Bernie Lee “Slim” Hebblethwaite, age 84 of North Platte passed away Wednesday September 21, 2016 at Great Plains Health.
Bernie was born on August 21, 1932 at Mounty Springs near Licking, MO to Roy James and Eula Alma (Sawyer) Hebblethwaite. Mounty Springs was a gathering place where neighbors came with their wagons to fill their water barrels. He was baptized about the age of twelve into the Methodist Church at Sherrill Creek near Licking. At that age he helped build Shipp Chapel near his home and attended Shipp School across the road. In 1942 the family moved to St. Louis. After a short time there they returned to Licking. In 1948 at the age of sixteen Bernie returned to St. Louis. In 1952 the Korean War was going on and Bernie was soon going to be drafted into the army so he decided to see some country before that happened. He ended up scooping wheat for the harvest crews in Kansas. When he reached Wallace, NE he got a job with the Lester Hanson Construction Company. He lived with Lester and Muriel Hanson until he was drafted into the army on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1952. He served until October 29, 1954 and returned to Wallace after his discharge. He met his future wife, Janet Louise Cooper of Wellfleet, NE at a dance. The couple was married on April 22, 1959 at St. Williams Catholic Church in Wellfleet. They built a house in 1978 and have been married fifty seven years as of this date. He started a masonry business in 1967 and bricked many homes and a few churches in a wide surrounding area. His son Larry joined him in the business in 1989 and Bernie retired in 2010. He was a member of the American Legion and VFW, a 45 year member of the Eagles, joining in 1971, and a member of the Bricklayers Masonry Union for 53 years. As a pastime he put together puzzles, enjoyed playing pool and horseshoes, and returned to the Hebblethwaite Reunion every year in Missouri.
Bernie is survived by his wife Janet of North Platte; sons Larry (Vonnie) Hebblethwaite of North Platte and Scott (Sabina) Hebblethwaite of Paxton; daughters Carol (Mike) Ripple of North Platte, Kathy (Craig) Godfrey of North Platte, Peggy (Bob) Cox of Council Bluffs, IA; 11 grandchildren Steven (Traci) Ripple, Jessica (Wayne) Kulhanek, Melissa (Cody) Monzon, Joe and Jacob Godfrey, Adam and Elizabeth Cox, Treyton, Hayley, Tanner and Tristen Hebblethwaite; 3 great granddaughters Kira Strum, Sarah and Adalynn Monzon; and a brother Jerry Hebblethwaite of Palm Desert, CA.
He was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Eula Hebblethwaite; brothers Vernon and Daniel Hebblethwaite; sisters Norma Day and Erma King; and brothers-in-law Wayne King, William Harper and Sam Day.
Memorials are suggested in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday September 26, 2016 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with Reverend James Novakowski officiating. Burial will follow at the Wellfleet Cemetery with full military honors. Visitation will be from noon until 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.