill of North Platte, and Ann Moore of Kingsport, Tenn. and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Merle.
Lester “Les” Charles McConnell 1922-2004
Lester “Les” Charles McConnell, 81, of Sidney, died Sunday, Feb. 8, 2004.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., today at the Light Memorial Presbyterian Church in Sidney with the Rev. Bob Dahlgren and Pastor Edgar Schambach officiating. The family will greet friends after the services at the church. Military graveside services and burial will be held at 1 p.m. (CST), Friday, Feb. 13, at the Ft. McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell, Neb. with Rev. James Mote of Wilcox, Neb., officiating.
A memorial has been established for LMPC Building Fund or to the family’s choice.
Lester was born on the homestead near Central City, Neb., on March 8, 1922, to George and Mary (Fish) McConnell. He attended School Dist. 50 as a child and graduated from Central City High School in 1940. He worked in that area until attending the NYA School in Kearney, taking radio courses. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, last stationed in Hawaii. He was the first graduate from the radio repair program at the Nebraska State Trade School, now known as Southeast Community College at Milford, in 1947. He worked in that area until 1952.
Les met Kathryn “Jean” Welsch during this time, and they were united in marriage on June 6, 1948. They spent the next 44 years involved in various activities in each community in which they lived. They made Lincoln their home until returning to Milford, where Les began teaching Radio and TV Repair at NSTS. In 1961, the family moved to Overton, as Les was employed as a Design Engineer at Plectron Corporation. In 1967, Les again began teaching Electronics at Western Nebraska Vocational Technical School, now WNCC, near Sidney, where he was the Department Head until 1978. He then began working for the Burlington Northern Railroad in Alliance, from which he retired in 1992. After his retirement, he continued to support WNCC in several capacities.
Following Jean’s death in 1993, he met Edna Christofferson and they were united in marriage on April 16, 1994, and have resided in Sidney. They have been active in both of their churches, the Senior Citizen Center, as well as many other activities.
Les was most recently a member of LMPC, where he served in many capacities. He belonged to and was active in multiple organizations, including the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also took great joy in his family, horseshoes, fishing, playing cards, dancing, tinkering with electronics, ham radio, gardening, sharing coffee and visiting with friends. He took much pride in his children and grandchildren, step-children, and their families. He had a wonderful sense of humor, loved greatly and was greatly loved.
He is survived by his wife, Edna of Sidney; sons Leon Charles of Loup City, Neb., and Frederick Wayne of Arlington, Texas; daughter Charlene Jean Spencer of Fort Collins, Colo.; twelve grandchildren; many step-children, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; one brother, James McConnell of Lincoln; two sisters, Mildred Mesner of Central City, Neb., and Letha Grassman of San Diego, Calif.; a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, George McConnell and Mary McConnell Welsch; step-father, Fred Welsch, brother Francis McConnell, wife, Jean McConnell; son, Roger McConnell and a grandson.
David Thomas Woster
David Thomas Woster, infant son of Todd and Leslie (Hubbard) Woster of Torrington, Wyo. was stillborn on February 5 at the Torrington Community Hospital.
He will be buried at the family cemetery lot in Farmington, Mo. at a later date. The Colyer Funeral Home of Torrington is in charge of local arrangements.
In addition to his parents David is survived by two sisters, Hannah and Bailey; grandparents Jim and Barbara Woster of Sidney and Tom and Juanita Hubbard of O’Fallon, Mo.
Louis R. Conte, M.D. 1935-2004
Louis R. Conte, M.D., 68, of Bethesda Md. died Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004, at Suburban Hospital following complications after a stroke.
Donations in memory of Dr. Conte may be made to: Sidwell Friends School, 3825 Wisconsin Ave. NW DC. 20016; The Washington Psychoanalytic Society 4545 – 42nd St. NW #309 Washington DC 20016; or The Washington School of Psychiatry 5028 Wisconsin Ave., NW Suite 400, Washington, DC 20016.
Lou was born May 3, 1935 in Jersey City, N.J. and was educated at Xavier High School in Manhattan, Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City and at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. He did residency training in Psychiatry at the Henry Phipps Psychiatric Clinic of Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1962 to 65.
Dr. Conte served as a captain in the US Army Medical Corps and was the chief of the 98th Medical Detachment (neuro-psychiatric medical service) at Nha Trang, Vietnam during 1966 to 1967. He was a staff psychiatrist at Chestnut Lodge Sanatorium in Rockville, Md. from 1967 to 1973. He graduated from the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute in 1977.
