Douglas Fay Johnson, age 67, of Frisco, TX, formerly of North Platte, NE, passed away at home on Thursday, November 27, 2014, with his family by his side.

Doug was born August 20, 1947, to Robert Fay and Frances Arlene Peterson Johnson at North Platte where he grew up. He graduated from North Platte High School with the Class of 1965. While living in North Platte Doug was a teacher, guidance counselor, realtor and City Council Representative. He was on the City Council when the city approved the building of the East Viaduct and the North Platte Recreation Center.

Doug married Ronda Jean Shaner and they made North Platte their home until they moved to Texas. Doug later spent over 25 years in Hospital Sales with Hospira, formerly Abbott Laboratories. He held positions as a sales representative, District Manager, National Accounts Manager and retired as an Area Sales Director in 2011. Doug was the recipient of the All-Star Award many times and was a friend and mentor to many of his colleagues.

Doug had an affinity for fitness and exercised daily for many years. Hiking in the Arizona mountains with his wife, Ronda, was his true passion and the shining stars in his life were his grandsons who knew Doug as “D-Paw”. They will miss his gentle spirit, sweet laugh and all those hugs and kisses.

Doug is survived by his wife, Ronda, and daughter, Alison (Rich) Wiegard, all of Frisco, TX; a son, Ben (Kristie) Johnson, of Thornton, PA; two grandsons, John Ryan Wiegard and Cash Douglas Johnson; his loving mother, Frances Johnson (special friend, Kris Krzycki), of North Platte; three wonderful sisters, Shar (Gerry) Berglund and Cindy (Spike) Haddock, all of North Platte and Becky (Ted) Dreyer, of Portland, Oregon; his mother-in-law, Betty Shaner, of North Platte; brother-in-law, Steve (Deb) Shaner, of Manhattan, KS; and his nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members.

Doug was preceded in death by his father, Bob, and father-in-law, Ron Shaner.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2015, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in his name to the North Platte Recreation Center. Donations can be made to: Doug Johnson Memorial c/o North Platte Rec Center Fund, PO Box 1321, North Platte, NE 69103. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

LaVern Dale Schneider, 90, of North Platte, formerly of McCook, went to eternal peace December 5, 2014. He was born to Henry and Helen (Braun) Schneider September 5, 1924 at Culbertson, NE. He graduated from Hayes County High School with the class of “41”. He was united in marriage to Velma Irene Sullivan on April 20, 1944. They farmed/ranched north of Culbertson, NE until their retirement in McCook. LaVern enjoyed fishing, hunting, playing the stock market, singing and playing the fiddle. LaVern and Velma loved to travel throughout the U.S. and world. They also went on numerous fishing trips.
He is survived by his daughter, Donna (Jeff) Monroe of Lone Tree, CO; sons, Dennis (Barb) Schneider of Lincoln, NE and Jim (Nancy) Schneider of North Platte, NE.; daughter-in-law, Diane Schneider of Windermere, FL; siblings, Doris (Jack) Grindinger and Ron (Barb) Schneider; fourteen grandchildren, Sean (RoJeune), Luke (Jana) Monroe, Sara (Rob) Proctor, Mark (Erin) Monroe, Mike (Renee)Schneider, Scott (Katie) Schneider, Josh Beach, Jason (Allyson) Beach, Jessie (Alli) Beach, Eric Schneider, Jason Schneider, Jared (Nicole) Schneider, Jess Schneider and Jake Schneider; and 16 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Velma, son, Russell Schneider; his parents; and a brother, Dick Schneider.
Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Memorials are suggested to Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 am Tuesday, December 9, 2014 Holy Spirit Catholic Church in North Platte with the Rev. James Novakowski as celebrant. Burial will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Rosary will be 7:30 pm Monday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Sunday and from 8:30 a.m. until the rosary on Monday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

