Verne E. Taylor, 83, passed away Jan. 6, 2018.

Verne E. Taylor was born on Feb. 24, 1935, in North Platte to Nellie Glen and Harry Clifford Taylor.

Verne was a member of Kappa Gappa at Gallaudet College, class of 1960, National Fraternal Society of the Deaf, National Association of the Deaf and Ohio Association of the Deaf.

He was preceded in death by brothers, Cecil, Lester and Kenneth.

Verne is survived by his son, Verne E. Taylor Jr., grandchild, Caroline Jacqueline Stevens, great-grandchildren, Chandler, Sky, Summer Jade, grandchildren, Chelsea (Gabe) Uring, Gabrielle (Sean) Guy, Verne III, John Michael and James; his son, David (Vicky), grandchild, Pam (Austin), great-granddaughters, Harlow and Lucie, grandchildren, Zachary (Bethany), and Jacob; his son, Ricky (Jill), grandchild, Kimberly, great-grandchildren, Zeke, Trinity, James, and Xavier, grandchild, Mathew (Chelsae), great-granddaughter, Daizy; his son, Tim, grandchildren, Martin, Clarice, Emmalin and Katelyn.

Memorials are suggested to the Verne Taylor Fund at Ohio Association of the Deaf, Inc. P.O. Box 16181, Rocky River, Ohio 44116.

Inurnment will be at noon on Saturday, June 16, at the Plainview Cemetery, Maxwell.

Janet L. Konruff, 93, of North Platte, passed away June 16, 2018 at her home.

She was born on October 7, 1924, to Moulton and Marie (Bowman) Hammond in Stapleton, Nebraska.  Janet graduated from North Platte High School in 1943  and later was united in marriage to Charles B. Konruff on June 12, 1945 at Oberlin, KS.  Janet worked at Montgomery Ward as a clerk for many years. She was a member First Christian Church and the Diamond K Kiwanis.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; son, Terry, a brother, Gage Hammond and a sister, Marjorie (Don) Osmara.

Janet is survived by daughters, Linda Konruff of North Platte and Marjorie Nichelson of Yukon, Oklahoma ; daughter- in-law, Carole Konruff of Tampa, Florida; six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Dr. Murdock and his staff, the nurses and staff at Great Plains Health and Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and Great Plains Hospice.

Graveside services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell.  Visitation will be from 12-5 p.m., Tuesday, June 19,  at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund or Great Plains Hospice.  Carpenter Memorial Chapel Is in care of arrangements

Harold “Butch” Rasmussen passed away June 14, 2018, in Lake Mary, Florida.

He was born on Nov. 19, 1938, to Harold and Evelyn (Abegg) Rasmussen in North Platte. He graduated from North Platte High School in 1957 and married Charla Goodwin in 1960. Three sons, Randy, Scott and Mike, were born to that union.

In 1981, Butch married Barbara Greco and was married to her for 18 years.

In 2002, he married Georgia Mahaffie. They had grown up together in the same neighborhood and the same church and schools throughout their first 18 years, but after high school, they were separated for 45 years before finding each other again in 2001.

Butch managed the Cedar Bowl in North Platte from 1958 until becoming sole owner in 1986. During his time as manager, Butch worked with his father, Harold Rasmussen Sr., to strike a deal with a little-known “Kentucky Colonel” named Harland Sanders to sell his special recipe fried chicken at the old Cedar Bowl drive in on Rodeo Road. The colonel was to receive 5 cents royalty for each chicken sold. This all happened before Colonel Sanders became a national icon while franchising his famous recipe chicken.

Butch became president of the family corporation after the death of his father in 1976 and moved the Cedar Bowl from Rodeo Road to South Jeffers Street in 1978. He began a Husker football collection in the lounge soon after. The lounge was renamed the Touchdown Club and expanded in 1997 to become the largest collection of Nebraska Cornhusker sports photos and memorabilia anywhere in the country with the exception of the collection at the University of Nebraska.

Butch was president of the Nebraska Bowling Proprietor’s Association from 1967 to 1969 and continues to be the youngest person to ever serve in that capacity at the age of 29. He organized the western half of Nebraska for the state and national bowling organizations in the late ’50s and served on the Nebraska Bowling Proprietor’s Association State Board of Directors for 31 years.

He served the city of North Platte as campaign chairman for the North Platte United Way in 1970. The campaign made its goal that year for the first time in many years. He also served on the North Platte Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the state board of the Nebraska Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Little King franchisee’s National Advisory Council and served a term as president of that organization.

