Obituaries

* Funeral service for Ruth L. Baker, 94, of Ainsworth, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, in Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth with interment in the Ainsworth Cemetery. Ruth Baker died Thursday, Feb. 13, in the Sandhills Care Center. Visitation is scheduled from 5 until 7 p.m. Friday in Hoch Funeral Home, and from 9:30 a.m. Saturday until the time of service. Survivors include her children Duane Warnke and wife Debra of Augusta, Maine, Donna Pirnie and husband Richard of Ainsworth, and Dean Warnke and wife Theresa of Phillips; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; step-children Jennie Nora of Lawrence, Kan., Steven Baker of Casper, Wyo., and Dottie Pittington and husband Wes of Casper; seven step-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and other family members. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to the Sandhills Care Center activity department or to the Ainsworth Assembly of God Church.

* A memorial service for Joyce M. Welch, 80, of Ainsworth, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, in the Ainsworth United Methodist Church with a private family inurnment preceding the service in the Ainsworth Cemetery. Joyce Welch died Thursday, Feb. 13, in the Rock County Hospital Long Term Care at Bassett. Survivors include her children DeLonna Costello and husband Jim of Pierre, S.D., Denise Young and significant other Mark Swenson of Pierre, and Harlin Welch and wife Kara of Ainsworth; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Kathy Carrier of Ellicott City, Md.; nieces, nephews and other family members. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to the family for future designation.

* Funeral service for Karen R. Davison, 81, of Ainsworth, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, in Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth with interment in the Grandview Cemetery near Long Pine. Karen Davison died Thursday, Feb. 13, in the Legacy Square Nursing Home at Henderson. Visitation is scheduled from 5 until 7 p.m. Monday in Hoch Funeral Home, and from 9 a.m. Tuesday until the time of service. Survivors include children Denise Crofutt of Long Pine, Debra Konkel and husband Gary of Centennial, Colo., Michael “Jacques” Davison of Bradley, Ark., Jesse Colburn and wife Carrie of Bradshaw, and Mark Colburn and wife Becky of Henderson; 14 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brother Kenneth Voss of Ainsworth; nieces, nephews and other family members. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to the family for future designation.

* Funeral service for Donna Campbell, 79, of Stuart, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17, in the Stuart Community Church with burial in the Stuart Community Cemetery. Donna Campbell died Saturday, Feb. 8, in the West Holt Memorial Hospital at Atkinson. Visitation is scheduled from 5 until 8 p.m. Sunday in Seger Funeral Home of Stuart with a 7 p.m. prayer service, and from 9 a.m. Monday until the time of service in the Stuart Community Church. Survivors include her children Rashele Campbell of Inman, Robert Campbell of Inman, Kurtis Campbell of Page, Kyle Campbell of Inman, Laurie Behrendsen of Omaha, and Kelly Deweese of Omaha; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and other family members.

* Funeral service for Gary Raymer, 64, of Atkinson, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, in the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Atkinson with burial in the Woodlawn Cemetery at a later date. Gary Raymer died Thursday, Feb. 6, in the University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha. Visitation is scheduled from 9 a.m. Saturday until the time of service in the Immanuel Lutheran Church. Survivors include his wife Betsy Raymer of Atkinson; children Brian Raymer and wife Tara of Stuart, Cory Raymer of Omaha, and Jessica Raymer of Atkinson; two grandchildren; sister Deb Shipman and husband Dave of Fairfax, S.D., and Mary Reece and husband Allen of North Platte; and other family members. Memorials have been suggested to the Immanuel Lutheran Church.

* Word has been received of the death of Darlene E. Meyer, 77, of Valentine. Darlene Meyer died Feb. 6 in the Cherry County Hospital. She requested no service be held. Survivors include her husband Duane Gudgel of Valentine; son Mark Gudgel of Omaha; and other family members.

* A memorial service is pending for Betty E. McBride, 83, of Ainsworth, in Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth. Betty McBridge died Feb. 7 in the Sandhills Care Center. Survivors include her husband Victor “Bud” McBride of Ainsworth; son Dennis McBride and wife Jill of Ainsworth; one granddaughter; sister-in-law Dee Dee Downing of Broken Bow; nieces, nephews and other family members.