Alizabeth JoAnn “Ali” Moreau, age 22, of North Platte, passed away December 1, 2014 in North Platte due to a single vehicle accident. Ali was born January 21, 1992 to Andrea Nekuda. At the age of 10, she was adopted by James Moreau. She attended school at Platte Valley Christian and McDonald Elementary and Adams Middle School. Ali attended Holdredge High School and Heritage High School in Littleton, Colorado and received her GED at Mid Plains Community College in North Platte. She moved back to North Platte where she worked several places, most recently at Taco Johns.
Ali was a bright spot in everyone’s day, and everyone she met loved her. She was a free spirit who loved children and animals. She especially loved her family and spending time with them and will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her parents, James and Andrea Moreau of Littleton, CO; grandparents, Gary and Alice Nekuda of North Platte and Roger and Susan Moreau of McCook; aunts and uncles, Mike Nekuda, Jennifer Nekuda both of North Platte, Brian (Beth) Moreau of Castle Rock, CO, Janice (Pat) Howell of Cambridge, and Brenda (Bryan) Buechter of Casper, WY; numerous cousins including Jake Nekuda of Kearney and Levi Nekuda of North Platte; great aunts and uncles, John (Deb) Frost of Minot, ND, James (Terri) Frost of Fallbrook, CA, and Casey (Sandra) Moon of Taylor, NE.
She was preceded in death by her grandmother, Patsy Moreau; great-grandparents, Ruth and Niles Frost, Bus and Myra Moon, and Dorothy Davidson; and a great-great-uncle, Gene Erickson.
Memorials may be made in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 5, 2014 at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Dave Logston officiating. Visitation will be noon until 9:00 Thursday, December 4, 2014 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Lois R. Branting, 74, of North Platte, passed away November 29, 2014 at her home. She was born May 6, 1940 to Archie and Ethel (Simants) Konruff at Stapleton, NE. Lois graduated from Stapleton High School with the class of “58”. She taught in Stapleton and Sutherland Rural Schools. While her children were young she stayed home and raised them and ranched south of Hershey. On May 27, 1990, she was united in marriage to LeRoy Branting in North Platte. She was employed at Hoovers Jewelers for many years and most recently was the office manager and a tour guide at Scouts Rest Ranch. Along with her family, she enjoyed her church, flowers, sporting events, mentoring, traveling and sightseeing with Deb and Tom Erickson and Robert and Bette Frels. She is survived by her husband, LeRoy Branting of North Platte; her daughter, Stacey (Tim) Brannan of Hershey; step-children, Bruce Branting of Portland, OR; Robby Branting of Lawrence, KS, Tina Larreau of Denver, CO and Casey Branting of North Platte; daughter-in-law, Donna Sandberg of Madrid, NE; grandchildren, Lindsey, Haley, Josh, Brie, Nikki, Wyatt, Dalton, Dillon, Eric, Bobbi, Britni and Garrett; great-grandchildren, Shawn and Kaley; nieces and nephews, Dave (Sherri) Laubner, Pat Walz, Rich Walz and Randy (Sheila) Walz. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Russ Sandberg, grandson, Tyler; a sister and brother-in-law, Irene (Bernard) Walz; a son-in-law, Marty Ziegler; a daughter-in-law, Julie Branting; and a nephew, Ken Walz. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Memorials are suggested to Maria Lutheran Church in Hershey. Visitation will be Tuesday, December 2, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Cremation will take place after the visitation. Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at Maria Lutheran Church in Hershey with Pastor Erin Dunlavy. Private family inurnment will take place at a later date. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Beverly Ann Saathoff, age 79 of North Platte, passed away November 29, 2014 at Great Plains Health. She was born November 25, 1935 at Curtis, NE to Henry “Hank” and Shirley (White) Jensen. Beverly graduated from North Platte High School in 1953 and later worked at the Lincoln County Courthouse in the Motor Vehicle Department until she was involved in an auto accident. She was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church, a RSVP volunteer, and enjoyed playing cards at the Senior Center. Survivors include her sons, Mike Robertson of Lincoln, Gregg Robertson of North Platte, Bruce Saathoff of Bakersfield, CA, and Brad (Melissa) Saathoff of Hershey, 2 sisters, Bonnie Baade of North Platte and Darlene (Don) Miller of Colby, KS, brother, Raymond (Judy) Lunkwitz of North Platte, grandchildren, Travis, Trish, David, Danielle, Cody, Jesse, Jessica, Jason, Jamie, Harlie, Zachariah, Joshua, and Kaitlyn, and numerous great-grandchildren, and other relatives and friends. Beverly was preceded in death by her parents, two sons, Kent E. and Kurt D. Robertson. Memorials are suggested to the North Platte Senior Center or First Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Services will be 11:00 am Friday, December 5, 2014 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with the Rev. Frank Fitch III officiating. Burial will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 5 to 8pm Wednesday and 8:30am to 8:00 pm Thursday at the funeral home. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Douglas ‘Cal’ Stratton, 68, of North Platte, NE, passed away at the VA Medical Center in Omaha, NE, following his battle with cancer on Wednesday, November 26, 2014.

