U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Lavern E. Reiners, age 63 (1942-2005)
Lavern E. Reiners, 63, of Lexington, Nebraska, died on Saturday, May 21, 2005.
He was born May 12, 1942, in transit to the hospital in Hastings, Nebraska, to August and Florence (Benker) Reiners. Lavern grew up in Adams County where he attended school and graduated from Doniphan High School with the Class of 1960. He was united in marriage to Joann Gruber on August 2, 1964, at the United Methodist Church in Lexington. He then farmed and worked for the Farmland Anhydrous Plant at Hastings until moving his family to Lexington in 1976.
The family moved to Joann's family's farm, where Lavern worked for Sperry New Holland until its closure in 1985 and then he continued farming, doing odd jobs and helping folks whenever called upon. Lavern was a very active member in the Parkview Baptist Church where he taught the Senior Citizen Sunday School class for many years. His passion for the Word of God lead to his involvement in Gideons International where he held offices in the local and state level. Lavern and Joann helped start a Marriage Encounter group in the early 1980's that is still active today. Promise Keepers was another interest as well as anything to do with spreading the Word of God and the Salvation of souls. He was a gentle man, trustworthy and always lived with the thought of all others before himself.
Lavern, dubbed "Grandpa Reiners" was a wonderful role model for his own children and grandchildren as well as the neighborhood and community. Although life is over on this earth, his legacy and love will live on and on through this children and grandchildren - both spiritual and biological.
Survivors include his loving wife, Joann Reiners of Lexington; two sons, Craig and Donna Reiners of Katy, Texas, and Rick Reiners of Lexington; his mother, Florence Reiners of Doniphan, Nebraska; two brothers, Marlin and June Reiners of Juniata, Nebraska, and Gayle and Paula Reiners of Doniphan, Nebraska; one sister, Maxine and Dale Zentz of Grand Island, Nebraska; four grandchildren, Chelsea Rose, Shae Lynn, Ryan Mitchell and Chase Edward.
Lavern was preceded in death by his father, August.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 26, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Lexington with Pastor John Shields, officiating. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington.
Memorials are kindly suggested to Gideons International or Parkview Baptist Church.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements.
Bonnie V. Clark, age 91 (1914-2005)
Bonnie Clark, 91 of Elwood, Nebraska, died October 25, 2005, at her home in Elwood.
She was born August 21, 1914, in a sod house at Jamison, Nebraska, to Fred and Euphemia Johnson Hitchcock. She graduated from Springview High School and attended Wesleyan, Kearney and Chadron colleges. She taught at a one-room schoolhouse at Brocksburg, later moving to Elwood, where she taught elementary classes.
On June 30, 1943, she married Richard Clark. She and her husband owned and operated Clark's Variety Store, Clark Funeral Home and the Elwood Lumber Yard until their retirement.
She was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church, U.M.W. and was active in other church work. She was also a member of the Alexis and Clio Clubs, was a Girl Scout leader and had been active in civic work. During her lifetime, she enjoyed ice-skating, sail boating, playing bridge, traveling and cruises. Her last road trip was in August with her daughter to Minnesota. She was an avid Cornhusker fan, attending numerous games through the years. One of the many things she will be remembered for was her pie baking skill.
Survivors include her daughter, Kerry Clark of Mill Valley, California; a brother, Curtis (Margaret) Hitchcock of Jamison; and a sister, Winnie Serr of Jamison.
She was preceded in death by her husband in 1980; a newborn son; and a sister, Twila Richardson.
A memorial has been established in her memory.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, October 28, 2005, at the First United Methodist Church in Elwood with Rev. Connie Karr officiating. Burial was in the Elwood Cemetery.
Berryman Funeral Home of Cozad was in charge of arrangements.
Bradley James Teeters, 15 (1990-2005)
Bradley James Teeters, 15, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Saturday, October 29, 2005, in a car accident near Lexington.
He was born July 17, 1990, at Lexington to Roger Dale and Jody (Davis) Teeters.
Brad has three siblings, Justin 19, Sarah 12, and Brandon 10. Brad attended District #22 and Lexington Middle School. He had begun his freshman year this fall at Lexington High School.
Brad had a great passion and athletic ability for sports, including football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, swimming, track, and soccer. Brad was also involved in many church activities in Lexington.
Some of Brad's other hobbies included playing video games with his friends, hunting, and fishing when he visited his grandparents in Iowa. He had an enormous amount of friends and was known as lil-Teets in school.
He will always be remembered by his huge, warm smile and likeable personality. With Brad's carefree spirit, he lived life to the fullest every moment.
Brad is survived by his parents, Roger and Jody Teeters of Lexington; brothers, Justin and Brandon Teeters of Lexington; sister, Sarah Teeters of Lexington; grandmother, Rosella Davis of Overton, Nebraska; grandparents, Dean and Kathleen Teeters of New Market, Iowa; 18 aunts and uncles; 60 cousins; and a host of many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be Thursday, November 3, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann's Parish Center in Lexington with Pastor Kyron C. BeDunnah officiating. The casket will be closed.
Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery with Rev. Paul Colling officiating the committal.
Memorials are kindly suggested to the Optimist Indoor Hitting Facility.
Levi Matthew Doss, 16 (1989-2005)
Levi Matthew Doss, 16, of Johnson Lake, Nebraska, died Saturday, October 29, 2005, the result of a traffic accident near Lexington, Nebraska.
He was born March 20, 1989, at McCook, Nebraska, to David Lee and Sandra Raye (Johnson) Doss.
Levi moved with his family to Lexington at the age of 7 months. He was presently a sophomore at Lexington High School. Levi was a member of First Christian Church where he was very active in the youth group "Tag." He enjoyed music, playing the violin for five years and active in the school band. He loved all water sports, including tubing, waterskiing, jet skiing and swimming. Levi loved being with his friends, especially Brad, who also died in the same accident.
Always a "ham," Levi enjoyed acting and played a part in the One-act play at Lexington High School and was part of the production, "Treasure Island" in Kearney, Nebraska.
Survivors include his parents of Johnson Lake; a brother, Ryan Doss of Johnson Lake; grandmothers, Roselyn Doss of McCook, and Dorothy Johnson of McCook; uncles, Michael Doss of Austin, Texas, Bob Doss of Seward, Nebraska, Richard Doss and family of Eugene, Oregon, and Craig and Ruth Johnson and family of Lincoln, Nebraska; and aunts, Amy and Brian Hoff and family of Lincoln, and Pam and Dave Ross and family of Monroe, Georgia.
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Chester Johnson and Jack Doss.
Services will be held Thursday, November 3, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Ann's Parish Center in Lexington with Pastor Kyron C. BeDunnah officiating. The casket will be closed.
Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery at Lexington, Nebraska.
Memorials are kindly suggested to First Christian Church.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements.
Mary M. Moore, age 94 (1911-2005)
Mary Moore, 94 of Cozad, Nebraska, passed away Sunday, October 30, 2005, at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg, Nebraska.
She was born September 1, 1911, at Rockport, Indiana, to Nathaniel and Sarah (Carter) Willis.
She was married to Alba Moore on August 12, 1929. They resided and farmed southwest of Cozad until moving to Cozad in 1957. She was a secretary for the Burgess Oil Company and Cozad Co-Op for 20 years. Mary was a member of Parkview United Methodist Church. She was known as an astute business woman and on her domestic side, for her cooking and baking skills.
During her lifetime she enjoyed dancing and card playing. She and her husband had always enjoyed their small pet dogs, her last being Herbie, a Pekingese. Her husband Alba preceded her in death in 1992 also a sister, Lucille Murphy and five brothers, Shirley, Gurley, Russell, Gene and Jack.
Survivors include a brother, Junior Willis of Rockport, Indiana; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held on Thursday, November 3, 2005, at 11 a.m. at the Berryman Funeral Home Chapel at Cozad with the burial in the Cozad Cemetery.
A memorial has been established to the Parkview United Methodist Church.
Berryman Funeral Home of Cozad is in charge of arrangements.
Nona Rhinehart, age 91 (1914-2006)
Nona Rhinehart, 91, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, died April 14, 2006.
She was born in Hildreth, Nebraska, on November 18, 1914, to Dick and Eliza (Mennenga) Forden.
She grew up on the family farm and attended rural school. She worked at Franklin, Nebraska, at a dairy farm for two years and after that she worked at a local bakery and cafe.
She met Reynolds Rhinehart in Franklin. They married on January 7, 1936, at Hildreth. They lived at Elwood, Nebraska, Minden, Nebraska, and Ogallala, Nebraska, for a short time before Reynolds was transferred to Gothenburg, Nebraska, to work for the Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District.
Nona worked for W. J. O'Connor's Five and Dime and at Schriver's Market for several years. She later helped at the Spinning Wheel. She enjoyed spending time with family, and wintering in Texas. She belonged to the Red Dale Camping Club, where they made many friends. She loved flowers and birds, and was a lifelong member of the American Lutheran Church where she was very active. She loved her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include her two daughters, Dixie (Cliff) Ackerman of Gothenburg and Jeanie (Steve) Johnson of Gothenburg; four grandchildren, Teresa (Jeff) Serafin of Lincoln, Nebraska, Mike (Carmen) Ackerman of Gothenburg, Kelly (Jay) Heater of Omaha, Nebraska, and Wendy Block of Denver, Colorado; seven great-grandchildren, Jennifer and Erin Serafin, Amaya and Arissa Ackerman, and Monika, Sofia and Emily Heater; and two sisters-in-law, Flora Grisen of Hastings, Nebraska, and Arleita Forden of North Platte, Nebraska.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Reynolds on December 8, 2003; and two brothers Kennis and Rueben Forden.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at 11 a.m. at the American Lutheran Church, Gothenburg with Lonna Grabenstein, Parish Ministry Associate and Rev. Matt Coplen officiating. Burial was in the Elwood Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to the American Lutheran Church or donor's choice.
Blase Memorial Chapel of Gothenburg was in charge of arrangements.
