Laura Bell Bending, age 88 of North Platte passed away October 23, 2013.
Laura was born on March 26, 1925 in Wray, CO to Cecil and Jennie (Good) Clinger. She graduated from North Platte High School in 1943 and married Robert Bending on December 1, 1944 in North Platte, NE where the couple made their home. She was a homemaker, enjoyed music and Sunday afternoon drives. She was a member of the First Baptist Church for 74 years and belonged to the Sunshine Group, Church Women United, Circle 6 and women’s Bible study group. After her husband’s death she helped many other widows and was very caring to her family
Laura is survived by her son Ronald (Pat) Bending of Jacksonville, AR; daughters Alberta Bending and Linda (Sam) Baylie both of North Platte; brother Harold Clinger of Hemet, CA; half-brothers and 1 half-sister; 2 grandchildren; 2 step grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert; her parents; an infant daughter Roberta Kay; 1 son Eugene; 3 brothers; 1 sister; 1 half brother and 1 half sister.
Memorials are suggested to the American Diabetes Association and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Tuesday October 29, 2013 at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Dave Logsdon officiating. Burial will be at the North Platte Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday and Sunday from noon until 6:00 p.m. and Monday 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Ruth Kathleen Beard, of North Platte, passed away October 21, 2013 at Linden Court. Ruth was born in Newell, Iowa to Emil and Johanna Jensen Christiansen. After graduating high school, Ruth studied for a year to become a nurse before deciding to take a different course. Instead of nursing she went to telegraph school to be a Morse code operator. She graduated from that school in 1943 and moved to Salt Lake City, UT, ending up in Milford, UT where she worked as a telegraph operator for the Union Pacific Railroad. She married Earl Beard after knowing him for only two weeks on August 27, 1948 in Pioche, NV. She is finally reunited with her soul mate in heaven. The couple lived in Milford, NV. In 1968 they transferred to North Platte, NE with the Union Pacific. The Beards were active in the North Platte Church of the Nazarene and made many friends in their local congregation. Through the years they watched many young people leave their Midwest community to attend Mid-America Nazarene College and their interest in the college grew. They established a trust to the college, the Ruth and Earl Beard Charitable Trust, which still benefits MANC students today. Ruth was also active in the UTU and Union Pacific Oldtimers. She enjoyed crafts and grew the most beautiful roses in the desert while living in Utah that people drove 100 miles to see! Out of a family of great cooks and bakers she was the best – much to each of her sister’s frustration! Most importantly she was a shining example of Christian womanhood to her family and friends and the best prayer warrior anyone could have on their side in a crisis.
Survivors include a sister, Berthe M. Fairhead of Rock Island, IL; nephews, Larry J. Craig of Grundy Center, IA, and David C. (Jacqueline) Craig of Waterloo, IA; a niece, Sonja K. (Larry) Melton of Moline, IL; 9 great-nephews and nieces; 17 great-great nephews and nieces; special friends, Todd and Sherry Marshall and their family of Tilton, Illinois, Douglas and Brenda Grant Peterson, Kathy Brown, Lisa Josten, Joe and John Sukraw and Lloyd Speicher all of North Platte.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Earl; and a sister, Marvyl Craig.
Memorials are suggested to the Ruth and Earl Beard Charitable Trust to Mid-America Nazarene University or to the Parkview Community Church of the Nazarene. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Services will be 10:00 a.m. today, Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at the Parkview Community Church of the Nazarene with the Reverend Jack Atteberry officiating. Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Stella Julianna Janecek, 91, of North Platte, NE, passed away at her home on Tuesday, October 22, 2013, after a short battle with cancer.

Stella was born on December 25, 1921, to Joseph and Anna Bambouchova Simek at Coello, IL. She grew up and attended school in North Platte and worked as a waitress for White Front Cafe, her mother’s cafe and the North Platte Cafe.

On August 1, 1939, Stella married Victor Henry Janecek at Chappel, NE and they made their home in North Platte.

She was a member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Stella loved cooking and baking and going to the park to feed the animals. She also liked to travel and attend polka dances.

She is survived by her daughter, Patricia Stoner, of North Platte; three grandchildren, Shawn Stoner, Christopher Janecek Feeney and Kim Janecek; three great-grandchildren; six great great-grandchildren; her sisters-in-law, Marie (Dale) Reichert and Winnie Janecek, all of North Platte; a brother-in-law, Milo (Jean) Janecek, of Missoula, MT; a special niece, Millie Ann (Dale) Case, of Lewiston, ID; other nieces and nephews; her special friends, Gary and Jan Phipps, of North Platte; her faithful dog, Hobo; and other family and friends.

Stella was preceded in death by her husband, Victor, and son, Victor Lee “Sonny Boy”; her parents, Joseph and Anna Simek; and two sisters, Anna Simek and Mildred Mary Brown.

Visitation will be 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday, October 25, 2013, at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore with Richard Karr officiating. Burial will follow in the North Platte Cemetery. The family has established a memorial. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Vera Lee Wisdom, 95, of Sutherland, passed away Oct. 21, 2013 at the Sutherland Care Center. Vera was born July 25, 1918 to Henry and Annis (Henderson) Hughes at Hot Springs, AR. She grew up and attended school in the central Arkansas area. On May 25, 1939, Vera married Hurshel Harry Wisdom at Hot Springs, AR. In 1949, they moved to Sacramento, CA, where Hurshel worked in the construction business before moving to Grant, NE in 1951, where he started his own construction business. Vera was employed at Sullivan’s Department Store, where she developed a love for the retail clothing business. In 1961, they moved to Sutherland, NE, where Vera opened her own retail clothing business, the Sutherland Style and Bridal Shop. Finding the perfect gown for the beautiful brides and coordinating their weddings was the highlight of her business. Vera did all the alterations herself and many times handmade the flower girl and bridesmaid dresses. She would transport the dresses of the entire wedding party to the venue and was there to make sure everyone looked just right. After selling her business in 1975, Hurshel and Vera moved to Cassville, MO, where they purchased a small acreage and took pride in their large garden and fruit trees. Vera loved to quilt and made many beautiful quilts for all of her family. In 1998, Hurshel and Vera moved back to Sutherland. Vera had a great time as a member of the Sutherland Red Hat Society. Vera was a member of the Sutherland First Presbyterian Church. She is survived by her sons, Lon (Virginia) Wisdom of Sutherland and Mike (Dena) Wisdom of West Fork, AR; two granddaughters, Dawn Wisdom of Colorado Springs, CO and Heather (Jason) Marquardt of Sutherland; two grandsons, Broc (Holly) Wisdom of Fayetteville, AR and Troy (Mandy) Wisdom of Greenland, AR; one step granddaughter, Brandy Wisdom of West Fork, AR; three great granddaughters, Daisha Marquardt, Lainey Wisdom and Ava Wisdom; and one great grandson, Luke Wisdom. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Hurshel; two sisters and one brother. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Sutherland First Presbyterian Church. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 26, 2013 at The First Presbyterian Church in Sutherland with Pastor Karen Woo officiating. According to Vera’s wishes cremation was chosen. Inurnment will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Those wishing to sign the memorial book may do so from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

Aladine Elaine Boslau, 100, of North Platte, NE, passed away Wednesday, October 16, 2013, at the North Platte Care Center.

Aladine was born August 5, 1913, to Gerhard and Jessie Smith Aden at Sterling, NE where she grew up. On June 17, 1930, Aladine married Henry “Hank” Boslau in Kimball, NE. Hank farmed in Kimball before they moved to Weiser, ID in 1940. They moved to North Platte in 1951, then back to Idaho in 1963 and later Oregon. In 1975 they returned to North Platte. Aladine stayed home to raise their children.

She is survived by her sons, Don Boslau, of LaGrande, OR and Byron (Olinda) Boslau, of Lincoln, NE; 11 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren; a sister, Donna (Don) Happel, of North Bend, NE; a brother, William Aden, of Lincoln, NE; a sister-in-law, Eina Fern Aden, of Adams, NE; her special friends, Irene Simpson and Ruth and Mike Summerson, all of North Platte; many nieces, nephews and other family and friends.