* Funeral service for Mary Gray, 75, of Atkinson, Feb. 10, in the O’Neill Assembly of God Church with burial in the Crawford City Cemetery. Mary Gray died Jan. 30 in the Atkinson Good Samaritan Center. Survivors include her daughters Summer Gray of Norfolk, and Andrea Gray of York; one granddaughter; brother Keith Dillon of Elk Grove, Calif.; and other family members.

* Funeral service for Todd Mitchell, 62, of Atkinson, Feb. 8, in the First Presbyterian Church of Atkinson with burial in the Butte City Cemetery at a later date. Todd Mitchell died Feb. 1 in his home. Survivors include his daughters Natina Mitchell of Wickenburg, Ariz., and Natasha Peterson and husband Scott of Kansas City, Mo.; two grandchildren; mother Jo Ann Mitchell of Atkinson; sisters Barb Leu and husband Randy of Atkinson, and Suz Mitchell of Stuart; and other family members.

* Funeral service for Roby V. Woods Jr., 75, of Ainsworth, Feb. 8, in the Ainsworth Nazarene Church with interment in the Ainsworth Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Ainsworth American Legion Post 79. Roby Woods died Feb. 3 in the CHI Health-Bergan Mercy Hospital at Omaha. Survivors include his wife Kathleen Woods of Ainsworth; children Thane Woods and wife Michelle of Gardner, Kan., Heather Beatty of Louisburg, Kan., and Grant Woods of Lincoln; five grandsons; brother Daniel Woods of Ainsworth; sisters Norma Grande of Saugus, Mass., and Lola Mitchell and husband Bob of Bourbonnais, Ill.; sisters-in-law Cheryl Mizner of Long Pine, and Kristina Stewart of Ainsworth; nieces, nephews and other family members.

* Funeral service for Ethel A. North, 93, of Long Pine, Feb. 7, in Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth with burial in the Grandview Cemetery near Long Pine. Ethel North died Jan. 29 in the Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital at O’Neill. Survivors include her son Ed North and wife Shari of Emmet; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters Leta Schuebel of Wheatland, Wyo., and Wilma Appleman and husband Robert of Johnstown; sister-in-law Rosemary Nelson of Beatrice; nieces, nephews and other family members.

* Funeral service for Sally Rossman, 82, of Atkinson, Feb. 3, in the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Atkinson with burial in the Woodlawn Cemetery. Sally Rossman died Jan. 28 in the Parkside Manor at Stuart. Survivors include her sons Bruce Rossman and wife Shirley of Springview, Mark Rossman and wife Susan of Atkinson, and Rod Rossman and Taylor Moran of Daufuskie Island, S.C.; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brother Mike Lamkin and wife Sue of Wichita, Kan.; siblings-in-law Lavern Rossman of Atkinson, Shirley Rossman of Norfolk, and Carol Robey of Franklin, Ind.; and other family members.

* Funeral service for Berdena Butler, 97, of Stuart, Feb. 1, in the Stuart Community Church with burial in the Stuart Community Cemetery. Berdena Butler died Jan. 26 in the Parkside Manor. Survivors include her children Larry Butler and wife Marilyn of Stuart, and Merlin Butler and Ranae of Shawnee, Kan.; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

* Funeral service for Lawrence Lee Obermire, 67, formerly of Butte, Jan. 31, in the St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church of Butte with burial in the St. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery. Lawrence Obermire died Jan. 25 in the Avera St. Anthony’s Hospital at O’Neill. Survivors include his brother Steve Obermire of Wayne; and aunt Carmen Benson and husband Melvin of Omaha.

* Funeral service for Dave Leonard, 62, of Valentine, Jan. 28, in the Valentine Presbyterian Church with burial in the Mount Hope Cemetery. Dave Leonard died Jan. 25 in his home. Survivors include his wife Carol Leonard of Valentine; children Nichole Bostock and husband Travis of O’Neill, Garrett Leonard and wife Samantha of Valentine, Makenzie Jones and husband Mathew of Norfolk, and Bailey Trusty and husband Austin of Hershey; brother Joe Leonard and wife Christi of Bassett; and other family members.

* Funeral service for Allen Tooker, 73, of Atkinson, Jan. 27, in the Atkinson St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with burial in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Allen Tooker died Jan. 22 in the West Holt Memorial Hospital. Survivors include his wife Lou Ann Tooker of Atkinson; children Lucas Tooker of La Crosse, Wis., Emily Walsh and husband Eric of Couer d’Alene, Idaho, Sarah Jenkins and husband Chris of Couer d’Alene, and Rachel Tooker of Great Falls, Mont.; sisters Sheryl Dye and husband Rodney of Casper, Wyo., and Betty Jane Tooker of Olathe, Kan.; and other family members.