Dr. Conte was a respected and versatile psychiatric educator; teaching and supervising mental health professionals for over twenty years. He was a teaching analyst at the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, instructor and associate clinical professor at George Washington University School of Medicine, faculty member of the Washington School of Psychiatry, and the Saint Elizabeth Hospital Residency Training Program. Dr. Conte was an active member of medical and psychiatric societies, serving on the Ethics Committee for the Washington Psychiatric Society and the Curriculum and the Candidate Progress committees of the Washington Psychoanalytic Institute.
Dr. Conte had been in private practice as a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in the Dupont Circle area of Washington D.C. for 30 years.
Lou was known for his enthusiastic embrace of life and strong intellectual curiosity. He had a life-long commitment to the arts and an abiding enjoyment and support of music and musical organizations. He savored the time the family spent in Chatham, Mass. each year.
Lou has been married to Barbara McIntosh Conte for 27 years. His son, Marc, is a student in the Economics and Environmental Science doctoral program at the Donald Bren School at the University of California at Santa Barbara. His daughter, Larissa, is a senior at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
There is a wide extended family that loves him.
Walter B. Schumacher 1928-2004
Walter B. Schumacher, 75, longtime Peetz resident, died at Sterling Regional Medical Center on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Peetz with Fr. James Baird officiating. Burial will follow in the Peetz Cemetery with Military Graveside Honors. A Christian Wake Service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorials to the Peetz Fire Department and Rescue Unit.
Walter Bernard Schumacher was born March 10, 1928 at Petersburg, Neb., the son of Alfonze and Catherine (VonBon) Schumacher. The family moved to the Peetz area where Walt attended the Peetz Schools. He entered the U.S. Army in 1950 and served in the Korean War with the 625th Field Artillery. Upon his discharge he returned to Peetz.
On Aug. 22, 1953 he was married to Marcella Fehringer at Peetz. They farmed near Peetz. During his early farming years Walt was employed at the Sugar Beet Factory and then the ASCS Office in Sterling for 18 years. Walter was a member of the American Legion, VFW, Knights of Columbus and a lifetime member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Peetz. He was a sports fan, watching his children and grandchildren play ball every week. He was an avid bowler for over 40 years and enjoyed playing and organizing horseshoe tournaments. Walt enjoyed socializing with family and friends and was a lifetime patron of the Hot Spot.
Survivors include his wife Marcella of Peetz; his sons and daughters-in-law, Gene and Brenda of Sidney, Lyle and Karen, Gary and Kristy all of Peetz, Glen and Staci of Greeley, Colo., Ron and Shelley of Windsor, Colo,; his daughters and sons-in-law Angie and Paul Swartz of Leander, Texas, Judy and Wally Beardsley of Sterling, Cheryl and Dave Lebsock of Sterling, Audrey and Brian Rosenbrock of Brush, Colo. and Bonnie and Jay Jarnegan of Eaton, Colo.; brother and sister-in-law Maynard and Norma of Sidney; sisters and brothers-in-law, Dorothy and Lewis Bruns of Lodgepole, Susan and Gene Siemers of North Platte, Rita and Lewis Straub, Marion and John Eberly, Betty and Frank Passard all of Denver; 51 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, one son and 2 grandsons.
Gehrig and Son Funeral Home in Sidney is in charge of the arrangements.
Elaine E. Hansen 1922-2004
Elaine E. Hansen, 81 of Kimball, died on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004 in Potter. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Cantrell Funeral Home in Kimball. Burial will be in the Kimball Cemetery with military honors by VFW Post 2243. Memorial gifts may be made to Kimball County Manor.
Elaine was born on April 4, 1922 in Hayes Center a daughter of Power and Hannah (Vavra) Rann. She grew up in the Hayes Center area and graduated from high school there. She then attended and graduated from nursing school at St. Luke’s Hospital in Denver, paying her tuition with money that she had earned teaching at rural schools in Nebraska. Upon graduation she joined the U.S. Army where she served as a nurse in Japan and the Philippines during WWII.
She married Frank Hansen on September 1, 1952 in Cheyenne, Wyo. and they came to Kimball in 1959 where she worked for over 20 years at the Kimball County Manor as a nurse, the Director of Nursing, and for a period of time as the administrator. She and her husband were members of the Moose Lodge and she also was a licensed airplane pilot. Her family remembers her as a very caring person who was always ready to help anyone who was in need.
She is survived by four sons, Paul Hansen and (Janie Regnier) both of Fairfax, Va., Jim and wife Diane Hansen of Arvada, Colo., George and wife Sue Hansen of Fremont, and Allen and wife Anna Hansen of Kimball; one daughter, Nancy Bradford and her husband Rex Schumacher of Potter; two sisters Mildred and husband Arvene Meyer of McCook, and Delores and husband Carl Schuman of Greeley, Colo.; and eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Frank in 1973.
