Edwina C. Layher, age 91, of Stapleton passed away April 17, 2013 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. She was born July 22, 1921 to Nick and Marie (Brosius) Niesen in Stapleton.
Edwina graduated from Baker Rural High School in 1938. On September 29, 1941 she married Howard Layher in Stapleton. The couple lived in Stapleton where she worked for the Stapleton Schools as a cook for over 30 years. Edwina lived her whole life in Stapleton until moving to North Platte a year ago. She enjoyed her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchild, was an excellent cook, making pies every Sunday for many years. She embroidered, enjoyed playing cards, word search, and loved to read.
Edwina was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church and the Friendship Club.
Survivors include daughters, Janice Berglund of North Platte, Priscilla (Ellis) McKay of Lakewood, Co, Donna (Kennard) Lovitt of Stapleton and Sandra (Daniel) Reppert of West Point, NE; son, Mike (Janine) Layher of Stapleton; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; sister, Mary Keslar of Stapleton; and numerous other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard in 1997; brothers, Christopher and Donald Niesen; and a son-in-law, Carl Berglund.
Memorials may be made to St. John’s Catholic Church and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Christian Wake Services will be 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2013 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Stapleton. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 20, 2013 at St. John’s Catholic Church with the Reverend Antony Thekkekara as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be 12:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. today and from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Doris May Johnson passed away on April 15, 2013, in Eads, Colorado. She was born May 4, 1924 to Frank O. and Mabel H. (Lind) Johnson of North Platte and attended Nichols School. Dorie was in the last graduating class at Nichols school in 1941. In 1945 she was employed by the First National Bank and worked in several departments, the last being auditor at the time of her retirement in 1987.

Survivors are her nieces and nephews, Nancy (Bill) Cline, Rick (Barbara) Johnson, Penny Koch (Ralph), Mary Ellen (Dick) Yahn, Bruce (Barbara) Johnson, Rod (Sharon) Johnson, Beverly Johnson and Debbie (Paul) Willis. Grand nieces and nephews – Kevin Cline, Katie Johnson, Ben (Ana) Johnson, Eldon Koch, Aaron (Pamela) Koch, Mike (Sandy) McCarty, Todd (Jill) McCarty, Chris McCarty, Christopher Johnson, J D Johnson, Jennifer (Brett) Boyd, Chris Everett, Nick Everett, Molly Willis and Emmy Willis. Great-Grand nieces and nephews – Madison, Cole & Easton Cline, Joaquim Johnson, Benjamin & Garrison Koch, Tate, Jenna, Braxton, Aiden, Riley Jean, Logan, Sam, & Quinn McCarty, Easton Johnson, Elle Johnson, Brooklyn Boyd, Landis Everett & Taylor Sewald.

Preceding her in death were her parents, sister (Arline Johnson), brothers (B. Kenneth, Herbert, Paul and Harold “Bill” Johnson), sisters-in-laws (Madge, Lucille, Alice & Maxine Johnson), nephew (Benny Johnson) and niece (Elaine Koch).

She was a life long member of the First United Methodist Church of North Platte, the Methodist Women’s organizations, Circle 7, and served in many volunteer capacities within the church. She was also a member and gave freely of her time in many organizations – the American Legion Auxiliary, BPO Does, Altrusa Club, the Navy Admirals of Nebraska, memorial chairman for the American Heart Association and Ladies Major Bowling Association for which she was inducted into the bowling Hall of Fame in 1997. Many will remember Doris for her help in balancing their check books, delivering them groceries or the Upper Room, Halloween pictures of all that came trick or treating, being an avid football fan – especially the Cornhuskers – and always ready with a smile and a lending hand.

Due to health reasons, Dorie moved to Eads, Colorado in 2008. She soon found herself being welcomed by the entire small community of Eads and Prairie Pines Assisted Living facility. It seemed like everybody in Eads knew Dorie and she greeted all with a smile.

Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church in North Platte at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 20, 2013 with burial at the North Platte Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 19 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. A luncheon will follow the service with location announced on Saturday. A memorial has been established to the First United Methodist Church or the charity of your choice. Brown Funeral Home in Eads and Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte are in charge of arrangements.

