Patricia Hernandez Vieyra, 94, of North Platte, NE passed away Monday, January 7, 2013, at Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte.

Pat was born January 31, 1918, at Aguas Calientes, Mexico to Eduardo Mendoza and Maria T. Cortez Hernandez. At the age of six, the family moved to Laredo, TX then settled in New Castle, TX. The family later moved to Winfield, KS and by the age of 10 they moved to O’Fallons, NE as migrant workers in the beet fields. She attended O’Fallons School in the winters and worked in Texas during the summers. Pat worked hard to earn her GED and U.S. citizenship.

In 1936, Pat married Manuel Maldonado at Frederick, OK and they made their home in North Platte. Pat went to work in hospitals in 1952 and became an LPN after graduating in 1956. She then went to work for St. Mary’s Hospital, Memorial Hospital and later Great Plains Regional Medical Center before working as a private nurse.

Pat was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. She was also on the Board of Directors for RSVP and Western Nebraska Legal Aide.

Survivors include her sons, Manuel “Joe” (Diana) Maldonado, of El Paso, TX and Anthony Maldonado, of Houston, TX; four grandchildren, Debbie (Jesse) Radcliffe, Manny Maldonado III, Timothy Maldonado and Molly (Julio) Luevanos; eight great-grandchildren, Ricco, Sami, Manny, Ethan, Ileana, Isabella, Lucy and Christian Maldonado; two great great-grandchildren, Chase Stoddard and Jeremia Tiedje; her sister, Ruth (James) Kirby, of Arlington, TX; sister-in-law, Connie Elliott, of El Paso, TX; many nieces, nephews and other family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eduardo and Maria Hernandez; her daughters, Connie Cox and Delores Maldonado; two brothers, James “Jesse” Hernandez Elliott and Robert Hernandez; and three sisters, Antonia Estrada, Epifania Ramirez and Angelina Hernandez.

Cremation was chosen. Memorial service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 11, 2013, at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore with Father Jim Golka officiating. Inurnment will follow in the North Platte Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore or online at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Edna Clotine Keys, 72, of North Platte, NE passed away surrounded by her family at home on Tuesday, January 8, 2013.

Edna was born December 18, 1940, at St. Louis, MO to William P. and Thelma Eloise Holmes Keys. She grew up in Omaha, NE where she attended school then moved to North Platte. Edna was a homemaker and loved to play Bingo. She loved Mexican dances and food, shopping and thrift stores. She also liked to cook Mexican food and desserts.

Edna was a member of St. Mary’s A.M.E. and belonged to a Bingo club. She was a strong, independent woman. Edna loved her family and grandchildren and was always willing to help others.

Survivors include her three daughters, Venus Keys and Toina Matlock, of Lincoln, NE and Delia Matlock, of Gering, NE; three sons, Preston (Kristy) Keys, Bobby Keys, Amiria (Nancy) Matlock, all of North Platte; son-in-law, Robert Deuerlein, of North Platte; two brothers, Raymond (Charity) Holmes, of Lincoln, NE and Little Chico Holmes, of North Platte; sisters, Mary Miles, of North Platte and Precious Miller of Lincoln, NE; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and other family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Thelma Keys; daughter, Tassie Deuerlein; a sister, Dee Kramer; and five brothers, Clay Ryan, Bubba Holmes, Big Chico Holmes, Glen Holmes and Eddie Keys.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday, January 11, 2013, at the First Assembly of God with Pastor Gary Goodwin officiating. The memorial book may be signed from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore or at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to the Dialysis Kidney Center. Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Fred Robert Hoatson, 93, of Hershey, NE died Sunday, January 6, 2013, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte, NE.

Fred was born September 25, 1919, on a farm northwest of Hershey to William “Will” and Ruba Bird Leister Hoatson. He attended grade school at Lower Birdwood and graduated from O’Fallons in 1938. Fred worked on the farm until Pearl Harbor when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on January 13, 1942. He was stationed in North Africa, Malta, Sicilia, Corsica and Italy. He was discharged on March 14, 1945, due to his father’s ill health, and returned to the family farm.

In the fall of 1945, Fred met a school teacher, Mildred Marie Broeder. They were married on May 17, 1947, at Greeley, CO, and were blessed with two boys, Claude and Blaine. The family continued to live on the same farm/ranch where Fred was born. He dryland farmed and used irrigation to raise corn, wheat, alfalfa and prairie hay and raised Angus and crossbred cattle. Fred used the brand, TV, which has been in the Hoatson family for over 100 years.

