Gloria Jeanne Ferguson Adkins, 88, died June 21, 2018, in Kona, Hawaii.

She was born on Nov. 29, 1929, in Buda, the daughter of Lawrence T. and Rose I. Ferguson. Her father was with the Union Pacific Railroad and the family soon moved to North Platte, where she would live the first part of her life, attending school there and graduating from North Platte High School in 1947.

She was active in the First Baptist Church there for many years, leading the youth group with her husband. She was a Blue Bird/Campfire Girl and Cub Scout leader. She actively participated in North Platte Community Theater, including a stint as Hand-Car Hannah for the Nebraskaland Days celebrations.

Gloria married James Morris Adkins Sr. on Oct. 5, 1947, on his return from the Pacific theater where he served in the U.S. Navy. The couple lived in North Platte, where Jim was both circulation and advertising director of the Telegraph Bulletin. They also lived in Idaho, where he worked for a newspaper chain prior to moving to Cozad, where he worked as well prior to returning to North Platte.

In 1971 the couple moved with their three youngest children to Parker, Colorado, living in both Castle Rock and Parker since that time, when they went into partnership to own and operate the Parker Press and the Douglas County News, Elbert County Press and Elbert County News and the Aurora/Southeast Suburban Press newspapers with Jerry Brock and daughter, Jeanne, who later joined the partnership.

All who knew Gloria were blessed by the beautiful voice God had bestowed on her. Winning state competitions in high school, she continued in her lifetime to use that gift in choirs, singing at events and nursing homes and singing karaoke. The evening before leaving for a Hawaiian Gospel Music cruise she was singing karaoke in Castle Rock with friends. The room would quiet as the music flowed through her and enveloped her audience. A highlight of her life was being selected to sing in the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, best-known as the home of the Grand Ole Opry.

Besides her music, many residents in Nebraska and Douglas County, Colorado, knew her through her weekly column — Coffee With Gloria — which she wrote for many years focused on her children, their lives and her expanding number of grandchildren. She was active in the Castle Rock Senior Center, an election judge and caucus participant and a member of the Denver First Church of the Nazarene, although she attended New Hope Presbyterian in Castle Rock.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her infant daughter, Jeri Maree; her husband, Jim; and her brother, Charles.

She is survived by her seven children, Jeanne of Castle Rock, Jim Jr. (Ann) of Parker, Janice (Riaz) Vaziralli of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Jeff (Marsha) of Centennial, John (Lori) of Coulee Dam, Washington, Jodie (Mike) Anderson of Castle Rock, and Jacquie (Bob) Murphy, Mobile, Alabama; daughter-in-law, Michelle, Parker; 20 grandchildren; 42 great-grandchildren; a great-great granddaughter; her brothers, Donald Ferguson of Palm Springs, California, Lawrence T. Jr. (Pat) of North Platte; sister-in-law, Barbara Ferguson of Greenwood Village; many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Denver Rescue Mission.

Services will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 3, at New Hope Presbyterian Church, Castle Rock. The family welcomes those who wish to share the service to a lunch following the service in the church hall.

Onida Lee Anderson, age 88 of North Platte, passed away June 28, 2018 at Great Plains Health. She was born May 10, 1930 to Gradie Lea and Nola Onida (Thompson) Stewart at Greeley, CO. They moved to Trenton, NE in 1936 where she spent all of her school years graduating in 1948. Onida was united in marriage to Max Anderson at the Church of God in Trenton on June 30, 1950. She worked at the Ramada Inn, also 15 years doing lots of handiwork, learning to quilt, making quilts for her kids. Onida also was a Husker Fan. She accepted Christ into her life in 1951 in McCook, NE.

