Dwain Raymond Pell, age 72 of North Platte, passed away Wednesday April 30, 2014.
Dwain was born on August 27, 1941 in North Platte to Frank and Grace (Gray) Pell. He attended North Platte Public schools and began working with the city at a young age as a lineman/electrician. He married Vivian Smith in North Platte on July 5, 1962 and to this union 4 children were born. He retired in 1992 after 35 years of working for Municipal Light and Water. He was a past member of the Eagles, Moose and an honorary member of the VFW. He loved to race and work on stock cars, play pool, and spontaneous family camping trips. He will be remembered as a kind of ornery prankster who loved his family, especially those grandkids.
Dwain is survived by his wife Vivian Pell of Nebraska City; daughter Cheryl (Chuck) Walgren of Nebraska City; sons Tim Pell of Grand Island and Ted (Kris Schweer) Pell of North Platte; sister Phyllis Heiss of Shelby, IA; sister-in-law Francis Vedder of North Platte; brother-in-law Cliff (Linda) Smith of North Platte; 10 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Cindy Shelton; and brother Verlon Vedder.
A memorial has been established in his name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Memorial services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday May 5, 2014 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Gary Smith officiating. Visitation will be from noon until 6:00 p.m. Sunday May 4, 2014 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Reda Jean Jensen, 66, of Maxwell, passed away April 29, 2014 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. She was born May 31, 1947 to Eugene Victor and Vivian Irene (Gentry) Smith at Kansas City, MO. She went to Norman Grade School and at age 13 the family moved to Phoenix, AZ, where she went to John F. Long Grade School and Mary Vale High School, graduating in 1965. Reda then attended Phoenix Municipal Jr College. She went to work for Valley National Bank, working in the first credit card department. On August 23, 1967, Reda married Ron Fischer; to this union were three children, Brad, Brian and Gina. On Oct. 22, 1977, she remarried Rodger Jensen. On Oct. 7, 1977, she went to work for Great Plains Regional Medical Center, where she performed the duties of a nurse for 30 years. Her favorite place was in the ER and working with a special friend, June Linstrom. During this time Rodger and Reda raised cattle and hogs. The cattle were her favorite; she made pets of out of a few and named them. The girls at work knew if she had checked on the farrowing sows on her way to work, she learned to take an extra pair of shoes. She liked to ride the horses but didn’t get the opportunity much. Her biggest love and enjoyment she had was her children. Rodger and Reda enjoyed going camping and fishing and their special friend, Rick Gillming went with them sometimes. She enjoyed needlepoint, crocheting, going to auctions and finding antiques. Survivors include her mother, Vivian Smith; brother, Larry Smith both of Phoenix, AZ; her husband, Rodger Jensen of Maxwell, NE; children, Bradley (Liz) Fischer of Cozad, NE, Brian (Valerie) Fischer of Grand Island, NE, and Gina (Tom) McGahan of Hershey, NE; and grandchildren Morgan, Robert, Samuel , Amber, Brianna, Casey, Matthew, Bryan. She was preceded in death by her father, Eugene Smith, and her grandson, Liam Fischer. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 2, 2014 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

Evelyn M. Hepler Wonch, 88, of North Platte, passed away April 27, 2014 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. She was born Jan. 29, 1926 to Bill and Blanche (Lindauer) Johnson at Sutherland, NE. She went to school at Elsie and North Platte. She married Kelly Morgan in 1942, and to this union two children were born, Glenda and Rick Morgan. Evelyn was united in marriage to Chester “Jake” Hepler in 1946. To this union two children were born, Paulette and Ron Hepler. In 1971, she married LeRoy Wonch. Evelyn was involved in the restaurant and café business all her life including business, Joe’s Supper Club, Roger and Millie Grosh, N.P. Country Club, Airport Inn, Ramada Inn, Richard Skinner and Larry Hobbs. Her greatest joy was being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by two children, Paulette (Bill) Hartnell and Ron (Karen) Hepler; daughter-in-law, Sandra (Don) Whited; seven grandchildren, Tanya (Paul) Norrid, Chad (Sonja) Morgan, Lance (Kyanna) Hartnell, Erin (Eric) Eldridge, Jeb (Kate) Hartnell, Jason and Jacob (Kelsi) Hepler; eleven great grandchildren, Taylor and Tyler McIntosh, Tymber and Zack Norrid, Colt, Wyatt and Garrett Morgan, Lane Hartnell, Emma, Abby and Cade Eldridge; a sister, Pat (Ken) Klingsporn; special niece and nephews, Kelly, Matt (Rayne) and his son, Aiden, Dan Klingsporn, and his children, Shelbi, Cobi, Kyli and Bo, Cyntha and Natalie Johnson, Tammie Bias ; three step children, Chris, Melanie and Mike (Jeremy) Wonch. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Richard Morgan; a daughter, Glenda Coye; a brother, Gary Johnson; a sister, Mary Bucholtz; and a grandson, Shawn David Hartnell. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Messiah Lutheran Church for Ministry to Others. Visitation will be from 9am to 8pm Thursday and Friday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8pm Friday. Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 7, 2013 at Messiah Lutheran Church. A private family inurnment will take place prior to services. Online condolences maybe shared at www.carpentermemorial.com