Fred was a member of the Hershey United Methodist Church, a life member of the Otto V. Johnson Post #208 American Legion and was on the Hershey Rural Fire Board from 1970-1996. He had also been a school board member of District 36. He enjoyed all kinds of outdoor activities. When he was younger, he played softball and town team basketball and liked to trap. As his boys grew, Fred liked to watch them play sports and he liked to travel. Work was Fred’s hobby. He was great at creating something useful from junk.

Fred is survived by his wife, Mildred, and sons, Claude (Kelly) and Blaine (Nancy) Hoatson, three grandsons, Riley, Adam and Colin Hoatson, a granddaughter, Madison Hoatson, all of Hershey; his brother, Earl (Millie) Hoatson, of Sun City, AZ; brother-in-law, Lyle (Janet) Broeder, of Hershey; several nieces, nephews and other family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Will and Ruba Hoatson; a brother, Frank (Dorothy) Hoatson; sisters-in-law, Maxine (Glenn) Price and Iola Broeder; and his father and mother-in-law, Louie and Agnes Broeder.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 10, 2013, at the Hershey United Methodist Church with Pastor Kola Akinnigbagbe officiating. Burial will follow in the North Platte Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday with family greeting friends from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to the Hershey Rural Fire Board, the Sutherland Rural Fire Board or Hershey United Methodist Church. Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Patricia A TenEyck, 83, former North Platte resident, died January 06, 2013 in Springfield, MO.
She was born December 14, 1929 in Detroit, MI to Francis J and Josephine B (Delestowicz) Sroka.
On June 24, 1950, she married James E TenEyck in Detroit, MI. They lived in North Platte for 40 years, then Highlands Ranch, CO for 8 years, and the past 11 years in Springfield, MO.
Pat was a volunteer for St John’s Hospital in Springfield, a volunteer at St Elizabeth Ann Seaton Catholic Church in Springfield, a former volunteer for the Bonfils Blood Bank in Denver, CO, a former volunteer at Great Plains Regional Medical Center, and enjoyed playing bridge.
Survivors include her three children; a daughter, Pamela Ann (Ernest) Reese of Bolivar, MO; two sons, Kenneth (Dixie) TenEyck of Gretna, NE, and Michael (Shae) TenEyck of Fort Worth, TX; four grandchildren, Lindsey (James) Krenk of Omaha, NE, Travis and Eric TenEyck, both of Fort Worth, TX, and Nicole (Nathan) Humlicek of Omaha, NE; three great grand-children and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Dr. James E TenEyck, a daughter, Susan Marie TenEyck; a grandson, Adam TenEyck; her brother Harry F Sroka and three sisters Eleanor E Smith, Alice S Horbal and Elaine M Peters.
Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Visitation will be Wednesday, 7:00 PM at Carpenter Memorial Chapel.
A rosary will be held on Wednesday January 9th at 7:00 PM at Carpenter Memorial Chapel . Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday January 10th at 10:00 AM at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church with burial at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment– Trust, Inc. Carpenter Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

George Evan Mercer passed away January 6, 2013 at the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte at the age of 78 after a brief but hard fought battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 10, 2013 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ogallala, NE at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor John Stubenrouch officiating. Burial will be held at 2:00 p.m. (CST) at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery south of Maxwell with Military Honors by the U.S. Navy.

George was born on April 20, 1934 the son of Theron and Agnes (Mayberry) Mercer in Big Springs, NE. He grew up on a farm and attended Big Springs schools where he graduated with the Class of 1952. In March, 1953 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in San Diego, CA and Phoenix, AZ.

On January 14, 1954 he was united in marriage to Bernice Evelyn Volberding in Phoenix, AZ. George and Bernice began their family while being stationed at Hickam Air Force Base and Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, HI.

After being honorably discharged from the Navy in March 1957, he worked for Goodall Electric, TRW and American Shizuki. George retired in 1997 after 40 years of employment.

George was a member of the American Legion, Moose Lodge, Elks Club and the Grant Golf Club and was an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Some of his favorite
hobbies were woodworking and golfing. Family and friends regarded him as a skilled handyman; always willing to lend a hand. George was an avid Husker football fan.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Bernice; his son Mark (Margie) Mercer of Columbus, NE; daughter Mardell (Kevin) Meier of Goddard, KS; grandchildren Matt (Teri) Mercer of Omaha, Megan Mercer of Omaha, Brice, Brandon and Blake Meier of Goddard, KS; two great grandchildren Mason and Mackenzie Mercer of Omaha; two sisters Jean Armstrong of Wray, CO and Glennys Schilling of Grant; sisters in law Mollie Mercer of Ft. Collins, CO and Sherri Gosnell and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother Agnes and father Theron; father and mother in law George and Alice Volberding, brother Jack Mercer; brother in law Gerry Schilling, brother and sister in law Wayne and Gladys Volberding, sister and brother in law Betty and Clarence Ebke and brother in law Don Gosnell.

