Ivan L. Koch, age 81, of North Platte, passed away July 20, 2014 at Centennial Park Retirement Village. Ivan was born September 11, 1932 in Beadle County, South Dakota, to Vernon A. and Ella (Sass) Koch, the eldest of six children. He attended a rural elementary school in Beadle County, and graduated from Wessington (S.D.) High School in 1950. Ivan’s academic background included a BA degree in English from Huron College in 1954, an MA in English from the University of Wyoming in 1962, and advanced study in English at the University of Iowa from 1965 to 1967. His studies led him to teach high school English in South Dakota, Alaska and Kenai Community College (Alaska) and a member of the faculty of North Platte Community College until his retirement in 1996. Ivan also served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the American Legion. Ivan was united in marriage to Marlene (Haigh) Skinner in June of 1975 and with this union became a part of her family, daughter; Terry (Mark) Woods; son, Greg (Deb) Skinner; 10 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren. In addition, family that will miss him, are brothers; Donald and Gerald Koch; sisters, Janice Jungemann, Judy Nelson, and Janette (George) Kleinfeld and other extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Marlene on March 19, 2006, and a brother-in-law, Marlo Jungemann Funeral services will be 10:00 am Friday, July 25, 2014 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Polly Deppan-Williams officiating. Burial will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell. Visitation will be from 1 to 8pm Thursday with family receiving friends from 5 to 7pm. A memorial has been established in his memory.

Lorene ‘Babe’ Barton, 83, of North Platte, NE, died Monday, July 21, 2014, at the North Platte Care Center.

Lorene was born March 2, 1931, to Roland and Viola Stuhr Cahow at Grand Island, NE. She grew up in the Imperial, NE area and later worked for Goodalls in Ogallala before getting married. In 1955 Lorene married James Dean Barton in Chappell, NE and they had two children, Leland ‘Lee’ and LaDonna. They lived in Chappell until 1963 then moved to North Platte and later to Scottsbluff, NE in 1975 and retired in Melbeta, NE. Lorene returned to North Platte in 2011 to live with Lee and Renee and attended the First United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her son, Lee (Renee) Barton, of North Platte; her daughter, LaDonna (Tony) Fetters, of Pond Creek, OK; five grandchildren, Lenay (Justin) Palser, Nick Barton, Heath (Rebecca) Barton, Brandon Saylors and Brandi Fetters; 10 great-grandchildren; a brother, Marlin (Twee) Cahow, of Denver, CO; three sisters, Bonnie Redfield, of Melbeta, NE, Alice Van Meter, of Clay Center, KS and Thelma Pursley, of Ogallala, NE; several nieces, nephews and other family.

Lorene was preceded in death by her husband, James; her parents, Roland and Viola Cahow; two brothers, Bob and Buddy Cahow; a sister, Marilyn Green; and a great-granddaughter.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, July 26, 2014, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Delp of the First United Methodist Church officiating. Inurnment will be in the Crete Cemetery in Champion, NE at a later date. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or prior to the service at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements.