Michelle Ann Ryan, age 39, of North Platte, NE, passed away at home on Monday, February 13, 2017.

Michelle was born June 13, 1977, to Joseph and Ruth Ann Beran Cox at North Platte where she grew up. Michelle graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in 1996 and worked at K-Mart while in school and most recently for Orscheln’s.

On March 21, 1997, Michelle was united in marriage to Richard Michael “Mike” Ryan III in North Platte where they made their home. After their daughter, Kylie Marie, was born, Michelle enrolled at Mid-Plains Community College and earned an Associates Degree in Business Administration.

Michelle was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and the V.F.W. Auxiliary. She loved Mexican food, Husker football and volleyball, and going to classic rock concerts. Michelle especially enjoyed being home with her family and watching Kylie compete in various sporting activities. She was the most gentle, loving person you could know.

She leaves behind her husband, Mike, and daughter, Kylie Ryan, and in-laws, Mary Ryan and Richard and Cyndi Ryan, all of North Platte; grandparents, Jesus and Maria Medrano, of Grand Island, NE; her sister and brothers, Shawna Ryan (Matthew Northrup), of Grand Island, Tim Ryan, of Omaha, NE, and Anthony Ryan, of Kearney, NE; aunts and uncles, Sue Keith, Joan (Dennis) Lyons, Dave (Gayle) Beran and Marcie (Robert) Sandoval, all of North Platte; Thomas (Elsa) Beran, of Ankoeek, MD, Robert (Andrea) Medrano, of Omaha, James Medrano, of Kansas City, MO, Francis (Rodney) Maret, of McCook, NE, and Jesse (Kaylee) Medrano and Tina Medrano, of Grand Island; three nieces, Shaleena, Cristeena and Gabriela, all of Grand Island; her dog, Rio; as well as many cousins and other family.

Michelle was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Ruth Cox; and grandparents, Shirley and Ivan Beran.

Christian Wake Service will be 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Mass of Christian Burial will be 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with Father C.P. Varghese celebrating. Cremation will follow the mass.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be shared online at odeanchapel.com In lieu of flowers, memorials are to Special Olympics.

Betty Ieleen Larreau, age 89, of Hershey, NE, passed away Saturday, February 11, 2017, at the Sutherland Care Center.

Betty was born May 5, 1927, to Ernest Eugene and Cora Ellen Kilmer Purcell at Arnold, NE, and grew up in Kilmer Valley near Garfield Table. Betty was raised in the Baptist church and was active in the Arnold Baptist Church. In 1945 she graduated from Arnold High School.

Betty later met and married Leland Lee Larreau. Due to the January Blizzard of ’49, the couple postponed their nuptials until February 13, 1949, when they were united in marriage during a double ring ceremony at the First Baptist Church in Arnold. They shared a beautiful wedding day with Betty’s twin sister, Bonnie Jean, and her new husband, Wayne Maline, of Gothenburg, NE.

Betty and Leland made their home on the farm southeast of Arnold and were blessed with five children, Sue Ellen, Brent, Jim, Jackie and Joseph. The Larreau family eventually moved to North Platte for five years then to an acreage south of Hershey in 1975 where Leland built their home with the help of family. Betty and Leland were together for nearly 67 years when he passed away in 2015.

Betty was a great wife, mother and cook. She loved music and could play the piano by ear. She also had a strong faith in Christ and was a member of the Walker Road Church of Christ in North Platte. Betty always looked forward to her afternoons, spending time drinking coffee and eating pie with her friends at the Hershey Truck Stop.

She is survived by her children, Sue Ellen Foster and Joseph Larreau, both of North Platte, Brent (Stella) Larreau and Jackie (Eric) Brown, all of Hershey, and Jim Larreau, of Golden, CO; her twin sister, Bonnie Maline, of Gothenburg; brother, Dwayne Purcell, of Phoenix, AZ; and sister-in-law, Carmen Purcell, of Arnold.

Survivors also include 10 grandchildren, Cora (Luke) Fisher, Tyson (Tara) Foster, Erica Brown, Logan Brown, Skyler Brown, Leah Larreau, Lindsey Larreau, Marci (Jason) Frame, Kandace Torres and Lane (Sarah) Larreau; 11 great-grandchildren, Taylor, Tanner, Isaac, Simon, Shawn, Kayley, Ben, Samuel, Joey, Kale, and Lilton; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family.