Online condolences may be sent at gubserfuneralhome.com.

A memorial has been established in his memory.

Gubser Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Annamae Walter, age 94 of Ainsworth, went to heaven on Saturday December 29, 2012. She was born in Elsmere, NE on May 6, 1918 to Lee and Hervian (Chase) Luther. She lived life fully and enviably, never failing to make people welcome in her home ~ feeding the masses, fixing hair or the roof ~ she always had a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, a word of encouragement and never a judgmental thing to say. We are blessed to have loved her!
Those left who will miss her deeply are her grandchildren Leslie and Randy Anway and their children Sierra, Evan and Laken and Laken’s daughter, Annamae’s great great granddaughter Avery; Nikki and John Bauer and their daughter Summer; Paul and Victoria (Sanchez) Stratton and Patrick and Kaylyn Stratton; Shad and Angela Hall and their daughter Kelseigh; Regan Rexroad and her children Morgan and Taylor; Mike Leal and Scott and Ginger Leal and their children Austin, Jayden and Jordan; Annamae’s daughter-in-law Joanne Hall; son-in-law Dolan Berg; and two sisters Mary Hoover and Susie Roberts and brother Don Luther; as well as hundreds of kids who called her Grandma and she loved as such.
Annamae was greeted in heaven by both her parents; her husband Frank Walter and her two beloved children Ron Hall and Sharon Stratton; two daughters by marriage Twylla Berg and Maxine Bellany; two sisters Evelyn Yarbrough and Eleanor Smith; two brothers Harold and Raymond Luther; and grandson Kevin Berg.
A memorial has been established in her name and online condolences may be made at www.adamsswanson.com. A memorial service will be held at The Church of the Nazarene in Ainsworth, NE at 4:00 p.m. on Friday January 4, 2013 with Pastor Howard Hayes officiating. A light luncheon will follow. Graveside services will be held at the North Platte City Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday January 5, 2013 with Pastor Jack Atteberry officiating. Visitation will be Thursday and Friday 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

Dave “Sparky” Stearns, 60, of North Platte, passed away Dec. 31, 2012 at his home. He was born Dec. 14, 1952 to Norman and Delores (Johnson) Stearns at North Platte. He was the middle child, having two older and two younger sisters. As a young boy he spent a lot of time in hospitals and casts due to a hip problem. The result was he walked with a sever limp but he never let it get him down or keep him from doing what he wanted. The North Platte Elks and Crippled Children obtained treatment for him. Dave was a 1971 graduate of North Platte High School. He met his wife, Karen in July of 1972 and by April of 1973 they were married. They would have celebrated 40 years together this coming April. Dave began a career with Sears and Roebuck in 1971 and worked his way up from janitor to department manager. Sears closed the North Platte store in 1993. A year later in 1994, Dave reopened the North Platte store as a dealer store. He ran the store for 13 years and then sold it in 2007 to try and take life easier. Dave loved his Sears customers until the day he died and had a phenomenal memory for what products people had purchased from him over the years. Dave didn’t quite understand how to take life easier. In August of 2009, he and a partner bought and reopened the Barn Store on West Front St. He was the day to day manager, working lots of hours. He enjoyed getting to know a lot of the railroad workers and many of the workers from the supporting businesses at the UP Railroad Yard. He was involved in Jaycees, Elks, Eagles and the Moose Lodges. He was preceded in death by his father, Norman in 1990; and two infant siblings. Dave and Karen have one son, Gregg Stearns. Dave was always very proud of the man his son grew up to be. Dave is survived by his wife, Karen of North Platte; a son, Gregg (Lisel) Stearns of Lincoln; his mother, Delores of North Platte; sisters, Joyce (Gary) Kohn, Donna (Leonard) Moore all of North Platte, Debbie (Vaughn) Patrick of Gering and Karen (Don) Conn of Scottsbluff along with numerous nieces, nephews and in-laws. Dave lived in North Platte his entire life and never had any desire to leave. He loved North Platte and the people here and he never met a stranger. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. Memorials are suggested to the Elks Lodge or to the donor’s choice. Cremation was chosen. Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 5, 2012 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Family will be receiving friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements.