He was born Douglas Wayne on October 18, 1946, to Henry Edward and Beulah Bell Bartow Stratton at Scottsbluff, NE. He grew up in Gering, NE where he was known as Doug and attended school. He also worked on the Elredge Ranch at Lakeside, NE.

Doug served in the Nebraska Army National Guard before he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in March 1968. He served as a “River Rat” on a Navy patrol boat traveling the dangerous rivers of Vietnam and received several medals. Following his discharge from active duty in 1970, he returned to Nebraska and worked as a cowboy in Dunlap and established Al-Anon and Alateen in Chadron.

Doug later moved to Kentucky then to Vacaville, CA where he lived for 20 years. While in California he was a car salesman and picked up the name, Cal. He then moved to North Platte in 1999 where he sold cars for Bob Spady Buick GMC for 15 years and had the privilege of driving the car for Miss Nebraska.

Cal was a proud American and took pride in helping veterans. He was a life member and Post Commander of the V.F.W. Post #1504, Quartermaster for the V.F.W., and a member of the Stapleton American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Military Order of the Cooties.

Cal was also Nebraska’s representative on the annual Tomb Trek where he and other members of the Cooties delivered wreaths to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. He spoke at and helped organize Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day services in and around North Platte, helped organize a road rally across the state in honor of American servicemen and women, participated in bringing the traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall to North Platte and supported the Port to Plain Memorial.

Survivors include his special friend and caregiver, Gloria Blakely, of North Platte; a daughter, Shauna Shimmin, of Missouri; four granddaughters, Amber Jones, Casey Fertig and Shannon and Jesse Shimmin; great-grandchildren, Gracelynn Haneline and Baillie and Bentley Jones; his sisters and stepsisters, Roberta (Clyde) Baird and Vonnie (Mike) Cotant, all of Gering, NE, Virginia and Sharon, of Vacaville, CA, Kathy Lang and Rose Baker, of Bremerton, WA, and Joan Hall, of Washington state; several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews; and other family.

Cal is also survived by his many friends which include Kevin Kennedy and Mark Saner, of North Platte; and all the folks at Bob Spady Buick GMC and the V.F.W. Post #1504.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Beulah; stepfathers, Raymond Terrell and Claude Hall; a brother, Kenneth Stratton; niece, Mary Ann Cotant; nephew, Kevin Stratton; and stepbrother, Don Hall

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 2, 2014, at the Bethel Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Brett Terry officiating. Burial with military honors will be 1 p.m. (MT) Wednesday in the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery in Alliance, NE.

Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Condolences may also be shared atodeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the V.F.W. Post #1504. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Harlan David Baustian, 89, of North Platte, NE, passed away Thursday, November 27, 2014, at Centennial Park Retirement Village.

Harlan was born May 5, 1925, to Lester and Mary Schwartz Baustian at Grinnell, IA. Home was the family farm three miles east of Grinnell on U.S. Highway 6. Harlan attended a one-room rural school close to Grinnell. He finished eight years of school in seven, skipping the 7th grade then graduated from Grinnell High School in 1942.

Harlan’s brother, Gerald, served in the U.S. Air Force, thus leaving Harlan to help his folks with the farm work. In 1950 the Korean War took Harlan to serve two years in the U.S. Army, 18 months of which he was stationed in Seoul, Korea. Following his discharge, Harlan returned to Iowa and continued farming.

In 1947 Harlan met Arlet Corrine Skaar and their romance continued until Harlan returned from the service. They were married on December 31, 1952, at Primghar, IA. Harlan continued with his farming operation until he enrolled at Drake University in Des Moines, IA in 1955. While Harlan was in school, Arlet returned to teaching to help carry the financial load which was a tremendous help to the couple. Harlan graduated with a BS Degree in Business Administration in June 1958. His first job was in Minneapolis, MN with Munsingwear Inc., he then went to work for the Heath Candy Company which suited his sweet tooth!

Harlan and Arlet wished to start a family; to avoid waiting any longer, they applied for adoption with Lutheran Family Services. After waiting for what seemed like forever, they were blessed with David in 1959. After reapplying, Paul joined the family in 1960, followed by Melia in 1962; now the Baustians were a complete and wonderful family.