* A celebration of life service will be held at a later date for Jeanne Bammerlin Graff, 97, of Spokane, Wash., formerly of Springview. Jeanne Graff died Jan. 17 in the Cottages Inn at Spokane. Survivors include her son Blaine Graff of Camas, Wash.; daughters Janie Manzer of Sequim, Wash., and Jerene Rogers of Spokane; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; sister Lila Heerten of Springview; sister-in-law Glee Swanson of Valentine; nieces, nephews and other family members.

* Funeral service for Jerry Oren Jackman, 75, of York formerly of Johnstown, Jan. 25, in the York Emmanuel Lutheran Church with burial in the York Greenwood Cemetery. Jerry Jackman died Jan. 20 at York. Survivors include his wife Marilyn Jackman of York; children Chad Jackman and wife Tanya of Lincoln, Geri Bartholomew and husband Mark of Utica, Melanie Behrens of Lincoln, and Matt Jackman and wife LaDonna of Kenesaw; seven grandchildren; siblings Jim Jackman and wife Connie of Johnstown, Don Jackman and wife Deb of Ridgefield, Wash., and Carole Schemm of Valentine.

A memorial service for Charles DuWayne Thompson, 86, of Lincoln formerly of Bassett, Jan. 25, in the Butherus Maser and Love Funeral Home of Lincoln. DuWayne Thompson died Jan. 19. Survivors include his wife Ann Thompson of Lincoln; son Kent Thompson; daughter Jill Hoffmaster; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and other family members.

* A celebration of life service for Eleanor Jean (Mabie) Kops, 96, of Lincoln, Jan. 24, in the Lincoln Masonic Temple. Eleanor Kops died Nov. 17, 2024. Survivors include her daughters Patty Collura and husband Rick of Ashland, Barb Merritt and husband Bill of Omaha, Cathy Rasmussen and husband Ron of Elgin, Ill., Carol Nygren and husband Mike of Newhall, Calif., and Cheryl Wagoner and husband Jay of Dragoon, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; four step-grandchildren; and eight step-great-grandchildren.

* Funeral service for John W. Dodds, 70, of Ainsworth, Jan. 21, in Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth with inurnment in the Ainsworth Cemetery at a later date. John Dodds died Jan. 16 in his home. Survivors include his wife Bonnie Dodds of Ainsworth; children Christy Paddock of Ainsworth, and Cory Dodds and wife Michelle of Rapid City, S.D.; four grandchildren; siblings Elven “Spud” Dodds of Ainsworth, Mary Hite of North Platte, Steve Dodds and wife Lindsey of Ainsworth, Jim Dodds and wife Penny of North Platte, Cathi Flynn of Kearney, Cindy Churchill and husband Dean of Valentine, Diane Watts and husband Gerald “Chop” of Ainsworth, Neena Miller and husband Allen of Kearney, Dave Dodds and significant other Brittni Hart of Ainsworth, and Ford Dodds and wife Kodi of Spearfish, S.D; brother-in-law Jim Teter and wife Betty of Kearney; nieces, nephews and other family members.

* Funeral service for Jack Hoffman, 19, of Atkinson, Jan. 18, in the Atkinson Community Center with burial in the Woodlawn Cemetery. Jack Hoffman died Jan. 15 in his home. Survivors include his mother Brianna Hoffman of Atkinson; sisters Ava Hoffman and Reese Hoffman both of Atkinson; grandparents Bonnie and Kerry Stiner of Burke, S.D., and Gary and Karen Hoffman of Spencer; aunts, uncles and other family members.

* A memorial service for Roseann Ninas, 77, of Atkinson, Jan. 18, in the St. John’s Lutheran Church of Atkinson with burial in the Stuart Community Cemetery. Roseann Ninas died Jan. 13 in her home. Survivors include her children Vicki Gilbert and husband Jason of Papillion, and Kelly Ninas and wife Valerie of Omaha; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother Roy Reinke of Columbus; nieces, nephews and other family members.

