Mary E. Schmidt, age 88 of North Platte, long time resident of McPherson County, passed away May 15, 2017 at Great Plains Health.

She was born August 14, 1928 at Venus, NE to Leonard and Nancy (Conner) Herman. Mary attended country schools near O’Neill until the family moved to Greeley County. She finished grade school near Greeley, NE and graduated from Scotia High School in 1946, going one year to Miltonville College. She worked at various jobs until 1951 when she married Clifford “Skinny” Schmidt on June 30, 1951 in Tryon, NE.  She dedicated her life to raising her family and serving her Lord.  She was a long time member of the Ringgold Free Methodist Church.

Survivors include her children, Jim (Deb) Schmidt of Sutherland, Doug (Pam) Schmidt of Tryon, Ernie (Irene) Schmidt of Gothenburg, Sandra (Tom) Thomas of Yukon, OK, Steve Schmidt of Gothenburg, and Becky (Gary) Brooks of David City; grandchildren, Randi (Patrick) Gude, Ryan (Kendra) Schimdt, Alan (Nicole) Schmidt, Joseph, Timothy, Daniel (Amy), Benjamin (Elli) Schmidt, David Schmidt, Tanya (Brad) Downing, Sarah (Jason) Newman, Cody and Amanda Lunkwitz; step-grandchildren, Rolland (Dorcas) Piel Jr., Wendy Hilton, and Goldie (Randy) Judd, Derek and Wyatt Brooks; great-grandchildren; Jacob, Anne and Penny Gude, Mackenzie Needham and Taw Schmidt, Alek, Kyle and Kaci Schmidt, Zachary and Ethan Schmidt, Kimberly and Haley Downing; step great-grandchildren, Elinia and Angel Clouser; a sister, Verna Knowles of Ireton, IA; a brother, Lambert (Betty) Herman of Bloomington, IN; many nieces and nephews; and Mary’s very best friend, Wilma Neal.

She was preceded in death by brothers and sisters, Ethel, Pauline, William, Leonard, Laurence, Phyllis, and Helen.

Services will be 10:30 am Monday, May 22, 2017 at the Ringgold Free Methodist Church in Ringgold. Burial will be at the Miller Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6pm Sunday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with family greeting friends at that time. Memorials are suggested to the Ringgold Free Methodist Church or donor’s choice. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in care of arrangements.

Wilma Pauline Fanter, age 82 of North Platte, passed away Friday May 12, 2017 at Great Plains Health.

Wilma was born on March 24, 1935 to Jesse and Alberta (Beam) Main.  She grew up working on the family farm in the Stapleton area raising chickens and milking cows, she told stories of walking a couple of miles through the snow to get picked up by the school bus.  She was married to Theodore Halouska in 1952 and they had 4 boys, Ronald, Buddy, Brant and Max.  They lived in Stapleton for several years then moved to Broken Bow.  Ted passed away in 1960.  Wilma was married to William Fanter in 1961 and they had 1 boy, Gregory. The family moved to North Platte in 1961.  Wilma worked at several restaurants in North Platte as a cook and in 1981 Wilma and Bill opened, and managed the Hungry Cowboy Café for a few years and Wilma’s cinnamon rolls were legendary in the community.  She then started a career in home hospice care for several years retiring in 2001.  Wilma’s role in the community was to be a cheerleader in the stands as she supported her boys and their friends at baseball, basketball, football, and wrestling events.  She opened her home up to everyone and made sure they were all well fed, often becoming a second mother to the friends of her sons.  For the last several years she has been spending a lot of time meeting with her weekly crocheting group of friends, making sure that every grandchild and great-grandchild had a blanket that was crocheted especially for them with a great amount of love.  She will be missed by friends and family and will be remembered as a caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend.

Wilma is survived by her husband William; her sons Ronald Halouska, Buddy (Becky) Halouska, Brant (Jeannie) Halouska, Max (Cindy) Halouska, and Greg Fanter; 18 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; as well as a host of nieces and nephews, and other extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Ted Halouska; parents-in-law; one sister; one brother; and one grandchild.

