U.S., Obituary Collection, 1930-CurrentWilliam (Bill) Elley
William (Bill) Elley, 62, of Farnam died March 9, 1998, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center.
He was born Sept. 30, 1935, to Guy and Olive Loshbaugh Elley in Holdrege.
He attended Bailey Grade School and graduated from Stockville High School in 1952.
After graduation, he moved to Kearney and worked at Swan’s Furniture for a year.
He then returned to the family farm, where he farmed until his death.
On Nov. 8, 1959, he married Jean Weber in McCook.
Mr. Elley belonged to the World Wide Church of God and enjoyed working with the youth in the church.
He also enjoyed the mountains, hunting, fishing and camping.
He also loved music and liked to dance.
Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Lisa (Mike) Cromwell of Louisville, Ky.; two sons, Tim (Mary) of Denver and Tom (Rhonda) of Birmingham, Ala.; two sisters, Miriam Tatem of Denver and Delores (Bill) Tackwell of Hastings; a brother, Roger (Joan) Elley of Hastings; and four grandchildren, Tiffany and Shaun Cromwell and Jessica and Joseph Elley.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a niece and a nephew.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, at the Stockville Congregational Church, with Pastor Norris Grous officiating.
Burial will be in the Stockville Arbor Cemetery.
North Platte Telegraph, March 11, 1998.
Catherine (Hiestand) Fitch
Catherine Fitch passed away March 3, 1935 at the age of 81 years, one month and one day.
Catherine Hiestand was born February 2, 1854 in Ohio.
When a young lady, she moved to Adams County, Nebraska.
She came to western Nebraska, in 1885, to take a homestead south of Farnam.
She was united in marriage to Hudson Fitch September 26, 1905, who preceded her in death February 1914.
She united with the Christian church when a young lady.
After coming to Farnam, she united with the Baptist church, where she has been a faithful and loyal member.
Three brothers and one sister have preceded her in death, Lyle Kaiser, Mary Conover, Dave Hiestand and Sam Hiestand.
She leaves to mourn her death two brothers, Jess Hiestand, of Billings, Montana, and one step sister, Naomi Harry, of Moorefield, other relatives and a host of friends, who will miss her cheery words and kind deeds.
The funeral service was conducted at 2:30 March 5 at the Baptist church with Rev. Floyd A. Smith in charge, assisted by Rev. C. R. Tanner.
The music was furnished by Mr. and Mrs. Dan McNickle, Mrs. Chas. Pollard and Joe Hicks.
Horace H. Fitch
Horace Hannable Fitch, 98, of Maxwell died Sept. 21, 1998, at Gothenburg Memorial Hospital.
He was born May 31, 1900, to Jessie H. and Alice M. Phillips Fitch in Farnum.
He attended school at Dickens and then pursued Business school in Grand Island, after which he ranched five miles southeast of Dickens.
Mr. Fitch married Eldora Brink on May 1, 1925 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
She preceded him in death on Nov. 6, 1981.
He then married Florence Smith on March 31, 1982.
In 1976, he relocated to Maxwell after living in the Dickens area for 66 years.
He was a member of the Baptist Church in Dickens.
He enjoyed music and played numerous musical instruments, traveled overseas, owned and operated his own airplane, fished and hunted, and he fished in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
Survivors include his wife; two step-daughters, Phyllis (Jerry) Mead of Denver and Rosalie (Alan) Frost of Colorado Springs; two step-sons, Buster (Donna) Smith of Glenwood Springs, Colo. and Roy (Conna) Smith of Denver; two sisters, Lavonne Miller of Hershey and Genieve Guenthner of Lorton, Va; three grandchildren, Sandra (Augustine) Chengsut of Portland, Or, Henry H. (Kay) Fitch of West Lynn, Or. and Terry L. (Cindi) Fitch of Maxwell; four great-grandchildren, Jason and Eric Nall and Shawn and Sarah Fitch; 3 great-great grandchildren, 15 step grandchildren, 20 step-great-grandchildren and a step-great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his a son, Milton, his parents, a sister and two brothers.
Source: The North Platte Telegraph September 23, 1998
Clyde W. Gardner
Clyde Wesley Gardner, son of Howard and Susan Gardner, was born November 10, 1898 at Farnam and departed this life November 11, 1976 at the Gothenburg Hospital after a short illness.
He attained the age of 78 years and 1 day.
Clyde lived 65 years on a farm south of Farnam.
In 1964, he retired and moved to Farnam.
He was united in marriage to Jennie V. Johnson on August 11, 1926 and to this union, two children were born, a son, Elvin and a daughter, Eula.
Clyde was a member of the United Methodist Church, the Lions Club and a 50 year member of the I.O.O.F. Lodge.
He had many hobbies and interests and liked to keep busy.
He took much pride in his yard and garden. Clyde enjoyed his family and always had time to visit with his friends and neighbors.
In August of this year Clyde and Jennie celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Clyde leaves to mourn his passing, his wife, Jennie; one son, Elvin and wife, Marilyn of Farnam and one daughter, Eula Weathers and husband Raymond of Corvallis, Oregon and four grandchildren, Dan and Lori Weathers and Launa and Tracy Gardner.
Clyde was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Hazel Funk.
Funeral services were held Monday, November 15, 1976 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Farnam with Rev. Leonard S. Clark officiating.
Music was provided by Audrey Kotschwar and Deloras Bunstock accompanied by Evelyn Davis.
Honorary pallbearers were Arch Jorgensen, Roland Lehman, Charles Clement, Ernie Lewis, Charles Pollard, Raymond Smith and Jay Rice.
Active pallbearers were Lewis Lehman, Vern Brouillette, Orvale Widick, Lloyd Hopkins, Gene Hoppe and Aimie Guerin.
The I.O.O.F. No. 235 of Farnam conducted services at the gravesite.
Interment was in the Farnam Cemetery with McVay Memorial Chapel in charge of the arrangements.
