U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentMinnie Murray
Minnie May Murray, eldest child of John and Sarah Mosley, was born June 25, 1882, in Fillmore County, near Shickley, Nebraska. While still a child, she came with her parents to a homestead north of Farnam.
On April 3, 1902, she was united in marriage to William A. Murray at Stockville, Nebraska. To this union were born four sons and two daughters. They lived in the Farnam and Gothenburg areas during the entire 66 years of their married life.
The final summons came August 6, 1968, at the Gothenburg Memorial Hospital after a lingering illness. She was 86 years, 1 month and 11 days of age.
She is survived by her husband, William; three sons, Leo of Payette, Idaho; Merle of Goodland, Indiana; Burr of Neosho, Missouri; two daughters, Mary (Mrs. Earl Smallfoot) of Scottsbluff, Nebraska and Edna (Mrs. Lloyd Peterson) of Brady, Nebraska. One son died in infancy. She is also survived by one sister, Vera Easterday of Buhl, Idaho; twelve grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren as well as other relatives.
Grandma Murray, as she was called by many, was a loving mother and deeply devoted to her grandchildren. One grandchild, Clara May Blodgett of Marsing, Idaho, made her home with her grandparents until her marriage.
Funeral services were held Thursday, August 8, 1968, at 2:00 p.m. in the McVay Chapel with Rev. Arthur Olson officiating. Her nieces, Mrs. Delores Nickerson and Mrs. Audrey Kotschwar sang "Sweet Hour of Prayer "and "Beyond the Sunset" accompanied by Mrs. Evelyn Davis. Pallbearers were George Murray, Emil Krepcik, Fred Meredith, Lawrence Baker, Elgie Thompson, and Harold Schultz. Final resting place was in the Farnam Cemetery.
Tony Ray Klein
Tony Ray Klein, 20, of Farnam, died Jan. 21, 1996 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney as a result of injuries received in an automobile accident.
He was born March 25, 1975, in Cozad to Gary and Dianne Lynn Meredith Klein and was a 1994 graduate of Farnam High School. He attended Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte and the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis.
He was a member of the Tri-County 4-H Club.
Survivors include his parents; a sister, Lynn Hodson of Curtis; a brother, Travis at home; grandparents, Raymond and Sue Klein of Bartlett, Arlene Klein and Lois Meredith, both of Gothenburg; great-grandparents Nona Klein of Fort Morgan, Colo., and Martha Toberer of Eustis; and a nephew.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Kenneth Meredith.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Farnam Public Schools with the Rev. Mark Schutt officiating. Burial will be in the Farnam Cemetery.
Edward Krepcik
Edward Raymond Krepcik, son of Mr. & Mrs. Emil Krepcik, Sr. was born on November 24, 1914, in Bellingham, Washington. As a small child, he came to Nebraska with his parents, brothers and sisters making their home on a farm five miles from Riverdale, Nebr. In March 1931, the family moved to a farm northwest of Farnam, where he grew to manhood.
He later made his home in Long Beach, California, where he worked in the shipyards during the war. On Sunday, January 3, 1965, the deceased departed this life in a hospital at Las Vegas, Nevada, at the age of 50 years, 1 month and 8 days.
He leaves to mourn his departure, his brothers and sisters: Joe, Idaho, Emil, Farnam, Louis, Culbertson, Mrs. Ann Blomenkamp, Hastings, Mrs. Grace Ringenberg, Buhl, Idaho, Mrs. Louise Pavelka, Hastings and 13 nieces and nephews. His parents and a younger brother, Calvin, preceded him in death.
Funeral services were held Janaury 9, 1965, in the McVay-Olesen Funeral home with Rev. Robert J. Schaff officiating. Mrs. Delores Nickerson and Mrs. Audrey Kotschwar sang accompanied by Mrs. Raymond Smith.
Pallbearers were: Richard McMichael, Wayne Williams, Elgie Thompson, Richard Derra, Bert Hampson, and Wray Lydic. Interment was in the Farnam Cemetery.
Robert J. Lydic
Robert Johnston Lydic was born to Robert L. and Anna M. Lydic on October 21, 1879, at Cherry Tree, Indiana County, Pennsylvania and departed this life on August 6, 1969, at Hastings, Nebraska at the age of 89 years, 9 months and 16 days. His early childhood was spent in the beautiful wooded foothills of the Allegheny mountains in western Pennsylvania.
At the age of nine years he moved with his parents and family to a homestead 9½ miles south of Farnam, where he grew to manhood, suffered the loss of his father in death at the age of 13, and shared the hardships and privations of pioneer life in company with his family and neighbors as did all the early settlers who drew their nourishment from the soil.