Survivors include her children, Rick Anderson of Hope Mills, NC, Shelley (Frank) Russell of Vancouver, WA, and Kelley Anderson Klemptner of North Platte, grandchildren, Crystal Lee, Chad Russell, and Cassie Anderson, two sisters, Ovida Applebee, and Bonnie Bell Hockman, four great-grandchildren, and other relatives and close friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Memorial services will be 11:00 am Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Private family inurnment will be a Ft. McPherson National Cemetery. Those wishing to sign the memorial book may do so from 3:00 to 5:00 pm Sunday and from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday at Carpenter Memorial Chapel which is in care of arrangements. A memorial has been established in her memory. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com

Beula Marie Rose, age 97, passed away Friday June 29, 2018 at Indian Hills Manor in Ogallala, NE.

Beula was born October 8, 1920 in Moorefield, NE to William E. and Ethel (Blaesi) Dike.  She grew up in the Moorefield area and became a teacher after graduating from high school. She first taught at country schools before moving to North Platte where she continued teaching.  She married Warren Gerken and to this union 4 children were born, Pat, Larry, Karen and Judy.  After Warren passed away, she married Merle Rose in the late 1960s.  They made their home in North Platte where she taught at Roosevelt and McDonald Elementary Schools. When the new Adams Middle/Junior High School was built, she taught, as well as becoming the Head Librarian, being responsible for putting the new library together.  She enjoyed teaching and was a positive influence on many children through the years.  She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, painting and snow-birding in Arizona with Merle.

Beula is survived by her daughters Karen Pedigo of SD and Judy (Roger) Neal of North Platte; 10 grandchildren; numerous great and great-great grandchildren; as well as other extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands Warren Gerken and Merle Rose; daughter Pat; son Larry; and brothers Bill, Jim and Dick Dike.

Memorials are suggested in her name and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Cremation was chosen, and a memorial service will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday July 6, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Gary Smith officiating.  Inurnment will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery.  Those wishing to do so may sign the register book from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Thursday July 5, 2018 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.

 

Florence Evangeline Jackson, age 91, of North Platte, NE, passed away at Centennial Park Retirement Village on Thursday, June 28, 2018.

Florence was born January 2, 1927, to Tolmie and Ruth Ann (Bratten) Forseberg on the family farm in Wild Horse Valley, north of Brady, NE. She attended Wild Horse Valley School through the 8th grade then went to Brady Public School. Florence moved to North Platte in her late teen years and went to work at Woolworth’s and the Pawnee Hotel before taking a job at J.M. McDonald’s for a number of years until she stopped working in the early ’70’s.

When Florence was a teenager, she met a young man, Arvid Virgil Jackson, at the Legion Hall in North Platte. They had their first date on March 29, 1944, then Arvid left for the Navy three months later. On August 15, 1945, while on leave in San Francisco, Arvid proposed to Florence and gave her a diamond engagement ring then left the next day to continue his service. He returned home after his discharge in 1946 and the two were united in marriage on July 14, 1946, at the Svea Dal Church in Wild Horse Valley. They lived in Omaha for a short time before returning to North Platte in 1948. Florence and Arvid celebrated nearly 72 years of marriage and had four sons.

Florence had a strong faith in God. She taught Sunday School and was involved in missionary groups for many years. She was a member of the North Platte Berean Church and was active in a Christian Women’s Club for over 30 years.

She leaves behind her husband, Arvid, of North Platte; sons, Dave (Nancy) Jackson, of Phillipsburg, KS, and Jim (Sally) Jackson and Tim (Karen) Jackson, of North Platte; seven grandchildren, David, Jr., Tiffany, Jordana, Chris, Rachel, Alicia and Tyler; 10 great-grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other family.

Florence was preceded in death by her son, Tommy Jackson; parents, Tolmie and Ruth Forseberg; and sister, Gladine Hudoff.

Funeral Service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 3, 2018, at the North Platte Berean Church with Pastor John Stone officiating. Burial will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to Marinatha Bible Camp or the American Cancer Society.

Wanda Calhoun Tuenge, 95, of North Platte, NE, passed away Saturday, June 9, 2018, at Linden Court in North Platte.

Wanda was born February 15, 1923, to James Manley Calhoun, Jr. and Edna Anna (Van Eman) Calhoun on her parents’ dairy farm north of North Platte. She graduated from North Platte Senior High School in 1939 and attended business school in Chillicothe, MO. She then returned to North Platte and worked as a bookkeeper for First National Bank.

