Richard Lee “Pooch” Pollat, age 77, of Paxton, NE, died Tuesday, February 9, 2016, at Great Plains Health in North Platte, NE.

Richard was born June 10, 1938, to Joseph and Beulah Melius Pollat at Cozad, NE where he grew up and went to school. In 1957 Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army then returned to Cozad following his discharge. In 1959 he married Lorna Chipperfield. They had two children, Debra and Mark, and later divorced.

On August 21, 1970, Richard was united in marriage to Marian Marie Beachy Wilson at North Platte. They lived in Cozad for 20 years before moving to Paxton. Richard worked as a bricklayer and a farmer. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and enjoyed hunting and going to auctions. Richard loved his grandkids, especially his granddaughter, Elle.

Richard leaves behind his wife of 45 years, Marian, of Paxton; children, Joe (Donna) Pollat, of Cozad, Debra (Bill) White, of Central City, NE, and Kendra (John) Lutz, of Sutherland, NE; four grandchildren, Andy White, Brock Pollat, Gunar Pollat and Elle Pollat; a brother, Roger (Jan) Pollat, of Kearney, NE; special friend, Mary Tridle, of Paxton; and several nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Beulah; an infant son, Mark Alan Pollat and son, Michael Pollat; and two brothers, Bruce and Joe Pollat.

Graveside Funeral Service with military honors will be 2 p.m. Friday, February 12, 2016, in Fort McPherson National Cemetery with Pastor Brent Montgomery officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. (CT) Thursday, February 11, 2016 at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com.

Rhonda Kay (Adamson) Frye, 56, of North Platte, passed away Feb. 7, 2016 at Great Plains Health. She was born May 22, 1959 to Donald and Dorothy (Fleecs) Adamson at Sutherland. She attended school at Lincoln Elementary and graduated from North Platte High School with the class of 1977. She worked at Westfield Pharmacy after graduation. She was united in marriage November 17, 2006 to Jim Frye in North Platte. She loved gardening and hated fishing. She was preceded in death by her father, Don Adamson; her grandparents, George and Freda Fleecs and Millard and Edith Adamson. She is survived by her husband, Jim; mother and step father, Dorothy (Bob) Wills; her brother, Michael Adamson; step-daughters, Jamie (Mark) Matson and Nickie (Chad) Keller; grandchildren, Ryker and Skyler; nephews, Patrick and Sam Adamson; niece, Emily Adamson; uncles, Bob, Francis and Ron Fleecs and Dick Adamson; aunt, Shirley Galyen; many cousins and other relatives. Online condolence may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. A memorial has been established in her memory. Rosary will be 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Memorial services will be 11:30 a.m. Thursday with the Rev. C.P. Varghese officiating at the funeral home. A family inurnment will be at a later date. Cremation was chosen. Those wishing to sign Rhonda’s memorial book may do so from 9:00 a.m. until the rosary on Tues and from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

Rex Beam, 59, of Lewellen passed away at his home on Friday, February 5, 2016.

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at the Lewellen Tiger Den with Pastor Jeniffer Brand officiating and Masonic Rites provided by Oshkosh Lodge #286. Burial will follow in the Ash Hollow Cemetery near Lewellen.

Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation.

Memorials in Rex’s name can be made to the Lewellen United Methodist Church or to the Kowanda Historical Church.

Holechek Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Beam family.

Rex Duane Beam was born October 14th, 1956 at the hospital in Oshkosh, Nebraska. He perished in a fire February 5th, 2016 that took the ancestral home on Clear Creek in northwest Keith County, Nebraska. In the intervening years, he loved and was loved by the citizens of Keith and Garden County and lived his entire life on the family farm. Rex rode a horse to grade school at District 27 for 9 years and graduated from Lewellen Rural High School in 1975. During this period he was active in 4-H, Cub & Boy Scouts and MYF. Following his secondary education, he received an associate’s degree from Central Community College in Hastings and was engaged in construction with his father until the latter’s death in 1997. In 2005 he began his beloved employment with the Garden County School System, where his career (in his words) was “always picking up”.

Rex was the youngest son of LaVere Beam and Mary Clark Beam and joined brothers Lanny and Mark in the old rock house as they grew to adulthood. Rex opted to stay with his parents through his mother’s 24 year battle with cancer and through his father’s journey in the twilight of his life. Always a nurturer, he was appreciated by every person that he had ever stopped to change a tire for, lasso a horse, or bring groceries out to their house.
He was very active in his community, serving in many capacities at the Lewellen United Methodist Church. Rex taught Sunday School classes at both the Methodist and Wesleyan churches in Lewellen and went on numerous mission trips to the Shiprock, New Mexico reservation. He served as president of the local square dance club, was Past Master of the Masons, past president of the Lewellen Lions club, and a volunteer for any activity that would promote his beloved communities of Lewellen and Oshkosh. As a trustee for his father’s south-table church, the Kowanda Historical Church, he participated in finishing the roof shingling and drove the last nail in the spire on top of the bell tower. Rex was an active participant in the Ash Hollow Pageant and the Garden County Fair as a Lion.

