Phillip Virgil Koch, 85, of Hershey, NE, died Friday, November 9, 2012, at his home northwest of Hershey where he lived for 85 years.

Phillip was born March 25, 1927, to Clarence A. and Myrtle E. Strolberg Koch at North Platte, NE. He attended O’Fallons Country School and graduated in 1944.

On August 31, 1945, Phillip married the love of his life, Glenda Maxine Louise King, in Kansas. Two children were born to this union, a son, Steve, and a daughter, Vicki. When his father died in 1951 Phillip took over the family farm and in 1953 began feeding cattle. His son, Steven joined the operation in 1967 and they farmed and fed cattle together until Phillip’s health failed. He enjoyed working the land and feeding cattle, his family, but most of all he loved his Lord Jesus Christ.

Phillip served and taught Sunday School for 30 years at Hershey Assembly of God Church, First Assembly of God Church in North Platte and the North Platte Nazarene Church. He served on the Hershey School Board for 10 years after Hershey and O’Fallons consolidated.

Surviving him is his wife, Glenda, of 67 years; his son, Steven (Deb) Koch, of Hershey and their children, Steven II ‘Chip’ (Amy) Koch, of Solomons, MD and their children, Cassady and Camden; Zachary (Angie) Koch, of New Richmond, WI and their son, Lincoln; Whitney Koch, of Hershey; Micah Koch, of Hershey and daughter, Brekkan; Phillip’s daughter, Vicki (Jeff) Young, of Hershey and their children, Kristopher (Haven) Smith of Denver, CO and their children, Elijah and Quinn; Kortlan (Alison) Smith, of Hershey and their children, Emma and Jackson; and J. Parker Young, of Hershey; two sisters-in-law, Rodene Abel of Sutherland, NE and Judith (Bill) Maassen of North Platte; plus many cousins and friends.

Cremation was chosen and there will be no public service. In lieu of flowers the family has established a memorial. The memorial book may be signed from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm Saturday, Monday and Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore or at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel At C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Jane Ann Ahlberg, 91, of Omaha, formerly of North Platte, passed away peacefully November 7, 2012 at Hospice House in Omaha, NE surrounded by her loving family. She was born August 12, 1921 in Hewit, MN. She was united in marriage to Edward Ahlberg October 2, 1942 in North Platte. She worked at Douglas Aircraft in Long Beach, CA during WWII, returning to North Platte after the war. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward; son, Rock; sisters, Juanita Cooper, Velva Dietzler, Marlys Waak, Georgina Bay and Crita Mae Crewdson; and brothers, Gary and Paul Crewdson. She is survived by her daughter and best friend, Sue (John) Maliszewski; granddaughter, Amy (Jesse) Branaugh; and sweet great grandson, Grant all of Omaha; brother, Milford Crewdson; sister, Dona (Rex) Ealy; brother-in-law, Carl Waak; sister-in-law, Doris Brown; and many dear relatives and friends including special niece, Ann Ealy of Omaha. Funeral services will be 11:30 a.m. Monday, November 12, 2012 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel with Rev. Polly K. Deppen officiating. Burial will be at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell. Visitation with family receiving friends from 5 to 7p.m. Sunday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be share at www.carpentermemorial.com. A memorial has been established in her memory.