The family later moved to Robinson, IL then to Lincoln, NE where Harlan worked for The House of Bauer (a chocolate company). They purchased the Coast to Coast Store in Aurora, NE in 1974 and sold it in 1977 before buying Coast to Coast in North Platte which they operated until 1987. Harlan then worked some part-time jobs before going to work at Walmart. This part-time job became full time and he was there nearly 18 years before finally retiring.

Harlan was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church, P.R. Halligan Post #163 American Legion and a life member of B.P.O. Elks #985.

After nearly 57 years of marriage, Arlet passed away in 2009. He was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Jacinda Sue Baustian; his parents, Lester and Mary; and his brother and sister-in-law, Gerald and Rita Baustian.

Survivors include his daughter, Melia Baustian, of North Platte; sons, David (Susan) Baustian, of Omaha, NE and Paul Baustian, of Norfolk, NE; four grandchildren, Jeremy (Ashley) Baustian, of St. Louis, MO, Benjamin Baustian, of Omaha, NE, and Chad (Britni) Walz and Adam Walz, all of North Platte; four great-grandchildren, Turner and Cameron Baustian and Kole and Kyler Walz; a brother-in-law, Donald (Elaine) Skaar, of North Oak, MN; his special friends, Judy Rossetter, Buzz Goedert and Sherry Rhombach; and many nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 1, 2014, at Messiah Lutheran Church with Pastor Tim Eighmy officiating. Burial with military honors will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be 1 to 6 p.m.Sunday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to Messiah Lutheran Church. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Richard “Dick” Burke Jones, age 83 formerly of North Platte, passed away Tuesday November 25, 2014 in Bellevue, NE.

Dick was born August 9, 1931 in Maywood, NE to William and Edna (Burke) Jones.  He was raised in the Maywood community and later moved to North Platte where he attended country school and then graduated from North Platte High School with the Class of 1950.  He enlisted in the Navy in 1950 and served 4 years for our country.  He returned to North Platte and became a member of the Eagles Club Area #2839 and American Legion Post #0163.  Dick was united in marriage to Darlene Arensdorf on July 23, 1956 and to this union two daughters were born, Dottie and Terri.  The couple made their home in North Platte where he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad until his retirement in 1995.  Dick and Darlene resided in North Platte until 1997 when they moved to Aurora, NE, and then on to Bellevue, NE for the remainder of his life, when he left this earth to be with his Lord and Savior.

He enjoyed dancing, camping, fishing, hunting and vacationing but the most important thing in Dick’s life was his family.

Dick is survived by his wife Darlene; daughters Dottie (Roy) Penny of Bellevue, NE and Terri (Tim) Leibert of Sargent, NE; grandchildren Katie and Kayla Penny of Bellevue, NE, Tony Leibert of Ft. Collins, CO and Chris (Jenny) Leibert of Broken Bow, NE; three great-granddaughters, Kaitlyn, Bailley, and Gracie Leibert; as well as other family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Edna Jones; and his brothers Robert and Wesley.

Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warriors Project in Dick’s memory and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday December 1, 2014 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with Doug Jones presiding.  Burial will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with full military honors.  Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Sunday November 30, 2014 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Wilma Louise Sweley, age 92 of North Platte, passed away November 27, 2014 peacefully in her sleep.

She was born July 15, 1922 to John “Wheeler” and Fannie Fox at Litchfield, NE. Wilma attended Denver Business School after graduation and was called home to care for her ailing mother. She married Delbert Sweley in 1944. They raised their family in Grand Island. She was a devoted wife, mother and friend. Wilma loved her family more than anything else in this world. She loved reading and was a tremendous cook.

Wilma volunteered most of her life with organizations to support people with disabilities. Wilma lived through the era when handicapped individuals were not allowed access to public schools and were institutionalized. Her kind spirit and love of family will remain with those she touched throughout her life. We will miss you mom.

Survivors include her children, Loren (Teresa) Sweley, Larry (Margaret) Sweley, and Cindy (Mitch) Hensley, son-in-law Dan Windhorst, 12 grandchildren, 11.5 great-grandchildren, and many, many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Delbert (Short) Sweley, daughters, Carol Jean Windhorst and Jenni Sweley.

Private family burial will be at the Litchfield cemetery at a later date. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences maybe shared at www.carpentermemorial.com.