Ralph E. Cochran, 86, of North Platte, passed away September 8, 2015 at Linden Court. He was born August 14, 1929 in North Platte to Levi and Mary (Sivits) Cochran. He attended country school before attending Stapleton High School. Ralph worked on the family farm; he married Marjorie Founds January 17, 1951 in North Platte. Ralph entered the United States Army soon after and served in Atlanta, GA during the Korean Conflict. After his discharge, the couple moved back to North Platte where he hired out on the Union Pacific Railroad as a brakeman. After being laid off Ralph went to work at the Ely-Hoppe Lumber Yard. He stayed with them as they became Hoppe Lumber, then Carhart Lumber, retiring in 1991.
Ralph loved hunting, fishing, coyote hunting, cutting wood, and rock hunting. He especially enjoyed spending time with and hunting and fishing with his grandkids and great-grandkids. He was very musical, being able to play various instruments.
Ralph was a member of the Eagles, Moose, American Legion and the DAV.
Survivors include his wife, Marjorie of North Platte; children, Donna Jean (Rick) Anderson of North Platte, James E. (Linda) Cochran of North Platte, and Judy I. (Phil) Landfried of North Platte; grandchildren, Dyan (Dominic) Camtelmi of Castle Rock, CO, James Cochran Jr. of Denver, CO, Matt (Spring) Landfried of North Platte, Jennifer (Chris) Woodward of North Platte, Jeffrey (Ashley) Cochran of North Platte, and Amy (Nate) Hawks of North Platte; 17 great-grandchildren; honorary family, Nate and Carrie Handy of Dighton, KS; sisters, Dorothy Cobb of North Platte, Bonnie (Ernie) Collins of North Platte, and Barbara Alexander of Loup City; numerous other family members and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Michael Harris; brothers, Harold Cochran, William “Bill” Cochran, and Jess Cochran; sisters, Alice Blevins, Betty Becker and Lois Haddock; and a son-in-law, Dan Andersen.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 11, 2015 at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell with Pastor Jon Stone officiating. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Thursday with the family receiving friends from 6-8 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Charles E. Koester, age 86 of North Platte, passed away September 7, 2015. He was born September 16, 1928 at Wellfleet, NE to Frederick and Mabel (Dunn) Koester. Charles served in the US Army as a corporal during the Korean Conflict until his honorable discharge in 1952. He later was united in marriage to Marjorie Reuter on May 25, 1957 at Council Bluffs, IA. Charles was employed by the State of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for 36 years retiring in 1992 as a wildlife manager. He attended the Bethel Church and was a member of the American Legion. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, golfing, playing cards and woodworking. Survivors include his daughter, Susan (Stan) Bruce of North Platte, son, Mike (Mitzi) Reuter of Scottsdale, AZ, sister, Annetta Savage of Mesa, AZ, brother-in-law, Bob Winchell of North Platte, grandchildren, Shana (Larry) McClellen of Lincoln, NE, Shane (Kelli) Bruce of Phoenix, AZ, Angela (Adam) Brown of Surprise, AZ, Heidi Rinaldo of Peoria, AZ great-grandchildren, Ashley (McClellen) Bluford, Logan (Stephenie), Lucas, Ethan (Courtney), Elijah, and Caedmon McClellen, Joette (Eric) Sargent, Kylee and Cale Bruce, Gianna, Daniel and Zoe Rinaldo, and Maya Smith, great-great-grandchildren, Haley Thomas, Myles and Jaxon Peters, Kai Sargent, Brody and Gabriel Bluford, Brooklyn Schuetz and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, brothers, Raymond and Lawrence, sisters, Lois and Dorothy, and a son Bob Reuter. Services will be 10:30 am Monday, September 14, 2015 at the Bethel Church with Pastor Brett Terry officiating. Inurnment will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell with military honors. Visitation will be from 1 to 6pm Saturday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with the family receiving friends from 4 to 6pm. at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Callahan Cancer Center or to the Bethel Church. Online condolences maybe shared at www.carpentermemorial.com

Shirley “Ruth” Frohman, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend, passed away Sunday, September 6, 2015.

She was born eighty years ago to Tell and Julia (Bristol) Wade at Valentine. Ruth grew up on her parent’s ranch just north of the Nebraska border in South Dakota. Youngest of six children, three boys and three girls.

Ruth is survived by sister Margaret and husband Hugh and sister Bernice and husband Dick and sister-in-law Irene.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Joe, Les, and Howard and Sisters-in-law Idella and Lois.

After school at Hastings and Chadron colleges, Ruth taught country school. She met and married Jim Frohman fifty-eight years ago. Together they ran a small drive-in restaurant in Cozad before moving to North Platte in 1963. Ruth and Jim raised three children and along the way, Ruth worked as a teacher, manager of World of Wonder Book Store, Activities manager at Pawnee Retirement Hotel and longtime employee for Nebraska State Jobs Training.

Ruth loved her family, extended family and friends. With energy that few people possess, Ruth lived everyday as if it were her last. Her family joked that she wrote enough letters to family and friends that paper and stamps were budgeted like a utility. She wrote a weekly e-mail letter to her extensive list of followers which she called the Thursday Special. Her wisdom, humor and love will be missed. Her yearly Saint Patrick’s Day bread and butter party is legendary. A women ahead of her time, Ruth found time to be the best wife and mother they could have wished for. She gave her heart and soul and time to so many people. Always putting her needs and wants last.

Members of Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church since 1963, she also helped start Little League Baseball in North Platte. Her love of baseball was lifelong with the last program she watched being the Little League World Series. She was also involved very early with the North Platte Swim Team. No, she didn’t swim, her oldest son and daughter did, but she was the best back floater you ever saw!

Ruth was a member of the Lincoln County Historical Society and volunteered to help many local fundraisers and charities. Ruth was an avid reader and member of the Nebraska Writers Guild. She started and organized the annual Writers Guild Meeting during Nebraskaland Days.

She will be missed greatly by surviving family and friends including her husband, Jim, son Jim, daughter Julie and husband Kelly, son Jan and his wife Ann, grandchildren Janae and husband Jason their children Cheyenne and Logan, grandchildren Krista and husband John, Derek, Elizabeth, and Emily. She is survived by sisters-in-laws Jean, Marion, Alta, Kay, and Lois, brothers-in-laws Leroy and Keil. She was preceded in death by sisters-in-law Judy, Helen and Shelby and brothers-in-law Larry, Bob, Fred, Rick, Bob, and Wendel.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am Saturday, September 12, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Inurnment will be at a later date at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery. Cremation was chosen, those wishing to sign the memorial book may do so from 9am to 5pm Tuesday through Friday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel.

Online condolences maybe shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.

Memorials are suggested to the Lincoln County Historical Society.