Clifford Ellis Kuskie, age 83 of Brule, passed away on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 at Loveland, Colorado. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 13th at the Gubser Funeral Chapel with Reverend Lauran Heidenreich of the United Church of Christ, First Congregational Church of Brule officiating.
Cliff was born April 14, 1929 at Brule, the son of Bert and Margaret (Dodge) Kuskie. He grew up and attended schools in Brule and worked on the family farm and at the Dodge-Kuskie gas station. He was active in sports and his old teammates and friends meant a great deal to him. He graduated from the Brule High School in 1946. He attended the University of Wyoming and Denver University before entering the U.S. Air Force. In 1952 he married Mary Lou Williams in Denver, Colorado. They made their home on the family farm southwest of Brule from 1960-1965 before moving to Colorado Springs, CO where Cliff worked for Colorado Game and Fish as a real estate agent. The family later moved back to the family farm where Cliff farmed for twenty- five years before his retirement. Cliff served as a Keith County Commissioner from 1967-1970. In 1969 he built the CK Chuckwagon restaurant in Laramie, Wyoming, which he owned and operated for nearly twenty years. He enjoyed waterfowl, pheasant and deer hunting in Nebraska and elk hunting in Wyoming his entire life. He loved his family and friends and enjoyed visiting and telling stories. He had a great mind for personal and world historical events and loved to talk about those experiences. He will be missed by all his family and friends.
Survivors include two sons, Matthew Kuskie of Brule and Paul and wife Patti Kuskie of Ogallala; one daughter, Molly and husband Art Hill of Wyoming and Idaho; grandsons, John and wife Kayla Kuskie of Ogallala, Jeff Kuskie and fiancé Mallory Moeller of Kearney, NE, Beau and wife Erin Hill of Fort Worth, TX, Dustin Hill of Buffalo, WY and Cody Hill of Casper, WY; granddaughter, Stephanie Hill of Ogallala; great grandchildren, Anthony, Matthew and Kaylynn Hill and Danika Kuskie; sister and brother in law, Beeb and Harold Kampfe of Brule; sister in law, Minnie and husband Del Splitter of Big Springs and numerous nieces and nephews and special friend, Sharon Russel. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Lou; brother, Donald and sisters Betty and Evelyn.
Online condolences may be sent at gubserfuneralhome.com. Gubser Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Merle C. Smith, age 90, of North Platte, died November 5, 2012 at Great Plains Regional Medical Center. Merle was born on February 6, 1922 in Onawa, Iowa to Jesse M. and Olive M. (Ingram) Smith.
Merle graduated from North Platte High School in 1942. He then entered the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific during WWII. After his discharge he returned to North Platte where he began work at the Krispy Krust Bakery. It was here that he met the love of his life Dorothy Nelson. The couple was wed on January 1, 1946 in Kansas.
Merle hired on to the UPPR as a clerk in 1950. After his retirement in 1977, the couple moved to Crete, NE where he worked for Farmland for several years. He and Dorothy moved back to North Platte in 1994. Merle was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses where he began full time ministry in 1985.
Survivors include his children, Cheryl Keller of North Platte, Kim (Judy) Smith of Kearney, Kyle (Jennifer) Smith of North Platte, and Kelly (Ed) Oberton of Grand Rapids, Minnesota; a brother, Darrell (Nancy) Smith of Rapid City, SD; 13 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dorothy on May 11, 2012, 2 children, Linda and Kevin, a sister, Phyllis Becker, and 2 brothers, Dale and Ralph “Tiny” Smith.
A memorial has been established in his name and online condolences can be made at www.adamsswanson.com. Memorial Services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday November 12, 2012 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Inurnment will be at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell. Those wishing to sign the register book may do so from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Ray Junior Ostendorf, 80, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, died November 6, 2012 in Gothenburg, NE.

He was born July 13, 1932 in Gothenburg, NE, son of Ray E. and Dorothy (Spencer) Ostendorf .

Ray grew up in Gothenburg and graduated from Gothenburg High with the class of 1952. He lived in Gothenburg all of his life except for when he lived in Idaho (1960-62). He married Helen Bihlmaier in 1956 at Cozad. To this union four children were born: Shirley, Peggy, Becky and Alan. Ray worked for Dawson County Department of Roads as heavy equipment operator. He enjoyed square dancing, fishing, cards, and gardening. He enjoyed spending time on his hobby farm with horses, pigs, calves, and all kinds of birds and going to auctions.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Ostendorf of Gothenburg, NE, three daughters – Shirley Ostendorf of Lincoln, NE; Peggy and husband Terry Fogelstrom of Kent, WA; Becky and husband Scott Ontjes of Kansas City, MO; one son Alan and wife Carol Ostendorf of Broken Bow, NE; his twin sister Faye June and husband Carl Schmeeckle of Gothenburg, NE; brother Henry Roger and wife Margaret Ostendorf of Henderson, NV; seven grand children, and two great grandchildren.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, two half sisters, Vera Starks and Faith Henslee.

Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Nebraska; Thursday, November 08, 2012 1:00 pm – 8:00 pm with the family present from 5-7.

Services will be held at First Baptist Church, November 9, 2012 at 10:30 am with Pastor Bill Ivey officiating.