Aladine was preceded in death by her husband of 77 years, Hank; a daughter, Marilyn Anderson O’Nan; a son Roy Boslau; her parents, Gerhard and Jessie Aden; three brothers, Mervin, Clarence and Galen Aden; her sister, Geraldine Boslau; and two grandchildren.

Visitation will be 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore. Funeral service will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore. Burial will follow in the North Platte Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Nebraska Special Olympics. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Shannon Marie Sprague Ritter, 42, of North Platte, NE, passed away Wednesday, October 16, 2013, at home in North Platte surrounded by her family.

Shannon was born October 5, 1971, to Dean Eugene and Carrie Combs Sprague in North Platte where she grew up. She graduated from North Platte High School in 1990. Shannon married Karl Moore and later Thomas Ritter. She found her soul mate in Gerald Anderson.

Shannon was always positive and loved to write poems and was very artistic. She was a member of the Salvation Army.

She is survived by her children, Kristina (Tyler) Otzel, of North Platte, Katelynn (Reggie) Titus, of Wichita, KS and Kragen Ritter, of Lincoln, NE; her parents, Dean and Carrie Sprague, of North Platte; two grandchildren, Hope and Taetum; her siblings, Teresa (Bill) Layman and Carolyn (Gary) Gabbard, of Hamilton, OH, Shayne (Jessica) Sprague, of Brady, NE, Perry (Cheryl) Sprague, of Roseburg, OR; her dog, Sombra; several nieces, nephews and other family.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Perry and Annie Sprague.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be 4 p.m. Saturday, October 19, 2013, at the Salvation Army. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials can be made to the Salvation Army. Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Norma Josephine Peterson, age 93 of North Platte, passed away at her home October 15, 2013.
Norma was born at home in Lincoln County, about 20 miles north of North Platte on September 10, 1920 to Norman “Doc” and Josephine (Hood) Harmer. She grew up in the area and married Charles McCrone in Colorado on October 5, 1942 and to this union one child was born. She married Glenn R. Peterson on February 14, 1978 in North Platte. She was a member of the Moose, the VFW, and the Legion Club. Some of her hobbies were travel, western music and dancing, pottery, and collecting antiques. She will be remembered for having an eloquent class about her.
Norma is survived by her daughter Marcia (Mike) Macomber of North Platte; granddaughter Michelle “Babe” (Jon) McFarland of North Platte; great-grandchildren Matthew McFarland of Lincoln and Madison McFarland of North Platte; her sister Mary Portz of North Platte; and nieces Trudy (Denny) Brosius of Brownlee, Jan (Gary) Bush of North Platte and Molly (Kevin) Gorman of Illinois.
She was preceded in death by both of her husbands Charlie McCrone and Glenn Peterson; her parents; and brother-in-law Ed Portz.
Memorials can be made to Great Plains Hospice and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com Christian Wake Services will be 7:00 p.m. Sunday October 20, 2013 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with Reverend Neal Hock officiating. Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m. Monday October 21, 2013 at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be noon until 9:00 p.m. Sunday October 20, 2013 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Betty L. McKay, 81, of North Platte died October 13, 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona. She was born in Valentine, Nebraska and graduated from Valentine High School. She moved to North Platte in 1962 with her four children. She worked for a dental office for 2-3 years, and later worked in the business office at McKay Motors with her late husband, Wallace McKay. She served as former Moderator for the Women’s Group at First Presbyterian Church of North Platte, and also enjoyed the Platter Painters Art Club and was a long time member of PEO Club. Betty continued her support of the Presbyterian Church and her community as a member of the Quilting Bunch, including making and delivering quilts for Habitat for Humanity until her death. Her friends and family will remember her as an avid seamstress and arts and crafts enthusiast, a talented artist and lover of song. She was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her husband Wallace McKay, parents William and Winifred Foster and brother Earl “Bud” Foster.
Betty is survived by daughters Linda (Ron) Eggleston and Kathy (Tom) Gunderson, grandchildren Shane (Stacy) Gunderson, Mike (Kelly) Gunderson, great-grandchildren Weston, Cole and Wyatt, Chad (Erin) Gunderson, great-grandchild Ella, all of Phoenix, AZ; sons Keith (Ronna) McCormick of Casper, WY, grandchildren Kelsey and Kylie McCormick, Mike (Shari) McCormick of Coppell, TX, grandchildren Adrienne and Phillip McCormick, and, Ron (Mary) McKay, son of Wallace McKay of North Platte and grandchild Kevin (Amber) McKay. She is also survived by three brothers, Don, Jack, Robert (Gloria) Foster, and eight sisters, Ida Mae Hayford, Della (Doug) Baker, Mary Catherine Peterson, Norma Jean Cramer, Lee Brown, Barb (Orville) Morlang, Sharon (Delmar) Brinda, Phyllis (Dan) Mayhew, and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial has been established and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Services will be 11:00 A.M. Friday October 18, 2013 at the First Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Polly Deppen-Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be noon until 9:00 p.m. Thursday with the family receiving friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Braxton Haras Curtis (10 weeks, 5 days) infant son of Joseph and Sarah Curtis, passed away Thursday, October 10, 2013 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. Braxton made our family whole. When he left he didn’t go alone because a part of us went with him.
He is survived by his loving parents; proud brother, Kaiden Lee Curtis; his grandparents, Terry (Sally) Curtis, Penny (Doug) Lannigan and Robin Shirley; great grandmothers, Dolores and Viola Curtis; aunt Mandi (Joe) Solie; uncles Paul and Matthew Shirley and Tyler Curtis; cousins, Sean Russel and Megan Curtis; godfather, Bill Powell; as well as many other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather Ted Shirley; great grandfathers Bob Curtis and Gerald Shirley; and a great grandmother Arelene Shore.
A memorial has been established in his name and online condolences may be made at www.adamsswanson.com.
Funeral services will be 5:30 PM, Wednesday, October 16th, 2013 at Harvest Christian Fellowship Church. There will be a gathering of family and friends at the church follow the funeral service. Cremation will follow the funeral services. Visitation will be today, from noon to 8:00 PM, with the family receiving friends from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home which is entrusted with arrangements.

