Harlan F. Biere, 80, of North Platte, passed away May 20, 2017 at his home.  He was born Oct. 3, 1936 to George and Mary (Schmidt) Biere at Auburn, NE.  Harlan graduated from Stella High School in 1955 and went on to graduate from Peru State College.  On June 24, 1956, he was united in marriage to Donna Dee Osborn in Auburn.  He was employed at Cooper Nuclear Plant in Brownville, NE.  In 1978, they moved to North Platte, where he was employed at Gerald Gentleman Station.  Harlan also worked construction for a number of years.

He is survived by his wife, Donna of North Platte; a son, David (Cindy) Biere of North Platte; his daughters, Debra Sweet of North Platte, Julie (Steve) Talbot of Lincoln and Carla (Scott) Swanson of Gering, NE; brothers, Harold Biere, Marvin (Evelyn) Biere both of Auburn and Arlan (Carolyn) Biere of Creston, IA; 12 grandchildren, Mark, Brian, Cody, Nicole, Jamie, Derek, Stephanie, Dusty, Jordan, Tarissa, Tristan and Memphis; great grandchildren, Brody, Jake, Tayla, Chase, Drew, Adam, Trinity, Brooke and Ryker; and many other relatives.  He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother and sister-in-law, Raymond (Norma) Biere and a sister-in-law, Jean Biere.

Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.  Services will be 10:30 am Wednesday, May 24, 2017 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Burial will be at the Riverview Cemetery near Sutherland. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 pm Tuesday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Memorials are suggested to donor’s choice. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in care of arrangements.

Harold Duane Allen, age 67, of North Platte passed away May 17, 2017 at Great Plains Health.

Harold was born on September 29, 1949 in McCook to Wilbur L. and Betty L. (Lieter) Allen.  He grew up in the McCook, and Colorado areas.  Harold was married to Joan Staley in Colorado.  To this union 2 children were born, Trina, and Greg.  The family moved to Missouri in the early 80’s and returned to Nebraska in the early 90’s.

Harold enjoyed hunting, fishing, target shooting, watching wrestling, spending time with family, especially his grandchildren.  He was very generous with what he had.

Survivors include his father, Wilbur Allen of Stapleton; children, Trina (Heather) Davis of Missouri and Greg Allen of Arnold; grandchildren, Birttanya Allen, Geoffery Allen, Brooklynn Allen, Gillian Allen, Brenden Allen, and Gwendolen Allen; sister, Vicki Allen of Stapleton; brother, Ron Allen of North Platte; numerous nieces and nephews; other family members; and many friends.

He was preceded by his mother, Betty; wife, Joan; brothers, Wilbur, and Steve; and several aunts and uncles.

Memorials may be made in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

Services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, May 25, 2017 at the Gandy Community Church with Pastor Frank Scott officiating.  A luncheon will follow.  Those wishing to sign the register book may do so 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Wednesday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home.

 

Gary Dean Leaf, of North Platte, NE, passed away at home after a short battle with cancer on Thursday, May 18, 2017, at the age of 54.

Gary was born August 28, 1962, to Harlan Allan and Laura Jane Jepsen Leaf in North Platte where he grew up. Gary attended North Platte High School before he went to work for Hoppe Lumber Yard, which later became Carhart Lumber. He started as a cement driver then eventually became an assistant manager. Gary worked at the lumber yard for over 30 years and had recently stopped working because of his health.

When Gary was young, his grandpa Jepsen taught him to fish, thus beginning his love for fishing. Not only was he an excellent fisherman, Gary also enjoyed participating in fishing tournaments with his friend, Bob Skates. They had traveled all over and won many times through the years, including the 1998 Shoot Out Walleye Tournament at Lake McConaughy.

Gary was always looking for “the big ones” while fishing. One of his favorite places to go was Merritt Reservoir but we’ll never know exactly where the best fishing was since he took his favorite spots with him. Along with fishing, Gary liked going out on his boat and camping.

In 1982 Gary met Shari Lynn Jones and they were together for 35 years. Gary was a great brother and friend who was kind and helpful to others.

He is survived by his wife, Shari, of North Platte; brother, Michael (Robin) Leaf, of Fort Collins, CO; uncle, Gordon (Joann) Leaf, of Divide, CO; aunts, Beverly Kelly and Arlene Jepsen, of North Platte and Helen Leaf, of Kearney, NE; mother-in-law, Janice Jones, of North Platte; nephews, Matthew Leaf, of Rapid City, SD, Bobby and Brandon Jones, of Cheyenne, WY, Talan and Sawyer McGill and Samuel Gosnell, all of North Platte; nieces, Amanda Leaf, of Wellington, CO, and Amy Leaf, of Cleveland, OH, and Sally McGill and Juliet Gosnell, of North Platte; great-nephew, Nolan, of Wellington; great-niece, Kelsey Jones, of Cheyenne; brothers-in-law, Tommy Jones, of Cheyenne and Christopher Gosnell (Amber), of North Platte; sisters-in-law, Amy (Jake) McGill, of North Platte and Carlene Jones, of Cheyenne; as well as many cousins, other family and his friends.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, Harlan and Laura; brother, Randy Leaf; grandparents, Milton and Sallie Jepsen and Allan and Nancy Leaf; father-in-law, Tom Jones; and grandparents-in-law, Charlotte and Sam Jones and Adolph and Eleanor Wonka.

Funeral Service will be 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2017, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Gary Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.Monday and Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family has established a memorial.

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.