James D. Wilkins, age 72, of Cozad, passed away on Thursday, December
13, 2018, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney after a long illness.

Jim was a hard-working, good man who loved his family dearly and will be
great missed by all.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Vickie; son, Travis and wife,
Wendy Wilkins; daughters, Tammy and husband, Paul Rehmert and Stacey
Berg; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brother, Collin
Wilkins; sisters, Donna Jo Griffin, Niva Lemon and Suzan Barker; his
close friends, Darrell Bruce and Ron Kohl; as well as other family and
friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, Don Wilkins; mother Joyce
Elliott; adoptive parents, Elmer and Arlene Talkington; sister, Kathy
Cline; and step-sister, Janet (Talkington) Hammond.

Cremation was chosen and Jim’s ashes will be spread in Colorado at a
later date. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday,
December 26, 2018, at the Salvation Army Church in North Platte with
Captains Charles and Lila Lieurance officiating. Condolences may be
shared online at odeanchapel.com. Arrangements are with Odean Colonial
Chapel at C & Sycamore.

Twyla Lee Kramer, age 90 of Stapleton, passed away Tuesday December 18, 2018 at Great Plains Health.

Twyla was born July 3, 1928 in Arnold, NE to Porter and Emma (Potter) Long, the youngest of 10 children.   She attended school at Stapleton Public School and married Charles Paul “Skinner” Kramer on October 27, 1945.  To their union 4 children were born: Sandra Lee, Paul Eugene “Butch”, Gary Dean, and Kenneth Lyle.

She lived most of her life in Logan County in several locations and in 1996 she and Skinner moved into their new home on what was known as the Lehmkuler place, located 7 miles SW of Stapleton, NE.  She was a busy farmer’s wife, doing all that was required on the farm: cooking, helping in the fields during harvest, cooking, branding, and cooking … you get the picture!  She loved to cook, in large quantities.  The more the merrier.  It was hard to get a recipe from her as she referred to herself as a Dip and Dab cook.  A little dip here and a little dab there. She loved it when the boys went pheasant hunting, because she loved fried pheasant and biscuits and gravy. She moved to Lake Maloney in 2011 and had recently moved into Linden Estates Assisted Living.  Twyla loved life in general, a good card game, and she could really tell a joke.  She loved dancing; whole family would go to barn dances; only, they were Quonset dances.  Any neighbors putting up a new Quonset would have to have a party to break it in right.  She especially loved her grandkids and said each one of them had a special way about themselves that she always remembered.  If you were a friend of the family, she was your kid’s grandma too.  She had a scavenger hunt one year at Easter and ended up doing it for several years because the grandkids loved it so much.  This wasn’t just in the front yard either, it was all over the farm.  She never met a stranger and was very active in the community.  She enjoyed working at the school for several years; was a member of the Presbyterian Church, a founding member of Banner Mother’s Extension Club, belonged to the VFW Auxiliary, was Red Cross Chairperson, a Hospice Volunteer, Logan Co. Fair Board Chairperson, and sat on the Policy Adviser’s Board at the Senior Center in North Platte.  Many of you will remember her as the owner and cook of Western Sale Barn Café in North Platte from 1988 until she retired in 1996.

Twyla is survived by 3 children, Sandra Lee (Jerry) Cook  of Coolidge, AZ, Paul Eugene “Butch” (Diane)  Kramer of Mt. Airy, NC, Kenneth Lyle (Angie) Kramer of Stapleton, NE; 11 grandkids, Cory (Lynne) Cook of Lincoln, Ramona (Gabe) Brown of North Platte; Laura (Nick) Romeo of Arapahoe, Jona (Rodney) Barr of Wolback, NE, Stacey (Shawn) Brickell of Mt. Airy, NC, Shelly Sexton of Mt. Airy, NC, Mista (Dustin) White of Alliance, Wade (Heather) Kramer of Hyannis, Devin (Jody) Kramer of Gilbert, AZ, Alex Frey of North Platte, Erin Frey of Stapleton; 29 great grandkids; 5 great great grandkids; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents Port and Emma Long; Skinner, her husband of 57 years; infant son Gary Dean; special friend Leroy Fritzler; 9 siblings and several brothers and sisters-in-law.