On December 31, 1941, Wanda was united in marriage to Cecil Herbert Tuenge at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Platte. In the fall of 1942 Cecil joined the U.S. Navy and was stationed with the U.S. Marines in the South Pacific Theatre during WWII. Wanda worked for the war effort in San Diego, California, then returned to her job at First National Bank in North Platte.

Wanda and Cecil started their family in 1945 and began farming and ranching. They moved from the ranch into North Platte in 1995 but remained active in ranching until 2004. Wanda and Cecil enjoyed going to dances throughout Nebraska with their close friends. Most of all, they enjoyed their many international travels, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Wanda was an active member of the First Evangelical Lutheran Church throughout her life and was also a member of Eastern Star and Job’s Daughters.

She is survived by her children: identical twins Rodger (Fran) Tuenge, of Haines, AK, and Rod (Linda) Tuenge of Lafayette, CO, Lisa Tuenge, of College Station, TX, and Karen Tuenge, of Madison, WI; grandchildren: Tamara (Michael) Murphy, Erica (Andrew) McClure, Jason Tuenge, Peter (Erika) Tuenge, Marty (Ivy) Davis, Jacob Tuenge, Kallie (Kyle) Shepherd and Zachary Wiese; six great-grandchildren: Hunter and Isabel Shepherd, Jack and Luke Tuenge, and Owen and Graham McClure; three step-grandchildren and six step great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews and other family members.

Wanda was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil, and their daughter, Carol; her parents, James M. and Edna Calhoun; and brothers, Bruce and James Lawrence Calhoun.

Cremation was chosen. Memorial service will be 9 a.m. Saturday, July 7, 2018, at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Steve Berke officiating. Inurnment will follow in the North Platte Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or at the church. Memorials are suggested to Great Plains Hospice or the church. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

 

June Esther Gosnell, of North Platte, NE passed away on June 26, 2018.  She recently celebrated her 98^th birthday at Linden Court and was so happy to visit with relatives and friends.

June was born in North Platte, NE.  Her parents were Arthur and Getty (Greeley) Stewart.   Her mother passed away when she was fourteen years old; being the oldest of the children she helped care for her four siblings.  She graduated from North Platte High school in 1938.  In 1937, she met Bernard Gosnell when he was working for her Dad on the Stewart family Ranch.  On November 15, 1939 June and Bernard and Bernard’s brother, Alfred and his wife to be Marie ran away to Oberlin, Kansas. They had a double wedding that resulted in many great memories.

June and Bernard were members of the Foursquare Church.  June spent many years teaching Sunday School, chasing kids and playing games.  They had two sons, Larry and Jerry and had many other children in and out of their home.  June was “Mom” “Aunt” and “Grandma” to many.  June loved having friends and family around her and would often call on the spur of the moment to say “I’m cooking today and why don’t you come and eat with us.”  She did this even in her 80s.  June and Bernard also loved to travel in their camper to many places visiting as they went along.

June is survived by her sons Larry Gosnell and Jerry (Linda) Gosnell all of North Platte.  Grandchildren Jerrilyn (Dave) Crankshaw, Shane Gosnell, Jessica Gosnell, all of North Platte, Lenn Gosnell, Littleton , CO. Sister, Donna Keithley, North Platte.  Great grandchildren Jestynne Crankshaw, Josh Crankshaw and Drew Brown, honorary grandchildren Sue, Joe, Merle and Chad Spurgin and many other nieces and nephews.

June is preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Getty Stewart, her husband, Bernard in 2011, siblings Richard (died at birth), Lawrence, Chester and Elnora Stewart, granddaughter Christina Brown, stepmother, Pearl Stewart and stepbrothers, Marion and Sherman Larsen.

Online condolences may be shared a www.carpentermemorial.com. Services will be 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 2, at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation with family receiving friends will be Sunday, July 1, from 3-5 p.m. at Carpenter Memorial Chapel, which is in care of arrangements.