Alice Margaret (Atkinson) Cold, age 97 of North Platte, NE and Centennial, CO, formerly of Chino Valley, AZ and Lewistown, MT, passed away Wednesday July 25, 2018 at Great Plains Health in North Platte.

Alice was born on March 29, 1921 in Mariaville, NE to Fredric James and Idella Mae (Jackson) Atkinson.  She grew up in Springview, NE and graduated from Keya Paha County High School in Springview.  After a 3-year courtship, Alice married Elmer Cold on March 31, 1942 in Orange, CA while he was serving in the army during World War II.  After the war ended, they returned to Elmer’s family farm north of Springview where they lived for 5 years.  They then moved to Alice’s uncle’s ranch in the Dovetail area near Winnett, MT for 5 years.  After an unfortunate 3-year drought, they moved to Lewistown, MT where they resided for 50 years before relocating to Chino Valley, AZ in December 1999.  She remained in Chino Valley for 9 years after the 2008 death of Elmer and spent the last year living with her daughters in Colorado and Nebraska.

Alice was an accomplished homemaker, wife, and mother and will be remembered for her genealogy and photo archives.  She enjoyed sewing, crocheting and continuously working on the family genealogy.  Her first working years in Lewistown were spent helping Elmer in sales for Fuller Brush.  She was involved in education as school secretary for St. Leo’s Elementary School, manager of the St. Leo’s Hot Lunch Program and finally office manager for the satellite location of the College of Great Falls established in Lewistown, MT in 1974.  She was a member of St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church of Chino Valley, AZ, St. Leo’s Catholic Church, choir, Catholic Women, Home & School Assoc., Montana Democratic Women, and a lifetime member of the DAV Auxiliary.  The treasured memories of Alice include her welcoming inclusive spirit, her genuine interest in everyone and her soft heart.  Values she passed on to her descendants are independence, persistence, leading by example, empathy and respect for diversity, inclusiveness, community participation and a sense of organization.

Alice will be mourned by friends and family including 6 children, Dan (Sue) Cold of San Ramon, CA, Dick (Carol) Cold of Chino Valley, AZ, Nancy (Rick) Deeds of North Platte, NE, Shonni (Fabricio) Zelaya of Centennial, CO, Trent Cold of Prescott, AZ, and Keith Cold of Bozeman, MT; 14 grandchildren; 35 great grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; Elmer, her husband of 66 years; brothers Bill, Ed and Walt Atkinson; and grandson Stephen Cold.

Memorials are suggested in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Christian Wake Services and Rosary will be 7:00 p.m. Monday July 30, 2018 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday July 31, 2018 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with the Reverend Mark Seiker as Celebrant.  Burial will be with her beloved husband at the Chino Valley Cemetery in Arizona on Friday August 3, 2018.  Visitation will be from noon until 6:00 p.m. Sunday and from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Ramona Jean Reutzel, age 81 of North Platte, NE, passed away Wednesday July 25, 2018 at St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island, NE.

Ramona was born November 10, 1936 in North Platte, NE to Virgil and Lora (Hunt) Howard.  She graduated from North Platte High School in 1954 and on June 20, 1954 was married to Keith Reutzel.  She was a homemaker and served on the election board of her local precinct at Cody School.  She was a life long member of the Assembly of God and was very active in church activities, teaching Sunday School, Missionettes, Women’s bible studies, and Sunday morning services at Linden Manor.  She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, and word search puzzles.  Ramona’s legacy is her family.

Ramona is survived by her daughters Barbara (William) Ingle of North Platte, NE, Patti (Don, Jr.) Bade of Lincoln, NE, Tonya (Don, Jr.) Chester of Grandview, MO; brother Doug (Doris) Howard of North Platte; sisters-in-law Donna (Dale) Gunn of Lusk, WY, Karen Imoe of Kittridge, CO; Colleen Reutzel and Lori Reutzel both of North Platte; 7 grandsons; 2 granddaughters; 11 great grandchildren; as well as other extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Keith; parents Virgil and Lora Howard; brother Marvin Howard; mother and father in-law; and 1 great granddaughter.

Memorials are suggested in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday July 28, 2018 at Cross of Christ Revival Center at 3615 West Rodeo Road, North Platte, NE with the Reverend Don Bade, Jr.  officiating.  Burial will follow at the Wellfleet Cemetery.  Visitation will be from noon until 8:00 p.m. Friday July 27, 2018 with Family Receiving Friends from 5:00 until 6:00 p.m. at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

 

Rogene Elaine (Hansen) Wenburg, 70, of Hastings, formerly of Beaver City, completed her battle with breast cancer on July 25, 2018, at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings.

She was born in North Platte on Dec. 28, 1947, to Elwyn and Phyllis (Smith) Hansen. Rogene grew up in North Platte, graduating from high school in 1966. She attended North Platte Junior College and then went on to graduate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1970 with a degree in math education and minor in music.

She married James (Jim) Wenburg on June 2, 1973, in the First Baptist Church of North Platte. Her teaching career began in Hershey teaching math and elementary music from 1970-75, at which time she stopped teaching for a time to focus on raising her three beloved sons. The family moved to Beatrice in 1977 and then to Beaver City in 1979, where they purchased the local funeral home.

At Beaver City High School and Southern Valley High School, Rogene worked as a substitute teacher and facilitated distance learning classes in German, Latin and Japanese, which she thoroughly enjoyed. She concluded her career teaching math at Arapahoe High School. Rogene and Jim purchased the Arapahoe funeral home in 1998 and started the Elwood funeral home in 2004, retiring from the funeral business in 2013, at which time they moved to Hastings to enjoy retirement.

Rogene was active in the First Presbyterian Church in Beaver City, directing the choir for over 30 years. Later, in the First Presbyterian Church of Hastings, she was a member of both the choir and bell choir, moderator of the Presbyterian Women and vice-moderator of the deacons. Rogene was a member of PEO Chapter BV in Beaver City and Chapter GK in Hastings and served as president of Reciprocity Group 11 in 2017. Thriving in both leadership and behind-the-scenes roles, Rogene served and loved generously, taking particular joy in her family, especially her three sons.

Characterized by resilience, faith, perseverance and compassion, she was a blessing to all with whom she interacted. She will be remembered as one who sacrificed willingly, always putting others before herself.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Elwyn and Phyllis Hansen, and father-in-law, Harold J. Wenburg.

Rogene is survived by her husband, Jim; and their three sons, Dr. Justin (Kili) Wenburg of Hastings, Dr. Aaron (Andrea) Wenburg of North Platte and Drs. Chris (Jillian) Wenburg of Durango, Colorado; and a beloved foreign exchange son, Gabriel (Saide) Erazo of Bogota, Columbia; grandchildren Carter, Selah, Amelia, Grant, as well as Michelle Erazo; her sister, Renae (Jim) Sexson of North Platte; mother-in-law, ReNelda Wenburg of Cozad; and other beloved relatives and friends.

Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church of either Beaver City or Hastings. Online condolences may be shared at wenburgfuneralhome.com.

Services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 28, at the First Presbyterian Church, Hastings, with the Rev. Greg Allen-Pickett officiating. Visitation will be at the church prior to the service. Further funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 30, at the First Presbyterian Church, Beaver City. Burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery near Beaver City. Visitation will be from 2-7 p.m. on Sunday, July 29, at the Wenburg Funeral Home, Beaver City, which is in charge of arrangements.