U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-Current
Verna B. Noble
South Sioux City resident
Verna B. Noble, 85, of South Sioux City died Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004 at Regency Square Care Center.
There was no visitation. She will be cremated, as per her wishes.
Verna was born June 1, 1919 in Muncie, Ind. to Mark West and Della Minnick West. She attended Muncie schools. She worked 26 years at Downy Flake Donuts.
Survivors include three daughters: Jacquelyn Stevenson and her husband Mahlon of South Sioux City, Verna Sue Terry and her husband Larry of Yorktown, Ind., and Connie Swingley of Yorktown, Ind.; three sons: Larry Haffner and his wife Mary of Spencer, Ia., Bob Haffner and his wife Carolyn of Muncie, Ind. and Mike Noble of Spencer, Ia. and a special daughter, Marcia Haffner of Spencer, Ia. and special granddaughter, Jill Czosnek and her husband John of South Sioux City; 25 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren, many step grandchildren, 10 great greatgrandchildren and 1 great, great greatgrandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, three brothers, two grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
Lyle E. Ahlf
South Sioux City resident
Lyle E. Ahlf, 80, of South Sioux City, died Monday, Nov. 29, 2004 at a Sioux City Hospital after a lengthy illness.
Services were Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2004 at Becker-Hunt Funeral Home with the Rev. Alex T. Washington officiating. The body was cremated and burial of the remains will be in Omaha Valley Cemetery at Homer, Neb.
Lyle was born May 3, 1924 in South Sioux City, the son of Louis and Della (Hardin) Ahlf. He attended schools in South Sioux City. He married Barry J. Holtz, December 27, 1954 in Pipestone, Minn.
He worked for American Insulation for fourteen years and later worked as a roofer for Sears. He also was employed with Flavorland and Floyd Packing Plants.
Survivors include Betty Ahlf of Hinton, Ia., the mother of his children; a son: Tim Ahlf of Hinton, Ia.; a daughter: Jody E. and her husband Jack Williams of Sioux City; a brother and his wife, Lloyd D. Sr. and Pearl Ahlf of Mountain Lake, Minn.; a sister: Phyllis Villum of Sergeant Bluff, Ia.; and a sister-in-law: Iola Ahlf of Sioux City, Ia.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons: Jeffery and Robin; two brothers: Howard and Glenn Ahlf; and a sister: Charlotte Doenhoefer.
Eugene LeRoy Johnson
Former SSC resident
Eugene LeRoy Johnson, Jr. 58, of Las Vegas, Nevada, formerly of South Sioux City, died Monday, Nov. 15, 2004.
Memorial services were held last week. The body will be cremated. Burial will be at a later date at Veterans Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada.
Survivors include his wife, Sally of Las Vegas, his mother Marie Buser of Las Vegas, his father Eugene Johnson, Sr. of McCook, Neb., a brother Paul “Pete” Johnson of Phoenix, Ariz., a sister Millie Paxson of Sgt. Bluff, Ia., and other cousins, nieces and nephews who loved him very much.
Erma D. Koester
Allen resident
ALLEN, Neb. - Erma D. Koester, 95, of Allen died Thursday, Dec. 2, 2004, at Premier Estates in Wayne, Neb.
Services were Tuesday, Dec. 7 at First Lutheran Church in Allen, with the Rev. Karen Tjarks officiating. Burial was in Eastview Cemetery, Allen.
Erma was born on July 15, 1919, in Edgeley, N.D., the sixth of 11 children born to Jesse and Addie (Pritchard) Wheeler. The family moved back to Allen, Neb., that same year, and Emma lived the rest of her life there. She graduated from Allen High School in 1926 and taught country school for two years.
She married Oscar Koester on Dec. 22, 1928. The couple farmed north and east of Allen until 1973, when they retired and moved to town. In 1988, a year after Oscar passed away, Erma moved into the Care Centre at Wayne.
She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Allen, where she was active in the Naomi Circle. She was also member of the Pleasant Hour Club. Erma was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan. In later years at the Care Centre, she would dress in red on football Saturdays and listen to the game.
Survivors include two daughters, Helen and her husband, Gil Lujan of Richland, Wash., and Janet and her husband, Merle Paulsen, of Lecanto, Fla.; a son, Norman, and his wife, Barbara Koester, of Beaver Lake, Neb.; 12 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two great-great-granddaughters; a sister, Ruth, and her husband, Virgil Luhr, of Wayne; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials are suggested to the First Lutheran Church in Allen
Mary V. Cooper
Realtives in SSC
Mary V. Cooper, 85, of Sioux City died Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004, at Morningside Nursing and Rehab Center following a lengthy illness.
Services were Wednesday, Dec. 8 at Calvary Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Pat Roberts, deacon of Calvary Episcopal Church officiating. Burial was in Logan Park Cemetery.
Mrs. Cooper was born Sept. 30, 1919, in Sioux City, the daughter of Willis and Olive (Barton) Fletcher. She grew up in Sioux City and attended Sioux City schools.
She married Alfred Cooper in 1946, in South Sioux City. He died in 1977, in Omaha.
She was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church. She had done coral dancing in Chicago and enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephews.
Survivors include a sister, Arlene Whalen of South Sioux City; a brother, Bob Fletcher of Sioux City; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Bill; and a sister, Ina.
Pallbearers were Brad Fletcher, Jerry Marcoe, Jean Kelly, Denise Hinds, Bill Scott and Ray Rask.
Beverly A. Montagne
Relatives in SSC
Beverly Ann (Buhman) Montagne, 77, of Sioux City died peacefully Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, at Westwood Nursing and Rehab Center with her family and close friends by her side.