When he became an adult he acquired a farm of his own 8 miles south of Farnam and established a home to which he brought his bride, Lula E. Aylsworth, after their marriage on September 19, 1905. To this union four children were born, and on this farm all grew to adulthood.
He is preceded in death by his father and mother, two brothers, James K. Lydic and Edward W. Lydic; three sisters, Luella Rice, Bessie L. Stevenson and Herriet A. Ross; one sister who died in infancy; his beloved wife, Lula E. Lydic and one granddaughter, Bernice Lydic Courtney.
He leaves to mourn his passing two sons, Frank A. Lydic and R. Wray Lydic; two daughters, Alverda L. Hamm and Anna M. Peterman, eight grandchildren, six grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and kind neighbors and friends.
Delvin L. Messersmith
Delvin Lynn Messersmith, 61, of Gothenburg died July 30, 1995, at the Gothenburg Memorial Hospital.
He was born May 15, 1934, at Farnam to Lynn and Valeria Crampton Messersmith. He graduated from Farnam High School and attended Milford Technical School. He was a parts man for Lepp and Osterloh for 23 years. He married Rebecca Jane Hewitt on June 30, 1962, at Kearney.
Mr. Messersmith was a member of the Episcopal Church in Cozad, a past member of the Cozad B.P.O.E. and was a Boy Scout leader for several years.
Survivors include his wife of Gothenburg; a daughter, Heidi (Brad) Hueftle of Brady; a son, Tyler at home; his parents, Lynn and Valeria Messersmith of Gothenburg; a sister, Nila Reitz of Florida; a brother, Dennis of Cozad; and two grandsons.
Services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Blase Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg with the Rev. Mark Schutt officiating. Burial will be in the Farnam Cemetery.
Henry Newth
Henry Newth, 80, died June 16, 1998, at the Haxtun, Colo., hospital.
He was born Aug. 25, 1917, near Farnam to Herbert and Catherine Powell Newth. The family moved to Venango when he was a young boy. He graduated from Venango High School in 1936. Before he was drafted into the U.S. Army, he helped his father farm.
After his discharge, he married Dorothy Cox in Ogallala in October 1942. They lived on a farm north of Holyoke, where they raised their family. In 1968, they moved west of Holyoke and in 1996, they moved into Haxtun.
Mr. Newth is survived by his wife; two daughters, Nancy (Charles) Zwirn of Sterling, Colo., and Tamma (Larry) Nothstine of Wood River; two sons, Bill (Claudia) of Holyoke and Byron of Greeley; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Venango Community Church with Pastor Eugene Layne officiating. A military tribute will be given by the Venango American Legion Post. Cremation will follow the services.
Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant is in charge.
Kenneth C. Oman
Kenneth C. Oman, 81, of Gothenburg, died May 12, 1999, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
He was born April 7, 1918, at Farnam to Oscar C. and Nellie R. Clement Oman. He graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1936, after which he worked for Union Pacific Railroad as a section hand before enlisting in the service. He served in the U.S. Army Infantry from May of 1944 to August of 1945. He trained at Fort Hood, Texas. He served and was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge in Europe.
He married Lorraine Reeves on June 18, 1939, in Farnam. After his parents moved to Arizona in 1947, he began farming south of Gothenburg where they farmed until their retirement, moving into Gothenburg in 1968.
He was a member of the V.F.W. Post No. 5132, Pony Expressionists, the Banner Methodist Church and Banner Men’s Breakfast. He enjoyed painting, drawing, and traveling.
Survivors include his wife, Lorraine of Gothenburg; two daughters, Jenelle (Bernie) Larson of Gothenburg and Pam (Doug) Deterding of Kearney; a sister, Jean Johnson of Kearney; six grandchildren, Pat Larson of Gothenburg, Jill (Roben) Ostergard of Gothenburg, Justin (Tara) Larson of Omaha, Shannon Knaub of Vail, Colo., Beth (Marc) Bauer of Kearney and Christi (Dave) Tighe of Kearney; 10 great-grandchildren, Abby, Alexa and Stefen Ostergard, Tyler Larson, Olivia and Samantha Knaub, Ryan, Scott, Allison and Julia Bauer.
He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother, Clarence.
Memorials can be made to the Banner United Methodist Church, Gothenburg Rescue Unit, National Arthritis Foundation, Senior Center, or the donor’s choice.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Gothenburg with Pastor Bill Bickett officiating. Burial will be in the Farnam Cemetery.
Source: The North Platte Telegraph, May 14, 1999.
