All Obituaries

Eunice Marie Krueger Oltjenbruns Eunice was the seventh child born to Simon and Ida VanBoening Krueger on October 5, 1927 at the family home near Blue Hill, Nebraska.  Her Christian faith carried her through life and she passed from this life on earth on April 19, 2018, surrounded by family. She was baptized in Trinity Lutheran Church, Blue Hill, Nebraska on October 13, 1927. In 1930, after a fire in their home, Eunice moved with her parents to a farm southeast of...

Obituary of Richard R. Hemphill, DDS   Doc was born January 25, 1926 In Oconto, NE.  He was selected valedictorian and graduated when he was 16 years old after lettering in football, boxing, and basketball.  He entered Kearney State Teachers College on an academic scholarship where he was a member of Phi Tau Gamma Fraternity and received a number of academic awards.  In 1944 college was interrupted when he was drafted and sent to Great Lakes Naval...

Winton Verle Friend was born on December 5, 1921 to Robert and Ethyll (Pfeiffer) Friend 30 miles northwest of Kearney, NE, in his mother’s home, the same home his mother was born in.  He was the first born of two boys.  The Friends moved back to the Yuma area in 1922 and shortly following, Winton’s brother, Lynn (Tiny), came into this world on February 21, 1924.  The boys attended Ford Grade School and graduated from Waverly Rural High School. ...

Johnnie Lee Bearce was born on March 17, 1932 to David and Fanny (Combs) Bearce in Alma, Colorado and he passed away on April 14, 2018 at the Yuma District Hospital in Yuma, Colorado at the age of 86. Johnnie attended school through the eighth grade.  He married Mary Sue Thomas in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Johnnie worked as a Heavy Equipment Operator and a Drag Line Operator in sand and gravel.  Johnnie collected copper horses and antique clocks. ...

Maurice Duane Sunderman was born on October 16, 1927 to Arnold and Margaret Sunderman in Clarinda, Iowa.   He passed away on April 5, 2018 at Good Samaritan Village in Grand Island, Nebraska.  His family moved to Cheyenne Co. Nebraska when he was one year old and began farming.  He graduated from Sidney High School in Sidney, Nebraska in 1945 and was drafted into the US Army in March 1951.  He served as a Sergeant in the 7th Infantry Division in...

Richard (Dick) William Moran was born the third of four sons on August 6, 1942 in Sterling, Colorado to Charles Ambrose Moran and Alberta Rosalie (Garton) Moran. Dick enjoyed growing up on the farm in the Pleasant Valley community and traveled many miles to school in Yuma. He graduated from Yuma High School in 1961, the first year “The Pit” was in action. After graduation Dick and his high school sweetheart, Donna Ilene Gorman, attended trade schools in...

Richard Eugene Smith was born on May 18, 1937 at the old hospital across from Gardner’s.  At 2 months old he couldn’t hold any food down and the doctors had to make his stomach larger.  As Richard would say, “Maybe they made it too large.”  From the age of 3 years old, and throughout this childhood, his favorite animals were chickens, lambs and cats.  Throughout his life, Richard loved all animals, especially cattle, horses and dogs.  As...

Violet Marie Custer 1928 – 2018 Violet Marie Custer was born on September 19, 1928 to Clifford and Bertha Frances (Frazier) Spicknall in Bladen, Nebraska.  She passed away on March 24, 2018 at the Brush Hospital in Brush, Colorado.  Violet attended school through the 8th grade.  On November 4, 1944 she married Floyd Matthew Custer in St. Francis, Kansas and to this union four children were born, sons, Kenneth and Danny Ray and daughters, Karen...

Ruth Helena (Collette) Wise was born at home on the family farm Northeast of Joes, Colorado to James Ralph Collette and Alba Olivia (Norstrom) Collette on July 11, 1925.  She was the oldest of five children. She passed away on March 25, 2018 at 10:38 pm. She was 92 years old.             Ruth attended her first eight years of schooling at the one room country school of Fox  and Red Top. Sometimes going in a homemade...