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. Friday May 19, 2017 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Robert Deardoff officiating.  Burial will follow at Loup Valley Cemetery near Stapleton.  Visitation will be from noon until 9:00 p.m. Thursday May 18, 2017 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Loretta Louise Pilakowski, age 96, of North Platte, NE, passed away on Monday, May 15, 2017, at Linden Court.

Loretta was born August 7, 1920, to Earl Vincent and Christine Elsie Elizabeth Wagner Battershell in Paxton, NE, where she grew up. During her junior year of high school, the family moved to Lodgepole, NE, where Loretta graduated with the Class of 1938.

On August 15, 1938, Loretta was united in marriage to Vincent Stanley Pilakowski at Chappell, NE. They first lived in Lodgepole then moved to North Platte in 1941 where Vincent worked on the railroad and Loretta stayed home to raise their eight children. In 1970 the family moved to Paxton and lived there until in 1982. The couple then retired to Salida, CO. Following Vincent’s death in 1997, Loretta returned to Nebraska to be closer to her family.

In North Platte, Loretta was an active member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church and was active with Catholic Daughters. She was also a member of the Monday afternoon ladies pitch group and volunteered at the Bargain Bin and with R.S.V.P.

Loretta was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great great-grandmother. She was also a great cook who will always be remembered for her famous angel food cakes, homemade egg noodles, and creamed chicken and “kniddle” (knudel).

She leaves behind her sons, Gerald “Jerry” Pilakowski and Philip (Patricia) Pilakowski, both of Omaha, NE, Fredrick Pilakowski, of Billings, MT and James (Melissa) Pilakowski, of Yuma, AZ; daughters, Betty (Jerome) Steffes, of North Platte, Nancy (Ronald) Morgan, of Gilbert, AZ, Mary Teresa (Sid) Petersen, of Kimball, NE, and Karen Hargis, of Fremont, IN; her sister, Laura Hargens, of Norfolk, NE; and sister-in-law, Lee Battershell, of Karmichael, CA.

Survivors also include 23 grandchildren, Dave and Dennis Steffes, Diane Gilbert, Doug and Don Steffes, Tim Pilakowski, Kaylynn Larson, Michelle Szaro, Melissa Casassa, Stacey Parker, Janelle Wolfe, Lisa Van Dine, Scott Zuviceh, Nichole and Zarek Pilakowski, Rylee Shaw, Elton Ogg, Robin Fendley, Vincent and Zane Pilakowski, and Kathryn, Jeremy and Justin Taylor; 46 great-grandchildren; 15 great great-grandchildren; her close friend, Peg Lawler, of Paxton; as well as many nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

Along with her husband, Vincent, Loretta was preceded in death by their two baby boys and daughter, Kathryn Pilakowski; her parents, Earl and Elsie Battershell; brothers, Forrest Battershell and Arnold “Red” Battershell; sister, Margaret Abernathy; daughter-in-law, Sharon Pilakowski; granddaughter-in-law, Wanda Steffes; grandson, Dan Steffes; great-granddaughter, Beth Steffes; and great-grandson, Ethan Fendley.

Services will be on Thursday, May 18, 2017, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church with Celebrant Father Mark Seiker, Rosary Service will be at 9:30 a.m. at the church followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church or the North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment and Trust.

Mike Torres, age 73, of North Platte, died May 11, 2017 at 3:15p.m. from an automobile accident.

He worked for Union Pacific Railroad and Simmons Construction Company, and helped his father with his tree business.

From his previous marriage he has children, Mikey and Desiree.

Mike was united in marriage to Jackie Wright in 1985.  Had Amanda Murrillo and Jeremy Torres, Nick Torres and Tonya Hernandez; and numerous grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Amanda; granddaughter, Adriana; sister, Carol West, and Narciso and Frank Torres.

Survivors include Bivian, Tony, Joe and Sandy Torres, Angie and Ben Torres, Dolores and Pete Torres, Mary & Don Holden, Marcia & John Jimenez, Amelia Cross, Rosie & Jim Meeker, and Alice and Steve Stites.

Christian Wake Services are 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with the Reverend Josh Brown officiating.  Graveside Services are 2:00 p.m. MT Thursday, May 18, 2017 at the Ogallala Cemetery.  Visitation will be held noon – 5:00 p.m. today at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.