Rita Lucile (Heppner) Johnson, 82, of North Platte passed away April 28, 2014 at her home. She was born February 2, 1932 in Hershey to Jessie M. and Emma Edna (Northouse) Heppner.
Rita graduated from North Platte High School with the class of 1950 and attended North Platte College. She married Clarence “Johnny” Johnson on March 14, 1953. Rita owned a cleaning business and cleaned doctor’s offices, homes and beauty salons all while managing to raise 5 children. She loved to garden and had quite the green thumb! She also enjoyed square dancing and was a part of the “Cody Squareanaders”. She was a loving family woman but was not afraid to show how she was feeling about something. Rita was a member of the Nazarene Church, VFW, and American Legion Auxiliaries.
Survivors include children, Steven Lee (Phyllis) Johnson and Cynthia (Justin) Goforth all of North Platte, Terry (Jerry) Pitkin of Wisconsin, Linda Jobman and Tim Hansen of North Platte, and Tammy (Eugene) Pursley all of North Platte; 13 grandchildren, LeeAnn (Eddie), Mary, Jesse, Kayle, Brandon, Stacy (Doug), Jackie, Mathew, Minnie (Brent), Emma, Derek, Tyler, and Zachary; 12 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and a son-in-law, Steve Jobman.
Memorials may be made in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 2, 2014 at the Parkview Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Brett Hathway officiating. Burial will follow at Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Thursday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Mary Lou O’Brien, 79, of Kearney formerly of North Platte, passed away April 28, 2014 at her home in Kearney. She was born at good Samaritan Hospital January 22, 1935 in Kearney to John and Mary (McVaney) Wink, the youngest of eleven children.
After graduating from Kearney High School she attended Duchesne Academy in Omaha, earning a teacher’s certificate, teaching at Cathedral Elementary in Omaha for two years.
On August 11, 1956 she married Dr. John K. O’Brien. The couple lived most of their married lives in North Platte.
After her children were raised she earned a master’s degree in counseling from Kearney State College. While in North Platte she taught elementary education, was a counselor for Lutheran Family Services, taught religious education for 25 years, and English as a Second Language.
She moved to Kearney in 1999, after her husband’s death. She enjoyed working at Herbergers and was involved in many support groups, continuing her counseling as a volunteer.
Surviving are her children, Patrick (Ronnie) O’Brien of Shelton, Timothy (Maribel) O’Brien of the Philippines, Dennis O’Brien of North Platte and Bridget O’Brien of Omaha; and eight grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and ten siblings, including her twin brother, Maurice who died shortly after birth.
Memorials are suggested to the Kearney Catholic High School Foundation or to the North Platte Catholic School Endowment and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Christian Wake Services will be 5:00 p.m. Thursday, May 1, 2014 at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney with the Reverend Alex Borzick officiating. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 2, 2014 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in North Platte with the Reverend Donald O’Brien as celebrant. Burial will follow at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday and 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Thursday at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte which is in charge of arrangements.

Dorothy Harriet Ogden Hecht, formerly of Wallace, 96, died April 22, 2014 at Linden Court in North Platte, NE.
Dorothy was born June 4, 1917 to Thomas D. and Bess Olson Ogden at Maxwell, NE where she was raised and graduated from high school in 1933. She continued her education at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln the next two years and then taught school in the elementary grades at Wallace, Imperial, Scottsbluff, and Rawlins, WY. She married Park S. Hecht of Wallace on April 2, 1943 in Rawlins, WY.
From 1943 to 1945 she continued teaching while her husband served during World War II in England. When he returned in November of 1945, they made their home in Wallace, NE for the next 50 years. They adopted their daughter, Janet from the Nebraska Children’s Home when she was 3 months old.
Dorothy continued working on her education through the years. She graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with a Bachelor’s degree in 1972, the same year their daughter, Janet graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
She has been a continuous member of the Wallace American Legion Auxiliary for over 68 years, being a charter member when it was organized May 19, 1946. She was the oldest member of the Wallace United Methodist Church when she passed away. She served many years as Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher. She was a charter member of the North Platte Toastmistress Club which was organized in 1957.
Dorothy was community correspondent for the North Platte Telegraph for many years devoting much of her writing to historical articles about her community and biographical stories about the people of Wallace. She was a member of the Nebraska Press Women beginning in 1956 and served as secretary from 1964 to 1970.
Her husband Park, died in January 1988 and she remained in their home in Wallace until she moved to the Regency Retirement Residence in North Platte when the facility opened in April 1998.
She leaves her daughter, Janet (Ken) Gill of Bloomfield, NE; two grandchildren, Jeremy (Stacey) Gill, and Glenda (Keith) Byerly all of Bloomfield, NE. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Katelyn and Brittani Kerbel, Avery and Cohen Gill, Blake and Kaitlyn Byerly; sister, Betty Lamping of LeMesa, CA; special nephew, Greg (Doretta) Burrows of North Platte; other nieces and nephews; and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Park Hecht; sisters, Janet Johnson, and Margaret Lindsay; brother-in-law, Wilmer Johnson; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Elta and Frank Tesar, Gerald and Hazel Conneally and Blanche and Jack Critchfield.
Memorials may be made in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanosn.com.
Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 25, 2014 at the Wallace United Methodist Church with the Reverend Harun Gatobu officiating. Burial will be in the Morning View Cemetery in Wallace, NE. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. today at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte, NE which is in charge of arrangements.