Audrey Irene (Kellie) Brown was born August 20, 1938 at Wauneta, NE.  She was the oldest child of James Henry Kellie and Audrey Marie (Matson) Kellie.  She departed this life to be with her Lord April 30, 2018 at Great Plains Health at the age of 79 years.  She lived nearly all her life in Nebraska except for the years she and her husband pastored in Colorado.

Audrey attended elementary school in various country schools in rural Nebraska.  She attended High School three years in Imperial, NE and graduated from Sutherland High School in 1956.  She also attended Lakewood Commercial College in Lakewood, CO and Mid Plains Voc-Tech College in North Platte, NE.

Audrey attended The Pilgrim Holiness Church in Imperial and then Sutherland.  She gave her heart to the Lord on Sunday afternoon, October 2, 1954 at The Pilgrim Holiness Church in Imperial, NE.  Rev. R.G. Flexon was the evangelist at that revival.  She joined The Pilgrim Holiness Church in Sutherland on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1956.  On June 23, 1956, she dedicated her life to Christ for full time service at Camp Bethel at Sutherland, NE.  She was sanctified on May 15, 1960 at The Pilgrim Holiness Church at Arthur, NE.

Audrey was united in marriage to Melvin Laverne Brown at Lodgepole, NE on February 14, 1958, celebrating 60 years together this year.  To this union were born three daughters and one son; Sandra JoAnn, Sylvia Diane, Laverne Dale, and Karla Ann.  She loved her family very much and showed it in many ways.  She enjoyed making quilts and handmade items for them.  Each of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren received a quilt she had quilted.  She said, “Each quilt covers them with my prayers.”

Audrey was a bookkeeper all of her adult life.  Following the tragic deaths of her family, she wrote a book entitled, “Alive…But Alone” and took great satisfaction in public speaking and presenting her story of how she survived.  Two highlights of this part of her life was when she appeared on the Sally Jessy Raphael show in New York, New York and when she presented seminars at the Governor’s Conference on Crime in Omaha, NE.  All who knew her know of the great pain and suffering she endured at the deaths of her family, but she was amazingly strong through it all.  She demonstrated the fact that the grace of God does work even in our darkest hours.  Audrey was a faithful helper to her husband in his ministry.  She especially loved doing Women’s Ministries.  She was a past President of the North Platte After Five Christian Women’s Club in North Platte, NE.  At the time of her passing she attended Bethel Evangelical Free Church until failing health made attending impossible.

She leaves to mourn her beloved husband, Melvin; children, Sandra (Thomas) Hazen of Spring Hill, KS, Sylvia (Eddie) Hansen, Laverne (Gegetta) Brown, Karla (Charles) Downey all of North Platte, ten grandchildren, Mitchall (Jessica) Hazen, Brent (Lisa) Hazen  and Ryan (Heather) Hazen all of Olathe, KS, Brandon Hansen of North Platte, Brady (Maria) Hansen of Lincoln, Kaitlyn Hansen , Ashlee Brown both of North Platte, Travis Brown of Windsor, CO, Emma and Ella Downey of North Platte; seven great grandchildren, Kayla, McKenzie and Cooper Hazen, Kimberlynne and Camden Hazen, Jesse and Jason Hazen all of Olathe, KS.

Audrey was preceded in death by her parents, James Henry and Audrey Marie Kellie; brother, David Kellie;  sister, Jennie Rowley; nieces, Florence and Deanna; nephew, Daniel Kellie; two grandchildren who were called back to heaven before they were born, one child of Laverne and Gegetta Brown (un-named) and Erin Regan Downey, child of Karla and Charles Downey.  These precious babies await us in heaven.

Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.  Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 Thursday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel.  Services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 4, 2018 at Bethel Evangelical Free Church.  Burial will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens.  Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in care of arrangements.

Sandra Gay Tappan passed away peacefully in Tucson, Arizona on April 25, 2018 at the age of 78.