John Errol Higginbotham, born in North Platte, NE on February 18, 1949 to Helen Yates Higginbotham and Willie Higginbotham, went peacefully to be with God and his family in heaven on Oct. 10, 2013, surrounded by his much loved family and special friends in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
John graduated from North Platte High School in 1967 and proudly served in the 1st Calvary of the United States Army from 1969 to 1971. He served in Vietnam and received many medals, including a Bronze Star and Air Medal.
He returned to North Platte, where he and his brother, Daryl were started in business by their loving aunt and uncle, Millie and Roger Grosh. They ran Rogers Restaurant in the community for 40 years, retiring in November 2011.
Preceeding him in death were his father, Willie John Higginbotham; sisters, Marcia, Ronna and Janis Higginbotham; his wife, Jan Higginbotham; and uncle, Roger Grosh.
He is survived by his mother, Helen Higginbotham; brother, Daryl Higginbotham; sisters, Debbie Higginbotham and Lisa Higginbotham Arnold; Jan’s children, Dan and Doug Baker, Jennie, Bart and David Shelton; nieces, Erica and Andrea Kraetz, Cassidy and Savanna Arnold; nephew, Logan Arnold; aunts, Millie Grosh, Florence Yates Peterson and Louise Houghtelling, as well as many grandchildren and cousins. Special friends present at his death were Patty Witham and Denez Lopez.
He is loved by many and will be missed. May God bless his journey.
Memorials are suggested to the V.F.W. or the Humane Society. Online condolences may be share at www.carpentermemorial.com. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery with military honors. Rosary will be 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday with family receiving friends from 6p.m. to 7p.m., prior to the rosary, at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.