Monica Sue Guerra, age 42 of Grand Island, passed away Sunday September 24, 2017 at UNMC in Omaha.

Monica was born on June 8, 1975 in North Platte to Secilio F. and Connie (Bruce) Guerra Sr.  She grew up and attended North Platte Public Schools.  Monica moved to Lexington where she met and married Manuel Urbina, and later divorced.  Monica moved around a lot, where she would work at and manage various McDonalds and Burger Kings.  The last years of Monica’s life she settled down in Grand Island, NE where she met her special friend Mario Baladez Alevedo, who took special care of her.  Monica loved her dogs, Mami, Moo-Moo and Caillou.  She also loved to dance and spend time with all her family.  Monica also had a special place in her heart for all babies and children.

Monica is survived by her mother Connie Guerra; sons Raymond Guerra of Grand Island and Manuel Urbina-Guerra; grandson Aalonzo Matthew-One Urbina of Des Moines, IA; a fiance, Mario Baladez Alevedo, two god-daughters Angelina and Izmerelda West all of Grand Island, NE; brothers Mario (Olivia) Guerra of North Platte and Cecil Jr. (Sanjunita) Guerra of Lincoln; sisters Vicki (Jerry) Estrada of Lincoln, Tracey (Javier) Hinjosa, Donna (Wes) Kohl, Elizabeth (Alex) Tirado, Nikki Stevens all of North Platte, Erica Davis of Cape Girardo and Jennifer Bach of Columbus; uncles Joe (Maggie) Guerra, Stan (Sue) Bruce, Darrell Bruce all of North Platte, Lupe Guerra of Minneapolis, MN, Tom (Barb) Bruce of Littleton CO; aunts Elvina (Bill) Peck, Bonnie (Don) Malcolm of North Platte, Judy Davis of Johnstown, CO, Kathy Bachtel of Venus TX, Norma (Dale) Knetter of Washburn, WI, Diane Battershell of Phoenix, AZ, Sherry (Howie) Silverman of Scottsdale, AZ; as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and many many friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents Elijio and Mabel Guerra and Albert and Zeatha Bruce; father Secilio F. Trujillo “Buck” Guerra Sr.; son Alberto Mario Urbina; aunt Delores Lane; brothers Michael and Monolito Guerra; and a friend Wendy; and a cousin Rita.

Memorials are suggested in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Cremation was chosen and a memorial service will be held 4:00 p.m. Saturday September 30, 2017 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Walker Baird officiating.  Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from noon until service time on Saturday at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in Charge of arrangements.

Anthony “Tony” Ponce, age 67, of Lincoln, formerly of North Platte, passed away September 25, 2017 at his home.

Tony was born November 22, 1949, in North Platte to Jess and Jennie (DeLuna) Ponce.  He grew up in North Platte and attended, but often cut class from, St. Patrick’s High School.  In 1968, he kidnapped and then married Judy Ramirez in Holland, Michigan.  Except for a short stint in Wyoming, the couple lived and raised their children in North Platte.  Tony worked for the Union Pacific Railroad for 38 years, where he made many lifelong friends and learned to tolerate others with the wrong political party affiliation.  Tony’s life centered around his compassionate humanitarian wife Judy, with whom he selflessly cared for others, particularly those in need.  His family was his life, and he particularly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, who taught him how to use his iphone and the joys of social media.  He will be missed for his wit and willingness to open his house to family, friends, and strangers with a warm welcome and great, hot food.

Survivors include his children Laurie (Terry) Lage, and Ann Ponce, of Lincoln, Jennifer (J.J.) Caudillo of North Platte; grandchildren Tori Caudillo, Toni Caudillo, Isabel Caudillo, Ella Caudillo, Anah Caudillo, Anthony (Ashley) Cox, and Jefferson Cox all of North Platte; Emma Cox and McKinley Ponce of Lincoln; and great -grandchildren Darian, Malachi and Adriana of North Platte; siblings Robert (Dorothy) Ponce, Mary Helen Vieyra, Mary Donna Sanchez, Susan (Larry) Tridle, Randy Ponce all of North Platte; Elizabeth (Arturo) Perez of Omaha, Deborah Cano, Tim Ponce, of Lincoln, Janet (Lars) Parkhurst of Virginia Beach VA, Al Jamsay of Denver, CO; in-laws Gen Sharp and Esther Shepherd of Grand Island, Dan (Minerva) Lopez of Houston, TX, Mary (Jerry) Akins of Houston TX, Robert Ramirez of San Antonio TX, Joe (Eileen McBride) Ramirez of Omaha; best friends Fred and Janie Ovalle, of Hershey; his beloved dogs, Bambi and Otis, and numerous other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Judy Ponce; sisters Hope Jamsay and Michaelene Miller; brothers-in-law Louie Lopez and Jesse Ramirez, Dennis Shepherd; and sister-in-law Mona Layton.

Memorials are suggested in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Cremation was chosen and a memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday September 30, 2017 at Harvest Christian Church with Pastor Jeremy Rinke officiating.  Inurnment will follow at North Platte Cemetery.  Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

 

 

Ruth Anna Yanken, age 88 of Arnold, passed away Tuesday September 26, 2017 at Lemay Health and Rehab in Ft. Collins, CO.