Rex is survived by brothers Lanny (Sheryl) of Sioux Falls & sons Lane and Dan (Jadie); Mark (Nita) of Holdrege & sons Wes (Heather) and Gabe; his aunt Neva Richter, uncle Warren Messman, and Rex’s mother’s cousin and foster uncle Bud Knoell (Clara Mae) as well as 3 great nieces, 19 cousins and a myriad of other relatives and friends.

Alice Louise Phelps, 90, of North Platte passed away February 7, 2016 at Linden Court.
Alice was born June 26, 1925 in North Platte to Clarence and Mary (Craigie) Spicer. She attended Jefferson Grade School and Graduated from North Platte High School with the Class of 1943. She was in the National Honor Society and helped to organize many class reunions for the Class of “43”. Alice was an active member with the Lincoln County Farm Bureau for many years. She worked for the County Attorney and for Halligan and Mullikin Law Firm as secretary and was Deputy Register of Deeds.
On May 17, 1962 she married Glen Phelps and took an active part in the ranch. Alice and Glen loved to dance and play pitch with friends. Crocheting was another favorite pasttime.
Survivors include her son, Craig (Diana Berglund); grandchildren, Camille Phelps, Kira (Troy) Garrels, and Chris (Lori) Berglund; and great-grandchildren, Tyler, Trevor, and Ali.
Alice was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Glen; and a sister, Wilma (Howard) Wyman.
Alice wished for her body to be donated to the Anatomical Board of the State of Nebraska for the training of medical students.
In Lieu of flowers donations are suggested to the North Platte Senior Center or to the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m. Thursday, February 11, 2016 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with the Reverend Jan Ekstedt officiating. Those wishing to sign the register book may do so 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Ronald D. “Ron” Empfield, age 70, of North Platte, passed away February 4, 2016 at Great Plains Health. He was born May 17, 1945 at Albany, CA to Donald M. and Betty J. (Brown) Empfield. Ron graduated from North Platte High School in 1963 and later was united in marriage to Deb Rogge on June 7, 1964 at North Platte. He began working in construction with his father and later owned and operated Empfield Construction for many years, retiring in 2013. He loved to golf, camp, and traveling to Arizona. Survivors include his son, Dave (Oksana) Empfield of North Platte, daughters, Rona Empfield of Elkhorn and Melissa (Seth) Denny of Minden, sister, A. Colleen (Bill) Milleson of North Platte, his significant other and friend, Peggy Hodges, nieces and nephews that include Josh, Kylie, and Kellie. Ron was preceded in death by his parents. Celebration of Ron’s life will be 10:30 am Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at the Bethel Church with Pastor Andy Pull officiating. Burial will be at the North Platte Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 5 pm Sunday and 8:30 am to 8:00 pm Monday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 pm Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the National Parkinson’s Foundation. Online condolences maybe shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Steve Paul “Roller” Nolda, 65, of North Platte, went to be with the Lord on Feb. 5, 2016 with his family by his side. Steve fought a long and courageous battle with Stage 4 Pancreatic cancer. Steve was born March 14, 1951 on North Platte Ne to Lawrence and Ruth (Hiatt) Nolda. The Nolda family lived in several Nebraska communities, including North Platte, Gothenburg and Moorefield. Steve attended North Platte High School with the class of 1969.
Steve married Patty Little and to this marriage three children were born, Dodi, Kelli and Derek. In April of 1995, Steve married his best friend, fishing buddy and love, Vicki Halls.
Steve worked many jobs in his lifetime. He loved to tell the story that he would wash dishes at the original Cedar Bowl and then rode his bike to the KFC to cut up chicken for the next day. He also worked for the City of North Platte, UPRR, Western Eng. Hiatt Construction, Midwest Masonry and North Platte Public Schools.
Steve acquired the nickname “Roller” when he worked for Western. Steve had the pleasure of working beside his brother, Keith building the new high school and then being a custodian for the NPPS for 10 years. He went to whichever school he was needed at. His favorites were Cody, Lincoln and the High School, where he was often called Uncle Steve by all.
Steve loved to hunt ducks, geese but his biggest passion was fishing. There was not a time that he did not catch a fish when others were not. Steve also bowled for several years and on several leagues. He bowled in the Telegraph Tournament in 19 and was runner up. Steve also achieved the goal of bowling a 708 series before his bowling career ended. Another passion and hobby was watching Nascar with family and he was a Jeff Gordon fan. Steve was able to fill a lifetime dream of attending a Nascar Race in 2015 at Kansas Speedway. Steve was an avid golfer and loved his Tuesday golf outings. Thursday night pool league shooting for Brother’s 3 and being MVP more than 1 time and 1st place in the captain’s tourney.
Steve is survived by his wife, Vicki; daughters, Dodi, Kelli, Anna (Jon) Shultz; a son, Derek; sisters, Barbara (Robert) Burk, Deanna (Gary) McCarty and Kamren (Joe) Rosno; brothers, Don (Ana), Jim (Rhonda), Keith (Denise); granddaughter, Keilah True; grandson, Urijah; several nieces, nephews, friends and extended family.
Steve is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Sandra; brother, Larry; and in laws, James (Duke) and Ferne Halls.
Please wear your Camo or Fishing for a Cure shirt or casual attire.
Quote from Roller “I have shot my share of ducks and geese and I loved it.”
Online condolences may be share at www.carpentermemorial.com. Services will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 8, 2016 at First Assembly of God Church with Pastor Gary Goodwin officiating. Cremation will follow the services. Inurnment will be at a later date. Visitation will be from 1:00 pm to 5:00 p.m. with family receiving friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

Sidney J. Kibler Jr. (Papa Sid), age 56, of Council Bluffs, Iowa passed away Sunday January 31, 2016, at his residence.

