Dean O’Donnell, 84 years, a longtime resident of Sutherland, NE, passed away Thursday, March 5, 2015, at Great Plains Health in North Platte.

Frank Dean O’Donnell was born February 4, 1931, to Gailen Berma and Edna Lillian Smith O’Donnell in Paxton, NE. He grew up in Hershey, NE where he attended school through the 5th grade before the family moved to O’Fallans. Dean graduated from O’Fallans High School in 1948 then began farming with his father. Dean was also a baseball player; he played American Legion Baseball for five years with teams from Hershey, Paxton and North Platte then with the Hershey Giants town team for another eight years. In later years he also coached the Sutherland American Legion Baseball teams.

On September 11, 1949, Dean was united in marriage to Betty Joanne Bostwick in North Platte. They made their home on the farm two miles west of Hershey for a couple years before settling on a farm northwest of Sutherland in 1951 where they farmed and fed cattle for over 60 years. Dean was active in the Sutherland community, serving on the school board, cemetery board and the Sutherland Co-op board of directors, and was secretary/treasurer of the Sutherland Rural Fire District.

Dean and Betty were avid square dancers, belonging to the Goodtime Dancers in North Platte. He was also an active Square Dance Caller for 20 years, calling dances two or three nights a week. He bowled for several years and liked to hunt as well as watch and play sports.

Dean had been a member of the Sutherland United Methodist Church for over 50 years and was a member of the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association.

He is survived by his loving wife of over 66 years, Betty, of Sutherland; son, Mike (Dixie) O’Donnell, of Lincoln, NE; three grandchildren, Don O’Donnell, of Moville, IA, Bryan (Jamie) O’Donnell, of Shizuoka, Japan, and Tracy (Zac) Witcher, of Conway, AR; five great-grandchildren, Lawson Witcher and Jones, Ezra, Harper and Ivy O’Donnell; brother-in-law, Bill Stuckey, of Honey Creek, IA; his aunt, Madonna Rourke, of Bakersfield, CA; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and other family.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, Gailen and Edna; a sister, Carol Stuckey; and two infant brothers.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at the Sutherland United Methodist Church with Pastor Kola

Akinnigbagbe officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery south of Sutherland. Visitation will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to the Sutherland Rural Fire Dept., Sutherland Senior Center, United Methodist Church or the donor’s choice. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Kathyrn Ruth Tatman, age 82, departed this earth on March 4, 2015 at Great Plains Health. Ruth was born to Alfred and Wilma (Shafto) Wiese on Feb 13, 1933. She grew up and attended schools in Nebraska and Colorado, graduating from Pleasanton Ne in 1951.

She met Harold Tatman, fell in love and married him on Sept 2, 1951. To this union two children were born, RoJean and Brenda.

Ruth loved to sew. She made all of her children’s clothing and sewed professionally for others. She was a Campfire Leader, Sunday School teacher, foster parent, and foster grandparent. In her spare time Ruth put jigsaw puzzles together and spent time reading and playing games in her tablet. Ruth spent nearly every Saturday morning finding treasures at garage sales.

Harold and Ruth spent every fall traveling with their camper touring the U.S. They spent many hours around a campfire.

After Harold passed, Ruth moved to Alma Ne, where she met a whole new group of “coffee” friends. She loved this group and spent every morning exchanging gossip and discussing world politics.

Ruth is survived by her children, RoJean (Ken) Covington and Brenda Coe, grandchildren, Angela (Mike) Nesvara, Travis (Kara) Lee, Amber Yaw, Misty (Ted) Klug. Ruth has 11 great grandchildren and was expecting her first great great grandchild in May 2015.

One brother, Robert (Marsha) Wiese of Funk, NE; two sisters, Carol Pauly of Kearney, NE and Beverly Williams (Richard) of Elm Creek; and a sister-in-law, Violet Wiese of Pleasanton NE. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers, Bernard Wiese and James Wiese; and granddaughter, Ashley Covington.

Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Memorials are suggested to The Callahan Cancer Center or Gift of Hope. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 9, 2015 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Lew Champ officiating. Burial will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.