Along with her husband, Leland, Betty was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Cora Purcell; sister, Zolmia Horn and baby Hazel; brothers, Edward and Wilbur Purcell; son-in-law, Ivan Foster; brothers-in-law, Wayne Maline and John Horn; and sisters-in-law, Eileen Purcell and Barbara Purcell.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, February 17, 2017, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Burial will be at 2 p.m. in the Arnold Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared online at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Hershey Senior Center or Church of Christ.

Tony Lyle Znaniecki, age 43, of North Platte, NE, died unexpectedly as the result of an accident at home on Friday, February 10, 2017.

Tony was born May 9, 1973, to Lyle H. and Camila Patricia Alonso Znaniecki at Peru, IL, and was raised by his mother and stepfather, Glenn Odvarka. They moved to North Platte in 1975 where Tony grew up and graduated from North Platte High School in 1991. He then attended Mid-Plains Community College and became an Auto Body Technician in 1993. In May of ’93 Tony joined the U.S. Marines and served until 1997.

On January 15, 1995, Tony was united in marriage to Chari Lynn Wilcox in Las Vegas, NV, and they made their home in North Platte. Tony hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad in 1997, first working as a Brakeman then an Engineer. He was still working with the railroad at the time of his death.

Tony was a member of the Nebraska Cornhusker Motocross Association and Tri-State Dirt Riders. He loved his dirt bikes, classic muscle cars, car shows and throwing candy out during parades. If it had wheels and a motor, he liked it! Everything was a race to him. Tony enjoyed life and loved his cats and dogs and doing yard work. But most of all, Tony loved his wife and family. He will be missed so much.

Tony leaves behind his wife, Chari, sons, Markus and Corbin Znaniecki; mother and stepfather, Camila and Glenn Odvarka, and mother-in-law, Marilyn Wilcox, all of North Platte; father and stepmother, Lyle, Sr. and Lori Znaniecki, of Loves Park, IL; brothers, Peter Odvarka, of North Platte and Lyle, Jr. (Jennifer) Znaniecki, of Norwalk, IA; sisters, Maria Odvarka, of North Platte, Rachel Odvarka Gazaway (Jason), of Fort Collins, CO, and Lisa Metcalf, of Aurora, CO; sister-in-law, Tina Gastineau, of North Platte; niece, Kenzie; nephews, Matthew, Ethan and Sebastian; as well as his many friends and other family.

He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Charles ‘Chuck’ Wilcox.

Funeral Service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, February 16, 2017, at Parkview Community Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Dynette Oberg officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery.

Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In Lieu of Flowers, memorials are to Fur the Love of PAWS. Condolences may be shared online at odeanchapel.com

Gerald (Jerry) Eugene Tipton, 81, of North Platte, Nebraska passed away on February 10, 2017. Jerry was born in Akron, Ohio on June 16, 1935.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Tipton, daughter, Linda Payne and husband Cecil, son Gerald Tipton Jr and wife Kathy, daughter Cindy King and husband Mark, daughter Sandra Jones and husband Colin, daughter Elizabeth Cahill and husband Steve, daughter Gina Olson and husband Jeff and Brian Haley and wife Cindy, brother Bill Tipton and sister Beverly, 17 grandkids and 18 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by parents Clarence and Helen Tipton, brother, Robert Tipton, grand-daughter Jennifer Tipton and great grand-daughter Kimberly Payne. Jerry served in the Air Force and was proud to serve.  He was a pillar in the Nebraska bowling community including owning Tipton Bowl in North Bend, Nebraska, pinsetter mechanic at Westbrook Lanes in Columbus, Nebraska and a member of the North Bend Bowling Hall of Fame.

Services are pending at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, North Platte, NE. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.  Funeral services will be held at Carpenter Memorial Chapel on Monday, February 13, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Ft. McPherson with military honors. A memorial has been established in his memory. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Sunday, February 12, 2017 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements.

Dr. Morris F. “Fritz” Skinner Jr., 83, of Gothenburg, died unexpectedly Feb. 4, 2017, in Callaway.

Fritz was born on May 6, 1933, in Ainsworth to Morris and Marie Skinner. As Morris Sr. was employed as a paleontologist for Child’s Frick of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, Fritz’ upbringing was unique. The family spent many weekends and long summer hours at dig sites across the Dakotas, Nebraska, Wyoming and other states. Fritz and his sister, Barbara, attended school in Ainsworth each year until late fall, when the whole family would move to New York City. Morris and Marie completed their cataloguing and research at the American Museum of Natural History while Barb and Fritz attended New York public school in Manhattan. In the spring, the family would move back to Nebraska, where Morris and Marie would resume their work in the field and the children would return to the Ainsworth school system.