Memorials are suggested in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday December 27, 2018 at the Stapleton Presbyterian Church with Reverend Frank Scott officiating.  Burial will follow at the McCain Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Wednesday December 26, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

 

 

Bettymae Erb, age 87 of North Platte, passed away Tuesday December 18, 2018 at Linden Court in North Platte.

Betty was born July 2, 1931 in Chappell, NE to Lawrence and Ruth (Ommen) Miller.  She graduated from Sidney High School and went on to work for a small law firm in Sidney.  There she met Donald Erb, her future husband, as he worked down the hall for an accounting firm.  Betty and Don were married on August 20, 1950 in Sidney; they moved to North Platte in 1952.

Betty was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, volunteered at the North Platte Community Playhouse and supported numerous charities, including the Goodfellow Shoe Fund where she served as a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer.  She loved socializing with her many friends, going to lunch and especially playing bridge.

Betty is survived by her children Roger Erb, married to Becky Erb of North Platte, David Erb and his significant other Lorna Tongate of Omaha and Donna Erb of Los Angeles, CA; four grandchildren, Sam, Shyanne, Clinton, Claire-Lise and their extended families; and five great grandchildren Josephina, Rayce, Shakira, Emmie and Selene.

Betty was preceded in death by her parents Lawrence and Ruth Miller; and her husband Donald in 1990.

Memorials are suggested to the First Lutheran Church of North Platte, Gloria Dei Lutheran of Lodgepole, St. Paul’s Lutheran of Fairview, KS, or the Goodfellow Shoe Fund.

Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday December 22, 2018 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church with Reverend Arnold Flater officiating.

Burial will be 2:00 p.m. CT, Wednesday December 26, 2018 at the Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney, NE.

Visitation will be from noon until 8:00 p.m. Friday December 21, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

James Leo Tilford, age 74, of North Platte, passed away at Great Plains
Health on Monday, December 17, 2018, after a short battle with cancer.

Jim was born July 8, 1944, in North Platte, to William Alfred and Irene
Maxine (Wells) Tilford.  He grew up west of town and attended Platte
Valley School then Hershey High School, graduating in 1963.  Jim
enlisted in the U.S. Army the following year and served in Vietnam.  His
job was an important one, he was responsible for delivering ammunition
to troops in battle.

Following his discharge in 1967, Jim returned to Nebraska and hired on
with the Union Pacific Railroad where he worked as a Carman until
retiring in 2003. Jim was married to Bonnie Keck for a while.  They had
a daughter, Katie, and later divorced.

He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the VFW Post #1504,
and on a men’s softball team, playing for the Hub Bar. Jim loved
listening to music, playing pool, and was proud of his welding work.  He
also enjoyed hunting and fishing, and liked watching Husker football and
the Dallas Cowboys.  Jim loved his family and liked teasing his nieces
and nephews.  He especially loved his daughter and lived his life for her.

He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Katie and Christopher
Hollis, of North Platte; brother, Bill (Stephanie) Tilford, of
Sutherland; sisters, Jean (Rodney) Fisher, of North Platte and Carol
(Jim) Frame, of Hershey; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family.

Jim was preceded in death by his twin brother, John; parents, William
and Irene Tilford; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Joann and Wesley
Simants and Willa and Thaddeius ‘Pepper’ White.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 20,
2018, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Celebrant Father Josh
Brown.  Burial with Military Honors will follow in Fort McPherson
National Cemetery.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
followed by a Rosary Service at 7 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C &
Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be
shared at odeanchapel.com.  Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s
Catholic Church.

Odean Colonial Chapel – 302 South Sycamore – North Platte NE 69101 –
308-532-1450

Ruth Ann (Schemp) Berglund, age 78, formerly of North Platte, passed
away at home in Longmont, Colorado on Tuesday, December 11, 2018.

