U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Obituaries Published February 18, 1999
Albert (Al) Alford
Albert Darwin Alford, 91, the son of Wilder and Ardella (Shafer) Alford, was born Aug. 28, 1907, at Superior. He died Feb. 10, at the Good Samaritan Center in Superior.
He attended Superior schools and on Aug. 25, 1926, Nelson, he married Cathelma Julia Reed. They lived and farmed in the Superior community for many years. They also lived in Maxwell and Nevada, Iowa, Bostwick and Hastings.
He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Superior and active in several farmers organizations and senior citizens.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife on Sept. 15, 1984, a daughter, Roberta Alene Alford and two grandsons.
He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Harry Egan (Dollene), Bullhead City, Ariz.; and Mrs. Wilfred Jorn (Catherine), Hastings; a brother, Henry Alford, Chula Vista, Calif.; five grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services were Feb. 13 from the Megrue-Price Funeral Home Chapel in Superior, with Pastor Jon Albrecht officiating.
Interment was in the Ever-green Cemetery, Superior.
Ryan Lee Thayer
Ryan Lee Thayer, 18, a senior at Meeker, Colo., high school, died Oct. 14, at the Pioneers Hospital in Meeker.
Born Aug. 29, 1980, in Meeker, Ryan was the son of Stanley R. and Joy (Jones) Thayer. He was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church and was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fish and "four wheeling."
Music was one of his greatest joys. He sang in the Meeker High School Choir. He also enjoyed creative writing and paticularlay poetry.
He is survived by his parents; two sisters, Mrs. Rob Riegel (Laney), Grand Junction; Amy, a student at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, and his paternal grandmother, Lillian Thayer, Superior.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Barry Dean Thayer, in 1968; grandparents, Paul and Etta Jones and Loren Thayer.
Cremation was chosen and a service of remembrance was held Oct. 19 at the Meeker High School Auditorium with Pastor Steve Goebel and Mr. Geary Cantrell officiating. Interment was in the Highland Cemetery.
Blanche Fowler
Blanche Elizabeth Fowler, 85, the daughter of Adelbert and Edna (Frink) Sisler, was born Nov. 3, 1913, at Cylinder, Iowa. She died Feb. 13 at the Brodstone Memorial Nuckolls County Hospital in Superior.
She attended Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska schools.
On Oct. 7, 1933, she marked Floyd Fowler in Mankato, Kan.
She was a member of the Birthday Club, Rebekah Lodge and Rebekah Kensington.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband on Oct. 4, 1981, and a sister, Lucile Gall.
She is survived by her daughter, Beverly Vernon, Abilene, Texas; a brother, Russell Sisler, Wichita; and two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Services were held on Wednesday at the Megrue-Price Funeral Home Chapel in Superior, with the Rev. Harold Backus officiating. A tribute was given by Rebekah Lodge No. 70.
Interment was in the Fairfield Cemetery, Fairfield, Neb.
Clara Harding
Clara Margaret Harding, 89, died Feb. 6, at Mercy Memorial Hospital, Healdton, Okla.
She was born March 26, 1909, at Webber, the daughter of John and Clara Kirkpatrick Lane. A Healdton resident for two years, formerly of Lyons since 1942, she was an Avon saleswoman for 25 years and was a homemaker.
She was a charter member of the Mid-K Campers and was active in various card clubs.
She married Montie Fay Harding at Johnson on Aug. 6, 1927. He died Jan. 29, 1983.
Survivors include a daughter, Lucille Dill, Healdton; two grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was conducted in Lyons Municipal Cemetery with the Rev. Robert Friesen officiating.
James Hinz
James Duane Hinz, 66, the son of Carl August and Erna Minnie (Eilers) Hinz, was born July 2, 1932 on a farm near Nelson. He died Feb. 14 at the Thayer County Hospital, Hebron.
He attended Star Country School, Kelley School and Nelson Public School and lived in the Oak and Ruskin communities his entire life. He seved in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict from 1953 to 1955.
On May 14, 1961, at the Peace Lutheran Church in Hastings, he married Jureta Pearl Stiles. He was manager of the Oak, Dewitt, Hubbell, Ruskin and Republic grain elevators. He and Jureta owned and operated the Wagon Wheel Steakhouse in Ruskin for 20 years. He was a member of the Ruskin American Legion, of which he was commander, a life member of Superior VFW, a member of Ruskin Volunteer Fire Department, the Ruskin Village Board and St. Mark's Lutheran Church.
