U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Fern E. Knudsen
Jackson resident
Fern E. Knudsen, 84, of Jackson died Friday, Feb. 27, 2004 at a Sioux City hospital after a brief illness.
Services were March 3 at Hope Lutheran Church in South Sioux City with the Rev. Charles Horkey officiating. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Fern was born Jan. 9, 1920, in Homer, the daughter of Carl and Mary E. (Churchill) Chapman. She married Louis R. “Louie” Knudsen Dec. 8, 1937, in Elk Point, S.D. She and her husband farmed together in Dakota County. She was the first woman in Dakota County to receive a private pilot license.
She was a member of Hope Lutheran Church. She was an avid outdoor person and sportsperson, loving to hunt and fish. She enjoyed going to the senior center and being with her family on the holidays.
Survivors include a son Robert and his wife Carolyn of Hubbard, Neb.; two daughters, Eleanor Whear of Jackson, Neb., “Boots” Hall of South Sioux City; a brother and his wife Bessie Chapman of South Sioux City; a sister Treva and her husband Henry DeGraaff of Hubbard; two sisters-in-law Bonnie and Betty Chapman; six grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband “Louie” Dec. 30, 1998 in Sioux City, three brothers, Don, Dick and Kay Chapman and two grandsons, Dennis Johnson and Randy Hall.
Pallbearers were great grandsons Cory and Troy Schultzen, Danny Johnson, Travis and Jesse Hall and Shay Verzani.
Carmen Uehling
Born in Macy
Carmen L. Uehling, 60, of Onawa died at a Sioux City hospital on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004. Funeral services were held on Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Alfred Gilpin Building with Jeff Gilpin officiating. Burial was in the Dakota City Cemetery in Dakota City.
Carmen was born on July 6, 1943 in Macy, the daughter of Herbert and Minerva (Cline) Morris Sr.
She is survived by her daughter Andrea and husband Billy Davis of Hominy, Okla. and son Melvin and wife Jodie Uehling of South Sioux City, six grandchildren; brothers Brian Morris, Donald Morris, Herbert Morris, Clinton Morris; sisters Iris Kirkpatrick and Laverne Free; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and two sons: Gilbert and Shane.
Elloise Yusten
Former Ponca resident
Elloise B. Yusten, 81, formerly of rural Concord died Friday, Feb. 27, 2004 at the Elms Health Care Center in Ponca.
Funeral services were Monday, March 1 at the United Methodist Church in Ponca with Pastor Chuck Rager officiating. Burial was in the Ponca City Cemetery.
Elloise was born Dec. 4, 1923 in Ponca, the daughter of John and Jennie M. (Crain) Yusten. Elloise grew up on a farm in rural Concord. Her mother passed away in January of 1949. She continued to live on the farm with her brother Edward and her twin sister Evelyn. After a few years, Elloise moved to Idaho to live wither her half-brother. In the early 1960s, she moved back to rural Concord to live with Henry and Irma Woodward. She entered the Elms Care Center In February 2001. Elloise enjoyed crocheting and gardening.
Elloise was of the Methodist faith.
Survivors include one nephew, Johnny Yusten of West Virginia, cousins and friends.
Elloise was preceded in death by her parents, one brother Edward, her twin sister Evelyn Yusten; two half-brothers Charles and William Yusten; and one half-sister Gertrude Yusten.
Isabella Miller
Former Allen resident
Isabella R. (Kingston) Miller passed away on Feb. 8, 2004 in Turlock, Calf.
Isabella was born on a farm north of Allen on July 13, 1915 to Richard James and Jennie (Thompson) Kingston. She graduated from Allen High School in 1932. She taught school near Allen and in Waterbury and worked for a short time in Sioux City, Iowa. She later moved to California where she met and married Lt. Col. Dudley D. Miller.
After her husband retired from the service they resided in San Francisco, Calf. Isabella and her husband had a real estate business in San Francisco for a number of years. They later retired to Turlock, Calif.
Survivors include a son, Michael D. Miller of Turlock, Calif., who passed away one week after Isabella; a sister, Mayme Jones of Denver, Colo.; a sister-in-law, Laverna Kingston, of South Sioux City, Neb.; along with several nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Dudley, five brothers, Jim, Clarence, Dick, Roy and Elmer along with two sisters Janie and Nettie.
February 26, 2004
Greg Graves
Lived in South Sioux
Gregory S. “Greg” Graves, 43, of South Sioux City died unexpectedly Sunday, Feb. 15 at a Sioux City hospital.
Services were Friday at Becker-Hunt Funeral Home with the Rev. Daniel Wittrock officiating. Burial was in the Dakota City Cemetery.
Mr. Graves was born April 30, 1960 in Sioux City, the son of Walter R. and Rozann M. (Jolin) Graves. He was a laborer for IBP before becoming disabled.
He married Phyllis I. Abbe on Feb. 14, 1987 in South Sioux City. He was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church.
Greg enjoyed fishing, watching television, working on cars, camping and spending time with his family.
Survivors include his wife, his three daughters: Ashley, Brittney and Brooke, all of South Sioux City, his parents Walter and Rozann Graves of Niobrara, two sisters: Dawn and her husband Lee Hansen of South Sioux City and Stacy and her husband Todd Fritz of Niobrara.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Shane Graves.
Pallbearers were Merle and Jimmy Jon Reising, Lee Hansen, Chris Chernock, Joshua Wilde and Jason Undine.