Interment will follow in the Gothenburg Cemetery, Gothenburg, Nebraska.

Memorials may be directed to the family. To sign the online guest book, go to www.blasestrauser.com.

Hobart “Hob” Bailey Brown, 96, died Oct. 31, 2012.
Hobart “Hob” Bailey Brown was born on Jan. 24, 1916, near Wauneta. He was the son of Charles Thomas and Nancy Maude Sapp Brown. His early childhood was spent in southwest Nebraska.
Hob and Evelyn Iola Deal were united in marriage on Nov. 4, 1935. Eight children were born to this marriage. Hob and Evelyn lived in Elsie until 1957 when they moved to Ogallala. In 1972 they purchased a sand and gravel business, Brown Sand and Gravel. They sold the business in 1988 and Hob retired and they enjoyed traveling in their camper.
Following Evelyn’s death in 1990, Hob spent time traveling and living in Arizona.
On Sept. 9, 2000, he married a long-time friend, Wynona Kuskie Baker, and with this union four stepchildren were added to his family. The couple made their home in Yuma, Colo.
Hob was a member of the Ogallala Church of Christ and served as an elder while living there. He was proud of the fact that all his children are active in the Church of Christ in their own communities.
Hob was preceded in death by Evelyn, his wife of 54 years; his second daughter, Jo Brown, in 2012; one great-granddaughter, Amanda Kathryn Hohl, in 1991; his parents; two sisters and three brothers.
Survivors include his wife, Wynona, of Yuma; seven children, Charlene (Joe) Starkey, of Colorado Springs, Nancy (Raymond) Berges, of Julesburg, Tom (Carol) Brown, of Curtis, Vicki Lynn Peters, of Ogallala, Bev (Mike) Kuskie, of Colorado Springs, Bob (Sharon) Brown, of North Platte, and David (Monie) Brown, of Ogallala; one son-in-law, Jim Brown, of Mesa, Ariz.; four step-children, Dan (Glenda) Baker, of Cambridge, Cheryl Chesnut, of Trinidad, Londa (Gale) McCormick, of Imperial, and Kirn (Jim) Hielscher, of Greeley; 23 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; 12 great great-grandchildren; 14 step-grandchildren; 26 step-great-grandchildren; and three step-great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Services will be at 9:30 a.m. (MT) on Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Nazarene Church in Yuma, Colo., and at 2 p.m. (MT) at the Church of Christ in Ogallala. Burial will be at the Elsie Cemetery at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family.

Jason Apolonio Garcia, 88, of Commerce City, Colo., passed away Nov. 2, 2012, peacefully in the comfort of his home, amongst his beloved family.
He was born on April 10, 1924, in North Platte. In addition to raising a beautiful family Jason also served his country proudly and selflessly in the United States Army from March 1944 to July 1945, being honorably discharged and awarded two Bronze service stars.
Jason is survived by his beautiful wife of 67 years, Shirley Caudillo Garcia, of North Platte; sister, Mary Nila, of North Platte; daughters, Rebecca Montez and Beatrice Hatch, both of Commerce City, Colo.; son, Paul (Annette) Garcia and Frank (Virginia) Garcia, both of Commerce City, Colo.; grandchildren, Wendy Gloria, of Atwater, Calif.; Felicia Harrison, of Golden, Colo., Angelia J. Garcia, of Lakewood, Colo., Nicole Richwine, of Marysville, Wash., Marcus Garcia, of Commerce City, Colo., Cyrus ‘Tony” Hatch, of Marysville, Wash., Dominic Garcia, of PAFB, Fla., Nicholas Garcia, Vanessa Garcia, Lorenzo Ruiz and Michael Ruiz, of Commerce City, Colo.; his beloved great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son, Jason “Gordy” Garcia; granddaughter, Martelle A. Garcia; brothers, Paul and Martin Deluna and Cecil and Enos Hernandez; and sister, Jenny Deluna Ponce.
Rosary will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, at Our Lady Mother of the Church, Commerce City, Colo.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 9, at Our Lady Mother of the Church. Burial will follow immediately after at Highland Cemetery in Thornton, Colo., where military honors will be rendered. A reception will follow.
To leave a special message, visit newcomerdenver.com. Newcomer Funeral Homes and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.