Survivors include his wife of Ruskin, four daughters, Mrs. LaVeryl Kleen (Rebecca), Ruskin, Mrs. Donald Schmid (Cindy), St. Paul, Neb., Mrs. Dennis Gurley (Kimberly), Milligan, Lisa Hinz, Waverly; two sons, Timothy Crowl, Superior and Kevin Hinz, Ruskin. He survived by 21 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter; three brothers, Eldred Hinz, Oak, Raymond Hinz, Denver and LeRoy Hinz, Oak; five sisters, Mrs. Donald Brandt (Gertrude), Nora, Margie Zoch, Deshler, Mrs. Richard Medina (Darlene), Deshler, Shirley Hinz, Lincoln, Neb. and Mrs. Larry Plock (Rose), Deshler.
Services were held Wednesday from the St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Ruskin, with the Rev. Robert Mrosko officiating.
Interment with full military rites by American Legion Kolling Post of Ruskin, was in the Spring Creek Cemetery near Ruskin.
Megrue-Price Funeral Home of Superior were in charge of arrangements.
Vernon Herrick
Vernon Diehl Herrick, 90, the son of William and Lillie Diehl Herrick, was born April 6, 1908, on the family farm northwest of Nelson. He died Feb. 15at Brodstone Memorial Nuckolls County Hospital in Superior.
On July 18, 1929, he married Hilda Bencken.
His early years were spent farming in Nuckolls County. He also worked at the Hastings ammunition depot. In 1954 he moved to Edgar, where he was employed by Burlington Northern railroad for 30 years. Upon retirement he moved to Guide Rock where he lived until the time of his death.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife on May 18, 1997 and a sister, Norma Hummell.
Survivors include his two sisters, Mrs. Carol Shuck (Lois) and Wilma Anderson, both of Superior, and a brother Willis Herrick, Kiowa, Colo.
Services are today (Thursday), at 2 p.m. from the Klawitter-Price Funeral Home Chapel in Nelson, with the Rev. Harold Backus officiating.
Interment will be in the Nelson Cemetery at Nelson.
Helen L. Trussell
Helen Louise (Press) Trussell, 92, Jamestown, died Sunday at Cheyenne Lodge Nursing Home in Jamestown.
Services were Wednesday at United Methodist Church in Courtland, with the Rev. Walter Bye officiating. Burial was in Jamestown Cemetery.
Mrs. Trussell was born Oct. 27, 1906, to Charles and Dellwert (Skinner) Press in Cawker City. She moved with her family to Mankato. She graduated from Mankato High School in 1924. She worked at Putt's Store in Mankato. In July 1932, she married Willis E. Trussell at Ellsworth. They lived at Burr Oak, where her husband was a school teacher. They later lived in Stella and Kackley, where her husband managed grain elevators. Her husband died Oct. 18, 1971. She then lived in Superior and later Good Samaritan Village in Hastings. On Feb. 14, 1995, she moved to Cheyenne Lodge Nursing Home.
She was a member of United Methodist Church in Superior and was active in Bible study groups in Hastings and Superior.
Survivors are three daughters, Judy Moore, Superior, Mary Lou Gorden, Lisle, Ill., and Betty Vandivier, San Diego; two sons, Charles, Grand Junction, Colo., and Larry of Louisville; one sister, Doris Breault, Concordia, one brother, Harold Press, Manhattan; 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by three brothers.
Lydia Deterding
Hastings resident, Lydia L. Deterding, 86, died Friday at Good Samaritan Village Villa Grace.
Services are 1:30 p.m. today (Thursday), at GSV All Saints Chapel with the Rev. Carl Rehwaldt officiating. Burial will be in Wanda Zion Lutheran Cemetery near Juniata.
Miss Deterding was born July 4, 1912, to William H. and Agnes (Brase) Deterding in Holstein. In 1918 she moved with her family to a farm near Ruskin. In the early 1960s she moved to Good Samaritan Village. She was a homemaker and housekeeper.
She was a member of the Aid Association for Lutherans at Wanda Zion Lutheran Church and a volunteer at Good Samaritan Village.
She is survived by one brother, Joe, Friend.
She was preceded in death by two sisters and five brothers.