Ruth was born in Greeley, Colorado on February 11, 1940, to Alexander
and Luella Eleanor ‘Dixie’ (Owen) Schemp.  She grew up in North Platte,
graduating from North Platte High School in 1958.

Ruth married her high school sweetheart and the only love of her life,
Eugene Francis ‘Gene’ Berglund, in 1958.  The couple lived in California
and Colorado but settled in North Platte where they raised their four
children, Jim, Tim, Dave and Deb.

Ruth was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and
friend.  She was very proud of her family and loved being ‘Granny’ to
her 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, who were the lights of
her life.  Ruth deeply loved her family and friends and found her
passion and purpose in life in helping others in need.

Ruth was a devout Christian and member of the North Platte Berean
Church.  She enjoyed writing and was known for her unquenchable thirst
for travel, her feisty sense of humor and ability to make new friends
wherever she went, but most importantly to those who had the pleasure of
knowing her, her kind and gentle spirit. Ruth’s compassion and
generosity knew no bounds and she will be desperately missed by her
family and friends.

She is survived by her children, Jim and wife, Linda Berglund and Tim
and wife, Liz Berglund, all of North Platte, Dave and wife, Deborah
Berglund, of Firestone, Colorado, and Deb Berglund, of Longmont,
Colorado; sister, Nira Kessler, of Colorado; grandchildren;
great-grandchildren;  as well as other family and her friends that were
dear to her.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, Gene; father, Alex Schemp;
mother, Dixie Shinley; brother, Ted ‘Bud’ Knox; and sister, Lucille
‘Sugar’ Navis.

Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 17,
2018, at the North Platte Berean Church with Pastor Bob Teeters
officiating.  Burial will follow in the North Platte Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 1-6 p.m. Sunday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C &
Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be
shared at odeanchapel.com.  In lieu of flowers or gifts, Ruth has
requested that donations be made in her memory to the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation.

Betty Lee Smallfield, 78, of North Platte passed away December 10, 2018 at the North Platte Care Center.

Betty was born on March 18, 1940 in Ely, Nevada to Josef and Rose Blatnick.  Betty graduated from Ely High School.  She moved to Hollywood, then to San Francisco.  On April 28, 1962 she married Robert “Bob” Smallfield in Ely, NV.  The couple lived in Ely, moving to Lompoc, CA, Long Beach, and Salt Lake City, UT for Bob’s job.  They moved to Red Bluff, CA, and then to North Platte until Bob retired.  The two traveled together for many years, wintering in southern Texas and coming back to Nebraska for the summers.

Betty was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.  She enjoyed TV and diet Dr. Pepper, embroidery and hook rugging.  She will be remembered as a devoted wife and mother.

Survivors include her husband, Bob of North Platte; son, Robert “Bob” Smallfield of North Platte; daughter-in-law, Peggy Rosenberg of North Platte; granddaughter, Sabrina Rosenberg of North Platte; sister, Mary Lou Elicegia of Reno, NV; numerous other family members; and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, June Erickson, and Josephine Bryant; and three brothers, Frank, Ed, and Robert.

Memorials are suggested in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 17, 2018 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with the Reverend Vidya Sagar Arikotla as celebrant.  Christian Wake Service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 17, 2018 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.  Burial will be in Fort McPherson National Cemetery.  Visitation will be noon – 6:00 p.m. Sunday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Sherri Lynn Peer, age 48, of Hershey, passed away at home surrounded by
her family on Monday, December 10, 2018.

Sherri was born August 7, 1970, to Lester and Mary Helen (Nolan) Lauhead
in Springfield, Missouri.  She grew up and attended school in Monett,
Missouri.  After her schooling Sherri married Robert Cooper and they had
a son, Brandon, before divorcing.

On January 8, 1999, Sherri married William Stephen Peer in North Platte
where they lived before moving to Hershey.  Sherri had worked as a
janitor for the North Platte Public Schools and Flying J.