Alvin L. Nichols age 95 passed away April 16, 2013 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. He was born Oct. 9, 1917 to Charles and Maud (Saunders) Nichols in Wauneta, NE., where he grew up and attended school. On Oct. 20, 1936 he married Beth Jones in Oberlin, KS. They moved to North Platte in 1959 from Palisade, NE. He then worked at Cornhusker Tractor & Equipment for 10 years, then the Union Pacific Railroad for 20 years. Survivors include, two daughters, Virginia Lee “Ginger” (Larry) Throm of North Platte, and C.J. (Richard) Pierson of Lincoln, a son Ken D. (Joan) Nichols of Mt. Juliet, TN., 23 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren, and 16 great-great grandchildren. Alvin was preceded in death by his wife Beth, four brothers, and his parents. Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m. Thursday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on Friday April 19th at the Carpenter Memorial Chapel with Chaplain Gary Smith officiating. Burial will be at the Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. A memorial has been established in his name.

James William Booth, 81, of Brady, passed away April 15, 2013 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. He was born April 8, 1932 to William Henry and Alice (McKee) Booth at Scottsbluff, Nebraska. James graduated from Scottsbluff High School and served in the United States Air Force from 1952 to 1956. He married Shirley Ann Cole at Morrill, Nebraska on June 1, 1961, and worked as an architect/draftsman. James and Shirley lived in Scottsbluff until 1991, then Central City until 1995, they lived in North Platte in 1995 &1996, before moving to their present home in Brady. James liked airplanes, trains, working in the garden, planting flowers and working on construction projects around the home. James is survived by his wife, Shirley, and four children; David (Cara) Booth, of Littleton, CO; Ronald (Robin) Booth of Highlands Ranch, CO; Sharon (Bill) Andres of Cozad, NE and Susan (Colin) Lopez of Mt. Arlington, NJ; thirteen grandchildren and 1 great-grandson and mother-in-law Mildred Cole. He was preceded by his parents, Alice & William Booth and father-in-law William H. Cole. Visitation will be Sunday, April 21, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 22, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Community Bible Church with Pastor Mike Wing officiating. Burial will follow at Fort McPherson National Cemetery with military honors graveside.

Jerry B. Hickman, 63, of North Platte, passed away Sunday, April 14, 2013 with his family by his side at his home. He was born Nov. 4, 1949 in Sidney, NE to Chester and Evelyn (Johnson) Hickman. Jerry graduated from Sidney High School in 1968, where he participated in track and ran at the NE State Track meets and also played in the band that traveled to the Rose Bowl. He later graduated from Kearney State College in 1972. He was united in marriage to Lynette M. Pittack on June 17, 1972 in Norfolk. Jerry worked for AVCO Financial Company in Hastings, Kearney and Norfolk. In 1977, the family moved to North Platte, where Jerry was associated with First National Bank. For 20 years he was branch manager with U.S. Bank before his retirement in Dec 2010. Jerry was a coach for his children’s AYSO Soccer teams for many years and also was an avid runner in which he completed two marathons and a half marathon. He enjoyed deer hunting, his yard work, and never missed a Husker football game either on TV or at Memorial Stadium. Jerry was an active member at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, NP Jaycees, and Lions Club since 1988, where he served as treasurer. Survivors include his wife, Lynette; his mother-in-law, Norma Pittack both of North Platte; children, Shawn (Leanna) Hickman of Littleton, CO, Heather (Shane) Kirk of Kearney and Justin Hickman of Westminster, CO; sister, Connie (Ron) Skarka of Littleton, CO, brother, Robert (Kim) Hickman of Tigard, OR; grandchildren, Alaina and Mia Hickman, and Ryan Kirk, nephews, David (Shannon) Skarka and their son, Joshua, Erik Hickman and Andrew Hickman; nieces, Jennifer (Matthew) Daniel and their daughter, Greta, Katie (Chris) Herrara. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother-in-law, Jerry Pittack; and father-in-law, LeRoy Pittack. Memorials are suggested to the Callahan Cancer Center, Lions Club or Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Services will be 11:00 am Friday April 19, 2013 at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church with the Rev. Robert Deardoff officiating. Burial will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens.  Visitation will be from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm Thursday with family receiving friends from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.