Sandy was born October 8, 1939 in Greybull, Wyoming to Darrell Clayton Fellows and Arlene Joy Fellows.  She graduated high school in Cozad, Nebraska in 1956 and attended the Nebraska Christian College until 1958.  Sandy and Lawrence Edward Tappan were united in marriage on October 19, 1958 and had one son Rocky Joe Tappan born on February 2, 1962.

Sandy worked as a legal secretary until Rocky was born, then stayed home to raise him.  She and Larry moved several times for his work.  First as a plumber in Cozad, then policeman in North Platte.  In 1972 the family moved to Texas, to follow Larry’s work, from truck driver in La Porte to deputy sheriff of Chambers County.  Sandy went back to work, when Rocky was in high school, as an executive assistant.  After Rocky’s graduation, Larry and Sandy became over the road truck owner/operators.  She ended up at Exxon in Baytown as an executive assistant then to product specialist.

Larry and Sandy retired in 1998, and moved back to Nebraska.  They purchased several homes to remodel then sell, and a farm to make the Double T Campground.  Hearing of opportunities and better climate for Sandy’s breathing they moved to Arizona City, Arizona.  After Larry passed away, Sandy continued to live there until her health required a move to Tucson for assisted living.

She enjoyed friends and family, playing all kinds of games (having her favorites and could beat you at scrabble without even blinking), painting, shopping, gardening, sewing, decorating, bible study, and singing.  Her church family was a big part of her life.

Sandy is survived by her son Rocky Joe Tappan and daughter in law Doris of La Grange, Texas, her brothers Dick Fellows of Brady, NE, Kevin Fellows and wife Vicki of Etoile, TX, sisters, Pat France and husband Bill of Kearney, NE, Sharon Nejedly of North Platte, and many nieces, nephews and special friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, brother Joel Fellows, sister June Carpenter and husband Donald (Pal) Carpenter, brother in law Frank Nejedly, sister in law Mary Fellows, nephews Arthur (Art) Carpenter and John Carpenter.

Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.

There will be a graveside service where Sandy will be laid to rest next to Larry at the McCain Cemetery in Stapleton, NE, under the direction of Carpenters Memorial Chapel of North Platte at 2:00pm Saturday May 5, 2018.

Kathleen Sanders died on April 29, 2018, at Linden Court in North Platte. She was born on August 7, 1927 to Robert and Avis Spargo in Franklin, NE. Kathleen graduated from Arnold High School in 1944 and worked in the family business, Spargo Store, until it was sold.  She moved to Texas, spending 31 happy years selling Southwestern Indian jewelry and making many friends and memories.

We would like to thank the nurses and staff at Linden Court for her wonderful care over the past 3 ½ years.

She is survived by 3 daughters, Kerry (Kenny) Brosius, Jerry Miller, and Kathy Fager; and step-daughter, Terri (Lannie) Geiser.  She adored her 6 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren.  They were the light of her life. She is also survived by her sister, Jo Keyser; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Joyce Olson; and son-in-law, Phil Fager.

Memorials should be directed to the American Cancer Society and the Alzheimer’s Association and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

Cremation was chosen by Kathleen.  A memorial service and internment will be at a later date.  Please, no flowers.  Adams & Swanson is in charge of arrangements.

Jon E. Broadbent, age 73 of Stapleton, passed away Friday, April 27, 2018 at Great Plains Health in North Platte. He was born May 13, 1944 in Waseca, MN to Earl George and Luella May (Schnoor) Broadbent. He graduated from High School in Minnesota and later served in the United States Navy and served as a Naval Chief.

Jon also served in school administration at Red Cloud, Loup City, Venango, Wauneta, Maxwell, and most recently in Stapleton. Survivors include his children, Emma Broadbent of San Antonio, TX, Eric Broadbent of Creston, NE and Edie Broadbent of Fargo, ND, and his furry companion, Tigger.

He was preceded in death by his parents, half-brother, Arvid Schnoor, and a daughter, Ella.

Services will be 11:00 am Saturday, May 5, 2018 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with Pastor Eric Mockaitis officiating. Visitation will be from 9 to 11am prior to the service. Cremation will follow. Memorials are suggested to Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Stapleton.  Online condolences maybe shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in care of arrangements.