Sidney was born June 14, 1959, in LaJunta, Colorado, to the late Sidney J. Sr. and Polly Porter Kibler. He grew up in North Platte, Nebraska.  He was an Electrician for IBEW.

Survivors include daughter, Kacie Kibler and her daughter, Alina, of Council Bluffs;  former wife, Brenda Kibler, of North Platte; brothers, Rusty (Brenda) Huff, of Gothenburg, Neb., Jim Huff, of Tenn., Jay Huff and Sam Kibler, both of North Platte; sister, Paula (Tom) Richardson, of Nevada.

Visitation Thursday, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Cutler-O’Neill-Meyer-Woodring Bayliss Park Chapel in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Cremation will follow the visitation.

Vernon George Yanney, 88, passed away on January 29th, 2016, after being in declining health for many years. Vernon was born on July 6, 1927, to Elias K. Yanney and Mary H. (Abraham) Yanney in Kearney, Nebraska.
He graduated from Kearney High School in 1945. Vernon was a life-long drummer, and as young man was a member of the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps. They won state competition to represent Nebraska in national competition in New York City. Vernon won national awards as a drummer.
He was drafted into military service shortly after graduating from high school. Vernon served in the Army Air Corps in the Pacific Theater from 1945-1946, serving as a teletype operator for most of that time.
Upon returning from his military service, Vernon enrolled in what was then Kearney State Teacher’s College, and obtained his B.A degree in Education in 1950, and later his Master’s Degree in 1958. He completed his Specialist Degree in Educational Administration at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, in 1965.
Vernon married Lena K. Jacob on October 19, 1952 at St. George Orthodox Church in Kearney.
Vernon worked for Safeway Stores in Kearney from 1950-1953. He and Lena then moved to Aurora, Nebraska where he worked for Metropolitan Insurance Company for one year. He then obtained a teaching position in Red Cloud, Nebraska, and they lived there for the next two years. Their daughter, Brenda, was born in Red Cloud, shortly before they moved to North Platte.
Vernon came to North Platte as a High School teacher, and later guidance counselor. He taught History and Driver’s Education from 1956-1962. He was appointed principal of the “new” Madison Junior High in 1962, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1989. Their son, Wayne, was born during Vernon’s first year at Madison. Vernon also taught night classes at North Platte Junior College when it was in its infancy.
Vernon was active in many church, civic, and professional organizations throughout his life. He was a Past President of Nebraska Schoolmasters’ Club, Past President of North Platte Area Retired Teachers Association, and served on the Alumni Board of Directors of the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He was proud member of the Buffalo Bill Kiwanis Club, and received the Kiwanian of the Year Award for 1990-1991.
Vernon was a member of the First United Methodist Church of North Platte. Prior to moving to North Platte, he was a member of St. George Orthodox Church in Kearney, which was founded by his grandfather, Nicola Yanney.
One of the highlights of his career was when former Mayor Jim Kirkman and the City Council declared April 29th, 1988 as V. G. Y Day in recognition of his serving as Madison’s first and only principal for 25 years. Vernon received numerous awards from education associations throughout his career.
Vernon’s favorite hobby was gardening, and another significant highlight in his life was being recognized as having the Yard of the Week in August of 1990. After his retirement, he was very active with the Lincoln County Historical Society and Museum.
Vernon was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Martha Abraham and husband, George, Madeline Shada and husband Eli, Margaret Shada and husband Mike, and Minnette Steinbrink, along with brother Harvey Yanney, and brother E.K. Yanney and wife, Shirley.
He is survived by his wife, Lena, son Wayne of North Platte, daughter Brenda of Blue Springs, MO, sister, Milly Shada of Omaha, brother, Michael Yanney of Omaha, brother-in-law Paul Steinbrink of Kearney, sister-in-law Shirley Jacob of Casper, WY, several nieces and nephews and their families, and many cherished friends.
Visitation will be at Carpenter Funeral Home Thursday, February 4th, 8:30 am-8:00 p.m., with family present from 3-5 p.m. Graveside service will be at Kearney Cemetery, Kearney, Nebraska on Friday, February 5th at 2:30 p.m. Memorial Service on Saturday, February 6th at 10:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in North Platte.
Memorial contributions are suggested to First United Methodist Church in North Platte, Lincoln County Historical Museum, St. George Orthodox Church in Kearney, or Yanney Heritage Park in Kearney.
Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Carpenter Memorial Chapel in North Platte is in charge of arrangements.