She was a member of the New Life Church in North Platte where she
enjoyed attending services.  Sherri liked listening to country music,
playing Bingo with her mom and others, and especially loved her cats.

She was preceded in death by her mom, Mary Helen Lauhead.

Sherri is survived by her husband, Steve, of Hershey; father, Lester
Lauhead, of North Platte; son, Brandon Cooper, of Exetor, Missouri;
brother, Terry Ferrell, of Monett, Missouri; sisters, Cindy Holcomb, of
Alabama and Darla Pearcey, of Arkansas; sisters-in-law, Ramona Peer, of
Cheyenne, Wyoming and Mary Diane Peer, of Hershey; nieces, Sammantha
(Dustin) Herbaugh and Elizabeth Peer, of Arizona; as well as other
family members.

Cremation was chosen.  A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m. on
Friday, December 14, 2018, at the New Life Church with Pastor Dave
Cumming officiating. Online condolences may be shared at
odeanchapel.com.  Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of
arrangements.

Odean Colonial Chapel – 302 South Sycamore – North Platte NE 69101 – 308-532-1450

Marjorie Alice Gamble, 100, of North Platte passed away December 9, 2018 at the Sutherland Care Center.  Marjorie was born on October 19, 1918 in Brady to Benton and Estella (Pits) Miller.

Marjorie graduated form Maxwell High School in 1936.  She then attended Kearney Teachers College and received her teaching certificate.  She taught at several country schools and the last school, Pleasant View School is where she met Edward Gamble, the two were married April 9, 1944 at her parent’s house in Maxwell.  The couple lived on the family farm and ranch south of North Platte on Jack Morrow Flats.

Marjorie was a member of the Maxwell 1^st Baptist Church where she had been a Sunday School Teacher.  She will be remembered kindly for her great cooking, feeding many silage crews through the years.  Her pies were family favorites!

Survivors include her children, Jolene Gilsthorpe of South Carolina, Jeanne (Dean) Barney of North Carolina, Tom (Tanda) Gamble, and Kathie Harvey all of North Platte; numerous grand, great, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins; and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Edward in 1975; and siblings, Dorothy, Beulah, Lloyd, Art, and Cal.

Visitation will be  Friday, December 14, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, December 15, 2018 at the 1^st Baptist Church in Maxwell with  Reverend Tim Lyzenga, Dean Barney, and Reverend Scott Almon officiating.  She will be laid to rest with her husband Edward at the Miriam Cemetery.  A Reception will be held at the church following the burial.

Memorials may be made to the Maxwell First Baptist Church and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

ADAMS AND SWANSON FUNERAL HOME 421 W 4TH ST. NORTH PLATTE, NE 69101 OFFICE 308.532.2044 FAX 308.532.2045

Raymond L. Yates, 82, of North Platte, passed away December 7, 2018 at Great Plains Health.

Raymond was born on December 16, 1935 to Benjamin and Cora (McNiel) Yates at North Platte. He attended North Platte Public Schools. He married Karen Mathers in 1954 and to this union five children were born. Raymond worked on his parents  ranch southeast of North Platte. In 1956 a tornado destroyed the home place.  He purchased the neighboring farm and moved his family. He raised livestock, also farming corn and wheat. Raymond also sold corn for Cargill. He and Karen enjoyed traveling to many different states and countries while in the seed corn business.

Raymond retired and moved to town in 1987. Raymond liked to gamble and play bingo. He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and the Eagles Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Walter Joe Yates; a brother, Ben Joe Yates and sisters, Glady Hiatt and Mildred Grosh.

Raymond is survived by sons, Ben Yates and Ray Yates; daughters, Marilyn Furge  and Linda Cumming; grandchildren, Michael (Cristi) Cumming, Tammy (Shawn) Williams, Justin Cumming and Aaron Furge; sisters, Helen Higginbotham, Florence L. Peterson and Louise (Bob) Houghtelling; six grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and other family members.

Online condolences may be shared at  www.carpentermemorial.com. Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 15 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Rosary will be at 10:30 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 1:00 –7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 14 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements.