Roy Stuart, 79, of Bridgeport, died Saturday, December 1, 2012 in Rapid City, SD. His funeral service will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, December 6, 2012 at the First Baptist Church in Bridgeport with Pastor Ray Cook and Pastor Jonathan Seng officiating. Interment will be held at Oregon Trail Memorial Cemetery in Bridgeport. Visitation is scheduled from 11am until 7pm on Wednesday, December 5 at Jolliffe Funeral Home in Bridgeport. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials in Roy’s honor be made in care of the family to be designated at a later time. Online condolences may be left and memorial candles may be lit in Roy’s memory at www.jolliffefuneralhome.com. Jolliffe Funeral Home in Bridgeport is in charge of arrangements.

     Roy was born on February 26, 1933 in Bridgeport to Arnold and Mable (Franklin) Stuart. He married Ardis Schuler on February 2, 1953 in Bridgeport where they lived and raised their family.

     Roy worked as a farmer, truck driver and a mechanic for BNSF Railroad. He loved his family very much. He was an avid fisherman, enjoyed working with cattle, going to the coffee shop, watching western movies and attended church on a weekly basis.

He is survived by his wife Ardis; children Joyce (Jim) Leytham, Russ (Kim) Stuart, Shorty (Deb) Stuart, Wink Stuart, Ray (Tina) Stuart, Harold (Kim) Stuart, Teresa (Jeff) Wallace, and Terri (Greg) Lainhart; 15 grandchildren; 19 great grandchildren; and sisters Claira (Terry) Muhr, Carol (Mark) Swires, and Irene Stuart.

     His parents, son Richard Stuart, brother Bill Stuart and sister Ilene Stuart preceded him in death.

     “We Love You, Daddy!”

 

Brendan M. Pratt, 31, of Gering, died Thursday, November 29, 2012, in Gering.  Cremation was a Sunset Memorial Park Crematory.  Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com

Brendan was born January 31, 1981 at Woodland, California to Carl and Kim (Andrade) Pratt.  He graduated from Sutter Union High School in 1999 and then attended Sacramento City College and graduated in 2001. 

Brendan was an old soul who had an amazing heart.  He loved life and the outdoors.  He had many friends who were very dear to him, as he was the most loyal. 

Brendan loved being a brother and uncle to his nieces and nephew, and loved being involved.  He was an outstanding athlete from elementary school through college.  Football and wrestling was where he shined the most.  From high school on, he coached wrestling, where the kids respected and loved him.  In 2009, he was inducted into the Sutter Union High School’s Hall of Fame for wrestling.

Brendan touched so many lives.  He will be greatly missed and always loved. 

Brendan Is survived by his parents Carl (Heidi) Pratt, and Kim Andrade all of Yuba City, CA; sisters, Tara (Brandon) Hogan of Yuba City, CA and their children Katie, Hunter and Riley and Lindey Pratt of Gering and her children Paige, Ayden of Gering and Taylor of Virginia; and brother, Brock Pratt of Yuba City, CA.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Carl and Shirley Pratt and Doug Andrade.

 

Kim Leroy Haines, 59, died Saturday, December 1, 2012 at his home in Alliance.

He was born May 18, 1953 in Estherville, Iowa to Leonard and Eloise (Wymer) Haines.

Kim began working for the Rock Island Railroad in Estherville before moving to Alliance in 1975 when he went to work for the Burlington Northern Railroad where he was a locomotive engineer for 37 years.

He married Janine Carol Olson on August 29, 1975.

Kim was an avid woodworker and especially enjoyed making tops on his lathe.  His other hobbies included playing guitar, which he played in a garage band while in high school and throughout life, gardening and working in his greenhouse, landscaping, photography, fly fishing, and his Corvette.  He was known as “Grouch” on the railroad but was a big teddy bear at home.

He is survived by his wife, Janine of Alliance; his sons, Jaron and wife Jessica Haines of Pike Road, AL and Keli Haines of Alliance; his brothers, George Haines of Des Moines, IA and Bari Haines of Alliance.  He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and close friends.

His parents, brother David, and sister Carol Haines preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be Thursday, December 6, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Alliance with Pastor Tom Lucas officiating.  Burial will be in the Alliance Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 1-7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to Prairie Haven Hospice, 2409 Box Butte Avenue, Alliance, Nebraska, 69301, Jane’s Closet, c/o Box Butte General Hospital, 2101 Box Butte Avenue, Alliance, Nebraska, 69301 or Make a Wish Foundation, www.wish.org.

Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.  Bates-Gould Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Susie Genoways, 62, of Bayard, passed away peacefully with family and friends with her, Sunday, November 25, 2012 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.  Her memorial service will be held at 10am on Thursday, November 29, 2012 at Faith United Church of Christ in Bayard with Pastor Tom Smith officiating.  Inurnment will be held at a later date in Fort Calhoun Cemetery.  The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials in Susie’s honor be made in care of the family to be designated at a later date.  Online condolences may be left and memorial candles in Susie’s honor may be lit at www.jolliffefuneralhome.com.  Jolliffe Funeral Home and Crematory in Bridgeport is in charge of arrangements.

     Susie was born in Creston, IA on September 29, 1950 to Bernard and Frances (Mosley) Miller.  She grew up north of Omaha, NE.  She married Austin Genoways on July 12, 1969 in Council Bluffs, IA and to this union two daughters were born; Julie Hammack and Lynn Genoways.  They moved to Bayard in 1973 where she worked at Great Western Sugar for over 20 years.

     She is survived by her husband Austin of Bayard; daughters Julie (Pat) Hammack of Gering and Lynn Genoways of Omaha, NE; mother Frances Miller of Fort Calhoun, NE; brother David (Susie) Miller of Fort Calhoun, NE; sister in law Patty Miller of Omaha, NE; grandchildren USMC PFC Jabe Hammack currently stationed in Pensacola, FL, Kaleb Hammack, Mitchell Hammack and Dylan Hammack of Gering.

     Her father Bernard Miller, brother Timothy Miller and grandson Seth Hammack preceded her in death.

Donna J. Abel, 81, of Scottsbluff, died Friday, November 23, 2012, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff.

Her memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, November 30, 2012, First United Methodist Church in Scottsbluff with Pastor Matt Fowler officiating.  Inurnment will follow in the West Lawn Cemetery in Gering. 

Memorials may be made to Scottsbluff Habitat for Humanity, Smile Train, or United Methodist School in Kenya.  Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com  Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services in Scottsbluff is in charge of the arrangements.

Donna Jean was born December 25, 1930, twin sister of Phyllis Joyce, in a sod house on a farm near Stapleton, Nebraska to Jess and Helen (Tatman) Keslar.  She received her early education in a one room school house in Lincoln County.  She graduated from the Stapleton High School in 1948.

Donna married Carl F. Abel, June 26, 1949, at North Platte, Nebraska.  To this union three children were born, Stephen Carl, David Glenn, and Carol Jean.  They were married for 60 years.  She attended Santa Clara University where she received her Masters degree from the School of Education and Psychology Counseling.  

They moved to San Jose, California in 1956 and lived there until moving to Morgan Hill, California.  She worked as a registered nurse for 30 years in Santa Clara County California.  They moved to Scottsbluff in 2006. 

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Morgan Hill, California and transferred to First United Methodist Church in Scottsbluff. 

Survivors include her daughter, Carol (Joe Meerscheidt) Abel of Minden, Nevada; sons, Stephen (Barbara) Abel of Kalispell, Montana and David (CamHong Pham) of Fremont, California; grandchildren, Maria, Alexander “Pat,” Cynthia, Ian, and Ashley. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; twin sister, Phyllis Potter; and brothers, Byron, Fred, Riley, and J.R. Keslar.  

 

Memorial services for Bebe Norman of Whitney, Nebraska will be held on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 11:00 AM at the Grace Episcopal Church in Chadron with Bishop James Krotz officiating.  Inurnment will be at a later date at the Whitney Cemetery in Whitney, Nebraska.

 Mrs. Norman passed away on November 24, 2012 at her home in Whitney, Nebraska.

  Bebe was born on January 8, 2012 in Callaway, Nebraska.

 She was 80.

 Her survivors include:

 Son:  Casey (Cheryl) Norman of Minneapolis, MN

 Daughter:  Kris (James) Falvo of Santa Fe, New Mexico

 A memorial has been established for the Hwy 20 Fire Department Fund or the Bridgeport Alumni Scholarship Fund. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE, 69337.

 Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com

 Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.

 

Elsie Lee Jackson passed away on Thursday, November 22, 2012 in Martin, SD.  She was just a few weeks shy of her 95th birthday.

Elsie Lee King was born on Dec 16, 1917, on her parent’s ranch in Survey Valley in the Sandhills of Cherry County, Ne. She was named for them both, Lee D and Elsie Calame King. The Kings lived on several places in the Sandhills then moved to Hyattville, Wyoming when Elsie Lee was young.  She always remembered her time there with fondness.  She especially liked living so near her Grandpa, Calvin Calame.  He took her fishing often and once bought her a brand new pair of high top shoes, which she treasured.

Lee King developed pneumonia and his health was not one hundred percent so when his brother Fred wrote and invited him to move to Ashby, NE and work in his store, Lee moved the family there.  They lived in a house one half mile east of town.  There was an old pump on the place and Elsie Lee told that when the Ashby kids needed money, they would take it to town and sell it to Uncle Fred.  He bought that pump many times over.

Elsie Lee graduated from Ashby High School in 1936, and then attended Chadron Teacher’s College.  She taught school in many country schools throughout her life, riding horseback to get to work in the early years.

In 1920 Lee and Elsie were living in King Precinct in Cherry County with 3 year old Elsie Lee.  On a nearby ranch were Carl and Katy Jackson with 3 year old Franklin. However, it wasn’t until a New Year’s dance in 1935 or 36 that Elsie Lee remembered meeting him.  They were married on August 28, 1940 in Ashby.  The Jackson’s eventually bought a ranch south of Wood Lake, Ne where they raised their young family until 1958 when they moved to the ranch south of Martin.

There was a quiet strength to Elsie Lee.  When the family lived near Wood Lake, far from a doctor, she would have to fly to her appointments when she was pregnant with Marilee.  Later when a bull injured Franklin’s leg, she kept the ranch running while tending to 5 young children.  She nursed Cathy through her diabetes and then remained strong through the ordeal of her death.

Elsie Lee was a kind teacher and a great ranch wife. She always had a big garden, raised chickens and was an excellent cook.  Cowboys and others who had business to discuss with Franklin often managed to come by around meal time and were, of course, invited to stay and eat.  But the most important thing in Elsie Lee’s life was undoubtedly her family.  Her mother, Elsie King taught school near Wood Lake for a time and Lee lived in the Jackson’s bunk house.  Elsie stayed at school during the week and joined Lee there on weekends.  Elsie Lee as well as the grandkids enjoyed this time with her parents.

Elsie Lee always stayed close to her 8 siblings. Before the age of cell phones and email, the King family kept in touch by “Round Robin.”  Elsie Lee looked forward to the big envelope containing letters from her siblings every month or so.  She would enjoy reading each one, then replace her old letter and send the Robin on its way.  The group met for a reunion at least every other year, often at Fort Robinson, sharing children and grandchildren and many memories.

Above all, Elsie Lee was a great mother.  When Carl got his first rifle, she would take time from all her other responsibilities and walk along with him while he hunted rabbits. She was teaching at the Survey Valley school when Pat was in the 5th grade took her along for the school year. The two of them had some special time together all week, coming home on weekends.  She enjoyed all of her grandkids as well.  Elsie Lee had a big hand in raising the older ones and was able to relax and enjoy Meghan when she came along later on in her life.

Elsie Lee was a former member of the SD Retired Teachers Association and worked at the Bennett County Hospital and was active at the Senior Citizens Center when she lived near Martin.

Like the entire King family, Elsie Lee was a quiet person but had a terrific sense of humor and a great deal of musical talent.  No one could play the Black Hawk Waltz like she could or do the Charleston!  Even the last two years in the Nursing Home, she kept the staff and residents entertained with both her wit and her singing.  One resident stopped by her room on Thursday and said, “I will miss her voice.”  We all will.

Elsie Lee was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin, daughter Cathy Atchison, grandson William Atchison, Jr. and several siblings: Kenneth King, Sophie and husband George Anderson, Virgil King, Myrtle Blaylock, Eugene and wife Darlene King, Thelma Kennedy, and  brother-in-law Alvin Hamilton.

She is survived by four children:  Darlene of Hot Springs, Carl and wife Hannah of Martin, Marilee Hawkins of Rapid City and Patricia and husband Vince Logue of Oelrichs, SD; two sisters, Shirley and husband Robert Ostrander and Phyllis Hamilton, brother-in-law Charles Blaylock and sister-in-law Bettie King. Elsie Lee is also mourned by several grandchildren, great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 28 at 2:00 p.m. at the Ashby United Church of Christ with Reverend Morris Nelson officiating.  Burial will be in the Ashby Cemetery.

A memorial has been established to the Ashby United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 51, Ashby, NE  69333.

Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com with Bates-Gould Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Wendell F. Neafus, 84, died Thursday, November 22, 2012 at Good Samaritan Health Care Center.

 He was born June 6, 1928 at Antioch, Nebraska to Henry O. and Ruth C. (Phettplace) Neafus.

 He married Evelyn Jean Adam on October 29, 1950 in Lakeside, Nebraska.

 Wendell served in the United States Army during the Korean War and later returned to Antioch where he was a lifetime area rancher.  He was a member of the V.F.W.

 He is survived by his son, Don (Gloria) Neafus of Springtown, Texas; his granddaughters, Nicci (Monte) Reeves of Seward, Nebraska and Wendy (Matt) Rhoades of Lincoln, Nebraska; and his great grandchildren, Jake and Trevor Reeves and Cale Rhoades.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and his son Ronald.

 Graveside services will be held Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Alliance Cemetery.

 Memorials may be given to Prairie Haven Hospice, 2409 Box Butte Ave., Alliance, Nebraska, 69301, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

 Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.  Bates-Gould Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.