Fritz graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1951, University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1954 and University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1958, when polio was still a major concern and the iron lung was still in common use. His internship and general practice residency were completed in San Bernardino, California.

He entered the U.S. Navy in 1961 and completed his orthopedic residency at the Naval Hospitals in Bethesda, Maryland, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. His military career included service on the USS Oklahoma City in Vietnam (1968-69) and at the Naval Hospitals at Camp Pendleton and Oakland, California, achieving the rank of commander.

Following discharge, the majority of his orthopedic career was spent in private practice in San Clemente, Mission Viejo and San Diego, California.

Among other achievements, he was one of the first surgeons to successfully complete the reimplantation of a traumatically severed forearm. He retired and moved back to Nebraska in 1998, where he continued a conservative non-operative orthopedic practice in Ainsworth and performed Disability Determination Examinations through the Bainbridge Orthopedic Clinic in Grand Island.

He married Carol Friedman in 1966, and they had one son, Robert.

After Fritz moved to Nebraska, he met and married Dr. Carol Shackleton in 2004 and resided in Gothenburg.

Over the years, he had been very active in various orthopedic associations, Lions Club, Rotary and the American Medical Association. He adored camping and spent many memorable trips with his son to the Mexican Baja and with Dr. Carol in their fifth wheel, traveling from Mississippi to Montana, Minnesota to Texas, Kentucky to California. In addition, they took trips to Costa Rica, Alaska, Hawaii and Europe and made numerous trips to the lake cabin in Minnesota.

His other passion was horses, riding for pleasure in California and participating in team penning rodeo activities in Ainsworth. He freely shared his love of paleontology, geology and orthopedics with friends old and new.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Marie, and one niece, Theresa Lamb.

He is survived by his wife, Dr. Carol; son, Robert (Meghan) Skinner; three grandchildren, Natalie, Amanda and Koby Skinner; sister, Barbara Lamb; niece, Marcia (Ed) Dawson; nephew, Tom Lamb; and a multitude of grateful patients.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Presbyterian Church of Gothenburg or Gothenburg Health Foundation.

Services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at the First Presbyterian Church of Gothenburg, with a luncheon to follow. Book signing will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10, at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, which is in charge of arrangements.

Gary Anthony Garza, 54, of Hershey, passed away Feb. 8, 2017, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Gary was born on Oct. 26, 1962, to Lucio and Conception “Connie” Rico Garza in North Platte. He grew up in Hershey and graduated from Hershey High School in 1981. While in high school, Gary worked at Ted’s Grocery Store and later went to work at Olson’s Feed Lot, then the Hershey Truck Stop for nine years. Gary had also worked for Armadillo Express, Prem Door and Gillette Dairy before going to work for Coca-Cola. After 17 years, he retired due to his health.

On Dec. 27, 1985, Gary was united in marriage to Julie Ann Wiese in Holyoke, Colorado. They settled in Hershey, where they raised three children and were members of Our Lady of Guadelupe Catholic Church. Gary had served on the Hershey Volunteer Fire Department, was a member of the NRA and a past member of the Hershey Lions Club.

Gary was a great husband, father and grandpa who will be missed so much. He loved his family and spending time with them outside, just playing and having fun. He would mow and help Julie in the garden and loved rescuing dogs. He liked to target shoot, hunt and fish, go camping and take cruises in the country, as well as dancing and listening to music. He also liked to watch boxing, John Wayne Westerns, action-packed movies and Nebraska football. Gary especially loved his grandkids and being with them. He enjoyed life.

In death, Gary has been reunited with his daughter, Jodie Marie Garza Salinas. He was also preceded in death by his mother, Connie Garza.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Julie; their children, Rylee Garza and Amber Garza; and his father, Lucio Garza, all of Hershey; five grandchildren, Maureen, Michael and Logan Salinas, and Noah and Parker Sullivan; sisters, Rosalee (Salvador) Munoz, of Sutherland, and Patty Garza and Sandy Garza, of San Antonio, Texas; in-laws, Gene and Alice Wiese, of Lindsay; brothers-in-law, Gary (Amy) Wiese, of Lindsay, Dale Wiese (friend, Sharon), of Duncan, and Kenny (Marilyn) Wiese, Alan Wiese, Kevin (Jennifer) Wiese and Larry (Cindy) Wiese, all of Newman Grove; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Father Bryan Ernest officiating. Burial will follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery south of Hershey. Christian wake will be at 6 p.m. today, Feb. 10, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with family greeting friends from 1-3 p.m., today, Feb. 10, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.