Gus Samuelson
The funeral or Gus J. Samuelson, 71, Medford, Okla., will be at 10:30 a.m., today (Thursday) at the Church of the Nazarene, Medford, with the Revs. Mark Ramsey and Travis Janzen officiating. Burial will follow in Rosemound Cemetery, Medford, with military honors by the United States Navy. Arrangements are under the direction of Hills-Ely Funeral Home, Medford.
He was born March 14, 1927 on a small farm near Courtland, to Gus A. and Elsie (Bettis) Samuelson. He died Sunday at his home near Medford, after a long battle with leukemia.
He joined the U.S. Navy in March, 1945, and served as a medic until his discharge in May, 1946. He was a lifetime member of the Oddfellow Lodge, the American Legion and a former member of the Lions Club. He was awarded the Distinguished Citizens Award in Palco.
On June 6, 1945, he married Vida B. Wallace in Belleville.
He managed elevators at Blakeman, Ludell, and Palco, and in Colorado at Walsh and Lamar. In November, 1977, the couple moved from Lamar to a farm northeast of Medford.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Gus LeRoy; a granddaughter; and four brothers, Bernard, Herbert, Chet and Estel.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two daughters, Mrs. Ken Mangum (Dixie), Joplin, Mo., and Mrs. Argyle Janzen (Bonnie) Medford; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three sisters, Ada Barlene, Klamath Falls, Ore., May Perry, Holt, Mo., and Geraldine Joerg, Courtland.
Elda Elniff
Elda S. Elniff, 84, Concordia, died Feb. 8 at Sunset Home. She was born Oct. 23, 1914, at Scottsville to Clinton Lorenzo and Minnie Josephine (Hanson) Russell. She married Lawrence V. Elniff Dec. 31, 1931, and they lived near Randall until his death in 1973. At that time, Elda moved to Concordia where she was employed by the Moose Lodge until her retirement.
Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Charles Holdren (Roberta) Jewell, and Merle Ann Cordry, Concordia; four sisters, Vira Amende, Eulula Wright and Ferma Webster, all of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Helen Webster, Buhl, Ind.; two brothers, Ival Russell, Rupert, Ind., and Louis Russell , Boise, Ind.; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one sister and two brothers.
The funeral was held Friday, at Nutter Mortuary Chapel. Burial was in Randall Cemetery.
Dorothy Burdett
Dorothy Marie Burdett, 90, Ionia, died Monday at the Mitchell County Hospital, Beloit.
She was born Sept. 8, 1904, near Lebanon. A homemaker and a longtime resident of Dispatch and Ionia, she was a member of the Ionia United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, James Deters in 1952 and John Burdett in 1970.
Survivors include: a son, Boyd Deters, Victoria; two daughters, Shirley Sparks, Weeping Water, and Charlotte Deters, Durango, Colo.; two brothers, Carl Diecker, Duncan, Okla., and Warren Diecker, Lebanon; a sister, Lorraine Belleville, San Fernando, Calif.; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday from the Ionia United Methodist Church, with Pastor Frank DeFisher officiating. Burial will be in the East Dispatch Cemetery.
McDonald Funeral Home, Beloit, is in charge of arrangements.
Ethel Briggs
Ethel Briggs, 95, died Tuesday at the Good Samaritan Center, Superior. Her service is scheduled for 10:30 Saturday morning at the Union Church of Hardy. Burial will be in Hardy Cemetery. Pastor Dale Bussinger will officiate.
Megrue-Price Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Donald Swinton
Donald E. Swinton, 58, Salina, died at his home Feb. 8. The son of Lyle Swinton and Ruby Clark, he was born in Mitchell County Dec. 15, 1940.
A resident of Salina since 1960, he was a route driver and salesman for Cruce Produce, Salina Coffee House, Schwann's Food Service, and Tony's Pizza Service. He was a life-member and past director of Golden Wing Touring Association Salina Chapter.
He was preceded in death by his father.
Survivors include two daughters, Terry Haggard and Donn Swinton; a son, Donald Swinton, Jr., all of Salina; his mother, Ruby Clark, Mankato; two sisters, Shirley Carlton, Wichita Falls, Texas, and Beverly Smith, Nephi, Utah; step-mother, Evelyn Swinton, Mankato; and five grandchildren.
Services were held Friday at Ryan's Mortuary, Salina, with the Rev. Paul Robbins officiating. Interment was in the Round Springs Cemetery near Hunter.