Ruth Anna Brower was born February 9, 1929 in White Lake, SD.  She was the oldest of the  nine children born to Gerrit and Miriam (Leach) Brower.  When Ruth was 7 years old, the family relocated to Arnold, NE from South Dakota, where she happily lived for 80 years.  In 2016, she moved to Colorado to be closer to her two daughters.  At age 14, she met Kenneth Yanken at a church event.  Kenneth was smitten with Ruth from that day forward.  They were married on her 17th birthday and enjoyed almost 50 years of marriage together. They loved the community of Arnold and the surrounding sandhills.  Ruth was an active member of the Arnold Church of the Nazarene where she accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior at nine years of age.  She faithfully served as the church pianist for 75 years and helped in many other capacities over the years.  Ruth lived a contented life, finding fulfillment in being a homemaker who loved cooking and entertaining for friends and family.   She also served as an Arnold school bus driver for over 40 years and spoke often about the enjoyment she received from driving her routes and interacting with the kids.  Ruth was truly a caregiver with a servant heart.  Over the years, she faithfully and selflessly cared for her husband Kenneth’s aging grandparents and his mother Nancy, for her sister-in-law Marlene, for husband Kenneth following his debilitating stroke, and for her own mother who lived with Ruth the last four years of her life.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth; daughter Shirley Ruth; parents Gerrit and Miriam; brothers Lowell, Melvin and Gerald; sisters Lorraine and Dorothy; brother-in-law Norris;  and sister-in-law Marlene.

She is survived by daughters Rogene Lowe and Renee (Ron) Cunningham; grandchildren Wendy (Denny) Stelk, Colin (Valerie) Cunningham and Kacey Lowe; and great-grandchildren Austin Stelk, and Isla and Zadi Cunningham.

Memorials will be presented to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday September 30, 2017 at the Arnold Methodist Church with Pastor Dynette Oberg officiating.  Burial will follow at the Arnold Cemetery.  Visitation will be from noon until 9:00 p.m. Friday September 29, 2017 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Helen Maxine Lawyer Brannan, age 88, of North Platte, Nebraska, passed away, Tuesday, September 26, 2017, at Great Plains Health in North Platte.

Helen was born July 18, 1929, at the old Wurtele Hospital in North Platte, the daughter of Kinkaid pioneers Claude and Effie (Gilmore) Lawyer. She graduated from North Platte High School in 1946 and received her degree from Central Business College in Denver in 1947. She joined Platte Valley Public Power and Irrigation in North Platte as a stenographer that same year and worked there until 1952.

Helen married Robert Attwood Brannan, son of Virgil and Garnette (Haskins) Brannan, at the First Methodist Episcopal Church in North Platte on April 18, 1948. Following Bob’s service in the Korean War, the Brannans resided in North Platte. Helen worked for the Hartford Insurance Company between 1952 and December 1954. She was then invited to become the Church Secretary for First Methodist Church in 1957 and served the church until December 1964. Helen rejoined Nebraska Public Power District in 1965 as an Executive Assistant working for Gerald Gentleman and Robert Petersen until her retirement December 31, 1989.

Helen was a 79-year member of First United Methodist Church. She was a 70-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Matron of Signet Chapter No. 55 in North Platte in 1964, Worthy Grand Matron of Nebraska 1980–81, district supervisor, and state parliamentarian for several years. She also wrote the 100th Anniversary History of Signet Chapter. Helen was a Past Guardian of Bethel No. 4, International Order of Job’s Daughters. She served as chaplain and parliamentarian for Sioux Lookout Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in North Platte, and was a member of American Legion Auxiliary Unit #163, North Platte.

Helen will always be remembered for her elegance, wit, and loving kindness. She was a talented violinist and singer, and an accomplished ballroom dancer who remembered well the big bands at Jeffers Pavilion and the North Platte Canteen. She was a gifted interior designer and drafted the plans for her own home in 1960.

Helen is survived by her daughter, Debra and husband Carl Mullendore of Bernalillo, New Mexico, her sister-in-law Beverly Wilson of Kansas City, her aunt, Phyllis Lawyer of North Platte, and numerous cousins, including Vera Combs of North Platte, Marilyn Lougheed of Lacey, Washington, Garry (Ronda) Lawyer of Grant, Nebraska, Judy (Dan) Smiley of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Ken (Lynn) Gilmore of Oakdale, Minnesota, and Garnett Volkens of Rocklin, California.

Helen was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Robert Brannan, and parents, Claude and Effie (Gilmore) Lawyer.

Memorials are suggested to First United Methodist Church, the Nebraska Masonic Home in Plattsmouth, ESTARL (Eastern Star Training Awards for Religious Leadership), or donor’s choice.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service with Order of the Eastern Star Rites will be held Monday, October 2, 2017, at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in North Platte with Rev. Dr. Douglas A. Delp officiating. Inurnment will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery, south of Maxwell. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.