* Funeral service for Betty J. Hasch, 86, of Bassett, Jan. 18, in the Bassett Methodist Church with burial in the Bassett Memorial Park Cemetery. Betty Hasch died Jan. 7 in the Rock County Hospital Long Term Care. Survivors include her husband Ernie Hasch of Bassett; daughter Christy Hasch of Concordia, Kan.; son Kevin Hasch and wife Elizabeth of Phillipsburg, Kan.; three grandchildren; sister Patty Nelson and husband Roy of Ainsworth; brothers Richard Terry of Littleton, Colo., Ross Terry and wife Brenda of Katy, Texas, Ronnie Cottonwood and wife Layah of Kalispell, Mont., Raymond Terry and wife Debra of Lincoln, and Randy Terry of Lincoln; sisters-in-law Sherry Terry of Santa Rosa, Calif., Kimberly Terry of Hartford, Wis., and Velna Hasch of Marvin, S.D.; nieces, nephews and other family members.

* Funeral service for Margaret Brinda, 77, of Valentine, Jan. 13, in the Valentine St. Nicholas Catholic Church with burial in the Mount Hope Cemetery. Margaret Brinda died Jan. 8 in the Cherry County Hospital. Survivors include her husband Gary Brinda of Valentine; daughter Jocille Brinda of Valentine, and Nicki Brinda of Winner, S.D.; sons Patrick Brinda of Valentine, Michael Brinda of Valentine, Jay Brinda of Valentine, and Grant Brinda of Valentine; and other family members.

* Funeral service for Henry Murphy, 90, of Stuart, Jan. 13, in the St. Boniface Catholic Church of Stuart with burial in the St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery with military rites provided by the Stuart American Legion Post. Henry Murphy died Jan. 7 in the West Holt Memorial Hospital at Atkinson. Survivors include his wife Helen Murphy of Stuart; sons Tim Murphy and wife Laurie of Valentine, and Brock Murphy of Mitchell, S.D., daughters Lori Melton and husband Justus of Kearney, Lisa Jones and husband Mike of Paducah, Ken., and Kate Kunz and husband Jim of Stuart; 10 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and other family members.

* Funeral service for William L. “Bill” Assarsson, 64, of Bassett, Jan. 11, in Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth with burial in the Bassett Memorial Park Cemetery. Bill Assarsson died Jan. 7 in the Rock County Hospital. Survivors include his wife Deb Assarsson of Bassett; sons Josh Assarsson of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Festus Assarsson of Bassett; daughter-in-law Brooke Assarsson of Ainsworth; father Clifford Assarsson and wife Pauline of Ainsworth; mother Virginia Oman of Norfolk; mother-in-law Elizabeth Strand of Ainsworth; brother Clinton Assarsson and wife Becky of Valentine; and other family members.

* Funeral service for Sandra Shald, 85, formerly of Stuart, Jan. 10, in the Stuart St. Boniface Catholic Church with burial in the St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery. Sandra Shald died Jan. 4 at Omaha. Survivors include her daughters Sherry Miller and husband Don of Sidney, Jenise Brown of Omaha, Stephanie Weir and husband Myron of Hershey, Vanessa Drueke and husband Blaine of Alvo, and Julie Savage and husband Jason of Kremmling, Colo.; daughter-in-law Susanna Shald of Lincoln; 14 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; sisters Sharon Wenner of Atkinson, and Linda Fundus and husband Vince of Butte; nieces, nephews and other family members.

* Funeral service for Avealona Roeder, 11, of Newport, Jan. 6, in the Rock County High School gym at Bassett with burial in the Woodlawn Cemetery near Atkinson. Avealona Roeder died Jan. 1 in Children’s Hospital at Omaha. Survivors include her mother Michelle Hamar of Bassett; father Matthew Roeder of O’Neill; brother Jamian Roeder; sister Amaisha Vance; grandparents Garlen and Marcia Thurlow of Newport, and Jim and Maria Roeder of O’Neill; aunts, uncles, cousins and other family members.

* An online service via Zoom Jan. 4 for Richard Kneifel, 91, of Ainsworth. Richard Kneifel died Dec. 28 in Cottonwood Villa. Survivors include his children Mark Kneifel, Renae Hanson and husband Chris, Andrea Momchilovich, and Robin Schuetz and husband Kevin of Ainsworth; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law Myrtle Collins, Ellen Reed and Darlene Doering; nieces, nephews and other family members.