Jon Norris
Dakota City Fireman
Jon Clark Norris, 64, of Dakota City passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Feb. 17 at his residence.
Services were Saturday at the Dakota City United Methodist Church with the Rev. Chuck Rager officiating. Burial was in the Omaha Valley Cemetery, rural Homer. A reception followed at the Dakota City Fire Hall.
Jon was born Aug. 17, 1939 in Homer, the son of Harold C. and Dorathy M. (Chamberlain) Norris. He attended Walthill Nebraska School through the 10th grade and graduated from Mason City, Iowa High School. He then moved back to Dakota City in 1959. He was employed at the Broyhill Company for many years. At the time of his death he managed Jac’s Bar in Dakota City.
He joined the Dakota City Volunteer Fire Department in 1971 and became chief in 1976 and served that position until 2001. He held many positions while he was on the fire department, including president of Nebraska Fire Chiefs Association, president of Northeast Nebraska Mutual Aid association, Civil Defense Director, Dakota County State Fire School director, member of Joint Communication Policy Committee (911) for Dakota County, member of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), member of United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and he belonged to the Nebraska Chapter International Association of Arson Investigators.
He was an avid Husker football fan. He was the best brother any sister could ask for and a loving uncle to his 19 nieces and nephews.
He is survived by three sisters: Connie and (Fran) Robinson of Newton Square, Penn., Sally (Roger) Neuberger of Clear Lake, Iowa and April Kay McIntosh of Dakota City; one brother R. Jay Norris (Fern) of Homer and a sister-in-law Eileen Norris of Dumas, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his stepfather James C. Kilmer, a brother Ashley James Norris and a niece Pat Norris Hart.
Pallbearers were his nephews: Rhett, Rory, and Rockne McIntosh, Robert, Tracy and R. Jay Norris, Jr., Michael and Kyle Miller and Neal Neuberger. Honorary pallbearers were John Cain, Frank Barclay, Robert McIntosh, Ron Brunton and the members of the Dakota City Volunteer Fire Department.
Memorials in his name may be directed to the Dakota City Volunteer Fire Department.
Clara White
Raised in Hubbard
Clara Viola White, 86, of Onawa, Iowa died Sunday, Feb. 15, 2004 at Burgess Health Center.
Funeral services were Feb. 18, at Faith Lutheran Church in Onawa with Pastor Steven Hetzel officiating. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery at Sioux City.
Clara Viola was born May 13, 1917 in Sioux City, the daughter of Samuel and Hanna (Pedersen) Knudsen. She attended school in Hubbard and graduated from Sioux City Central.
She married John E. White on June 5, 1936 in Sioux City. The couple made their home in Sioux City until 1950 when they moved to a farm near Jackson. In 1964, they moved to South Sioux City. After John’s death in December 1991 Clara moved to Onawa.
She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Onawa. She was a sales clerk at Younkers and enjoyed sewing and quilting.
Survivors include three daughters, Jeanette and her husband Don Birkes of Omaha, Sue and her husband Larry Kreger of Onawa and Carol Washburn and Mel Nielsen of Redfield, Iowa; two sons Douglas and his wife Pam of Yuma, Ariz. and Steve of Sioux City; 16 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and three brothers, Harold Knudsen of Park Rapids, Minn., Jack Knox of Crown Point, Ind. and Howard Knox of Sioux City.
In addition to her husband John, she was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Walter.
Casket bearers were Mike Washburn, Jeremy Kreger, Larry Kreger, Kirk Kreger, Daren White and Steve White.
Frank Ryan
Former SSC resident
Frank Leroy Ryan, 82, formerly of South Sioux City died Thursday, Feb. 12, 2004 at the home of his daughter in Las Vegas.
Services were Thursday at Becker-Hunt Funeral Homer with the Rev. Daniel Whittrock officiating. Burial with military graveside services will be in the Dakota City Cemetery.
Frank was born Oct. 7, 1921 in Omaha. He was a navy veteran of WWII and the Korean Conflict. He married Opal Schook. She died April 10, 1972 in Sioux City. He was employed as a meat lugger at Raskins Packing Company. He was then employed with Klinger Construction and later was a custodian at the South Sioux City Junior High School. He had recently moved from Sioux City to Las Vegas to live with his daughter.
He was baptized and confirmed a Catholic.
Survivors include a son Dennis of Sioux City, two daughter and their husbands: Marsha and Charles Lellos of Las Vegas, Nev., and Kelly and Greg Moffatt of Sioux Falls, S.D., seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Catherine O’Conner Harrington Kemper
Homer native
Catherine O’Conner Harrington Kemper, 95, of LaPlata, Md., formerly of Homer, died Tuesday Feb. 17, 2004 at the Charles County Nursing and Rehab Center in LaPlata.
Mass of Christian Burial was Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in LaPlata, with the Rev. George Wilkinson officiating. Burial will be at a later date in her home state of Nebraska.
Catherine was born Nov. 9, 1908 in Homer, the daughter of Timothy and Mary (Dillon) O’Conner. She was an administrative assistant with Laredo Community College in Laredo, Texas.
Survivors include, daughters Catherine Jensen of LaPlata and Patricia Ann Rodriguez and her husband Bart of Mexico City, eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Congressman Vincent Harrington and her second husband, Laurence Kemper and a grandson Charles Jensen.
Memorials may be made to Mt. Carmel Monastery, 5678 Carmel Road, LaPlata MD 20646.