Marvin Russell Platt, age 100, formerly of Paxton, passed away, Saturday, December 29, 2012 at Centennial Park in North Platte.
Marvin was born October 1, 1912 in Cook, NE. to Dan and Jessie (Hunt) Platt. The family moved to Ogallala in 1919 and then to the Sandhills in 1923. His dad started Thune Store in 1924; moved to Flats and started a store in 1925; then sold that store and the family moved to Sutherland in 1926. Marvin attended Sutherland High School. In 1928, his father bought a grocery store in Tryon. In 1930, Marvin began his working career. He worked for a year in Wyoming, then came back to work on the Keystone Dam one summer. In 1935, he married Mary Vaughan Petersen. To this union were born two children, Betty and Bruce. They lived in the Sandhills, Stapleton, and North Platte before moving to Paxton in 1946 where he started working for Jensen Frontier Station. In 1947 Lyle Quimby asked Marvin to work for him at his Implement Business, which he did. In 1948 Lyle moved to Colorado and sold Marvin the business. Marvin did well and in 1957 he bought Crow Brothers Garage and Oil. Marvin ran these businesses until 1971 when he retired. In 1977 he and Mary moved to Lake Maloney and spent their 30 winters in McAllen, TX. Mary passed away in 1996. Since that time Marvin played a lot of golf and played cards to pass the time. Marvin was a member of the Eagles’ Lodge and Paradise Park Board of McAllen, TX.
Marvin is survived by his daughter, Betty (Eddie) Guynan of Paxton; daughter-in-law, Gayle Platt of Phoenix, AZ; two grandchildren, Kirk (Collete) Guynan and Kim (Eric) Seacrest both of North Platte; great-grandchildren, Joshua (Jessica) Guynan and Oliva Guynan all of North Platte; and a great-great grandchild, Dexter Guynan of North Platte; and many other nieces, nephews and family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mary; son Bruce; a brother and a sister.
A memorial has been established to the Mid-Nebraska Community Foundation and online condolences may be made at www.adamsswanson.com.
Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. CST, Wednesday January 2, 2013, at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Dr. Douglas Delp officiating. Burial will follow at the North Platte City Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday January 1, 2013 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. CST at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.

Eva Arline Votaw, age 96, of Wellfleet, passed away December 30, 2012 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. She was born January 5, 1916 in Curtis, Nebraska to Arthur and Stella Blanche (Hinton) Poteet.
Eva’s father died November 1918 and she moved to Wichita to live with her grandparents, Ezra and Rose Hinton returning to Curtis in 1930. Eva attended UNSA school graduating in 1933. She married John Robert Votaw on April 11, 1933 at Smith Center, Kansas. The couple made their home in Curtis. They also lived in Wellfleet, moved to Denver for a short time in 1936 and then back to Wellfleet where they remained until 1967. They moved back to Curtis until January 1969 and back to the farm near Wellfleet after that.
Eva was a member of the United Brethren Church in Wichita until 1956 and then she transferred to the Wellfleet United Methodist Church, where she was a member for over 50 years. She started playing the piano for church starting at the age of 11 in Wichita and played every Sunday there after unless she was sick. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge for over 60 years, the Harmony Club, Garden Club, Royal Neighbor Lodge, Afternoon Bridge Club, Frontier County Historical Society, Board member of the UNSTA, chairman of the NSA, member of the Nebraska Cattlewomen and state president of the Cow Belles. She was State Chairwoman for the Nebraska Nebrelles, Angus Organization, held offices in the County Farm Bureau, and was State Woman’s Chairman of the Nebraska Farm Bureau. Eva served 6 years on the Nebraska Beef Foundation Board, she was a 4-H Leader for 15 years and helped with music and programs for rural schools for 25 years. Eva was baptized at the West Side United Brethren Church in Wichita, Kansas. She transferred her membership to the Wellfleet United Methodist Church in 1956. She chaperoned 2 different groups of students to the United Nations Sessions in New York.
Survivors include 5 children, Carlos “Bud” (Charlene) Votaw of Wellfleet, NE, Jeanenne (Darryl) Pickett of Ft. Laramie, WY, David (Barbara) Votaw of Holdrege, NE, John (Norma) Votaw of Wellfleet, NE and Deborah (Robert) Adams of Vancouver, WA; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Poteet of Joplin, MO and Betty Votaw of Lincoln, NE; brother-in-law, William Votaw of North Platte, NE; 16 grandchildren; numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; and many other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John; grandson, Craig Votaw; great-granddaughter, Laynie Day Votaw; brothers, Dale (Dolly) and Gayle Poteet; and a sister, Pauline (John) Nutt.
Memorials may be made to the Wellfleet United Methodist Church and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 3, 2013 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with the Reverend Tammy Aubushon officiating. Burial will follow in the Wellfleet Cemetery. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday with the family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home who is in charge of arrangements.