Services were Wednesday Dec. 8 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with the Rev. Craig A. Collison officiating. Burial was in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Beverly was born Nov. 23, 1927, in Plymouth County, Iowa, to Max and Marie (Heien) Buhman. She attended school in Merrill, Iowa. Her mother, Marie, passed away in 1941 and she moved to Sioux City with her father.
She married James Montagne on May 9, 1945, in Sioux City. They moved to Jefferson, S.D. and farmed there until they moved to a farm in rural Hinton, Iowa, in 1965. The couple moved to Sioux City in 1971. James passed away in 1989, in Sioux City. She worked for Kresges, Goodwill Industries, Indian Hills Care Center and Zenith.
Her family was her life and she loved to spend time with them.
She was a beautiful seamstress and an excellent knitter. She spent most of her waking hours knitting. She knit some beautiful items. She used these items as gifts and donated many items to the church bazaar. She made mittens each year for the Christmas Mitten Tree. She loved to walk and made her walks a part of her day until she moved to the nursing home.
She is survived by two sons and their spouses, Mike and Carolyn Montagne and Dennis and Pam Montagne, all of Sioux City; a daughter and her spouse, Sharon and Ivan Kittler of Sioux City; six grandchildren, Bill and Carey Kittler of New Ulm, Minn., Randy and Tracie Kittler of McCook Lake, S.D., Jodi Kittler of Columbus, Ohio; James Montagne and Dana Montagne, both of Sioux City and Jill (Kittler) and Rich Stusse of Sioux City; eight great-grandchildren, Josh, Brady and Joselyn Montagne and Kelsey, Ben, Jenna, Jayse and Jaden Kittler; a brother and his spouse, Donald and Doris Gerber of Phoenix, Ariz.; a sister, Marge Reed of Sioux City; a stepsister, Jean Loomis of Lake Okoboji, Iowa; a special sister-in-law, Helen Montagne of South Sioux City; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Mona Reed Buhman; and a stepbrother, Robert Reed.
Pallbearers were Bill Kittler, Randy Kittler, James Montagne, Joshua Montagne, Brady Montagne and Rich Stusse. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Montagne, Joe Montagne, Dan Garvin and Doug Garvin.
Vernetta A. Busby
Wakefield resident
Vernetta A. Busby, 90, of Wakefield died Sunday, Dec. 6, 2004, at Pender Community Hospital in Pender, Neb.
Services were Wednesday, Dec. 8 at Wakefield Presbyterian Church. Burial was in Wakefield Cemetery. Funeral Home in Wakefield.
Cindy Byrne
SSC resident
Cindy Byrne, 47, of South Sioux City died Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004, in Sioux City.
Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday (today) at St. Michael Catholic Church in South Sioux City. Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery, Jackson, Neb.
Donald D. Witzna
Former SSC resident
Donald D. Witzna, 60, of Thornton, Colo. died at his home Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2004. Witzna is a former South Sioux City resident.
He was born to Emil E. Witzna, Sr. and Dora L. Witzna on July 1, 1944. He married Roberta Palm on July 11, 1964. He was raised in Dakota County and attended South Sioux City schools. He joined the 133rd infantry of the Air National Guard in Sioux City, Ia. He and Roberta resided here until 1966 when they moved to California and then to Colorado for the past 15 years.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, two children: Doris Assari and Eric Witzna of Colo., one grandchild, six brothers: Robert Witzna of South Sioux City, William Witzna of Sioux City, Ia., James and Karen Witzna of Phoenix, Ariz., Randall Witzna of Lawton, Ia., Kevin and Susan Witzna of Sioux City, Ia., two sisters: Shirley and Theodore Thompson of Huntsville, Ala. and Jeannie Witzna of Sioux City, Ia.
He was proceeded in death by his parents and an older brother, Emil Witzna, Jr. and paternal grandparents, Christine Cinimino.
Kenneth R. Hitchcock
SSC resident
Kenneth R. Hitchcock, 70, of South Sioux City passed away Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004, at his residence after a brief illness.
Services were Wednesday, Nov. 24 at Salem Lutheran Church in rural Dakota City, with the Rev. Karen Kaye officiating. Burial was in Omaha Valley Cemetery, rural Homer, Neb.
Kenneth was born April 18, 1934, in Rutland, Vt., the son of Sherman and Margarett (Wade) Hitchcock. He grew up in Manchester, Vt. and attended Burr and Burton Schools. He loved skiing in the mountains of Vermont. After school, he entered the U.S. Air Force and served in the Korean Conflict from May of 1950 and being discharged in October of 1953. He was employed as a semi truck driver for 40 years. He came to Sioux City in 1970.
He married Carol F. McAfee on March 3, 1973, in South Sioux City. The last year and a half, he drove bus for Durham School Service and also the Sunday school bus for Salem Lutheran Church.
He was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Dakota City and the Fraternal Order of Eagles in South Sioux City. He was also a Mason and an Abu Bekr Shrine Hospital Dad.
Survivors include his wife, Carol; eight sons, Brian of South Sioux City, Lance and his wife, Shay, of Le Mars, Iowa, Erik and his wife, Gina, of Sioux City, Tim of Everett, Wash., Richard, Keith, Kevin and Kyle, all of Pennsylvania; two daughters, Laurie and her husband, Aaron Suppinger, of Everett, Wash. and Katrina of Pennsylvania; six grandchildren, Toby, Brady, K.C., Kayla, Evan and Abby; a sister, Patty Decker, of Melville, N.Y.; an aunt and uncle in Burlington, Vt.; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Pallbearers were Ralph Stephen, Dan Vermilyea, Deryl Rogers, Brad Roberts, Jeremy and Billy Knapp.