In 1971, he was named to the national publication of Outstanding Young Men of America. He received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Franchise Association in 1987, was elected to the Nebraska State Bowling Hall of Fame in 1986 and to the North Platte Bowling Hall of Fame in 1993. He was recipient of the Cody Scout Award for community service in 1991 presented by Mayor Jim Kirkman and was awarded the key to the city in 1999 by Mayor Jim Whitaker.

After retiring in 1999, Butch enjoyed the creative writing of his bowling column and then his sports column for The North Platte Telegraph. He also wrote articles for Huskers Illustrated magazine for three years.

Butch was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Evelyn; brother, Robin Rasmussen; first wife, Charla; and grandchildren, Peyton Rasmussen and Parker Rasmussen.

He is survived by his sons Randy (Missy) of Sanford, Florida, Scott of Sanford, Florida, and Mike (Lynn) of Little Rock, Arkansas; six grandchildren, Matt Rasmussen, Josh Rasmussen, Micah Rasmussen, Chase Rasmussen, Sawyer Rasmussen, Gracie Rasmussen; a sister, Kandie (Kathy) Borchman; two brothers, Rocky (Teresa) Rasmussen and Ron (Jake) Rasmussen; many nieces and nephews; his forever stepchildren, Perry (Gail) Greco, Angi (Kirk) McAndrew, Amy Greco and Cammie McNeil; his forever stepgrandchildren, David McAndrew, Ashley (Matt) Perlinger, Taylor Sutton and M.J. McNeil; and three forever step great-grandchildren.

A private service will be at the North Platte cemetery.

Maxine Olene Wilson, 84, of North Platte, NE, died Friday, June 15, 2018, at Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte.

Maxine was born May 19, 1934, to John Orth and Iva Cora (Plant) Frazier at Council Bluffs, IA. Three years later the family moved to Harrisonville, MO, where Maxine grew up and graduated from Harrisonville High School in 1952. She then moved to Omaha and went to work at Brandies Department Store for the next five years. When the family was going through some tough times back in Harrisonville, Maxine returned home to help the family. After three years she took a job with Bendix Aviation in Kansas City, MO, then moved to California to work for McDonald Douglas Aviation until 1963 when she moved back to Council Bluffs.

On April 21, 1963, Maxine was united in marriage to Harold Harry Wilson at the First Baptist Church in Eastlynne, MO, and they made their home in Council Bluffs. Harold’s job with the railroad brought the couple to North Platte in 1971. Maxine then went to work for Beatty, Morgan and Vyhnalek Law Office for the next several years and they had a lawn mowing business for 10 years.

Maxine was a good dancer and enjoyed playing the piano and singing. She was a member of the Union Pacific Old Timers and P.R. Halligan Post #163 American Legion Auxiliary.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Darlene and Bill Butler, of Harrisonville; as well as other family and friends including Gary Bassett, of North Platte, and Lois and Ron Reed, of Nevada.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; parents, John and Iva Frazier; and sisters, Ann Davis, Shirley Osborn and Thelma Francey.

Cremation was chosen and services were held at Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.

Lloyd Elmer Dowhower, age 95, of North Platte, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, April 28, 2018.

Lloyd was born January 30, 1923, to Elmer Albert and Alice Hattie (Stoddard) Dowhower in North Platte where he grew up. He graduated from high school in 1940.

Lloyd was united in marriage to Florence Erma Payne and they made their home in North Platte. The couple raised three children and were married for 67 years when Erma passed away in 2007.

Lloyd was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1945 and served in the occupation forces in Japan following World War II. After his discharge in 1946, he returned to North Platte and hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad as a Machinist. Lloyd worked for 43 years and especially enjoyed working in the air room and teaching apprentices.

He was an active member of the Restoration Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ and was blessed that members of his congregation were so helpful in his final years.

Lloyd enjoyed helping others, especially when it had to do with mechanical things.  He also liked camping, motorcycling, boating and traveling (the mountains were his favorite place) and got a kick out of entertaining people with well-told, mostly true stories. Lloyd loved his family and he loved God.

He is survived by his children, Janet (Robert) Webster, of Solon, IA, Alan (Johnita) Dowhower, of Sibley, MO, and Kerby (Trudy) Dowhower, of Independence, MO; 9 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 4 great great-grandchildren; sister, Florence Ziarko, of Byron, NY; brother, Virgil Dowhower, of Eugene, OR; sisters-in-law, Jean Dowhower, of Lemoyne, NE, and Cecelia Dowhower, of Marlow, OK; and other family.

Along with his wife, Erma, Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Alice; sister, Alice Violet Grim; brothers, Raymond, Dennis, Albert and Donald; sisters-in-law, Lorraine, Betty, Barbara, Beverly and Dolly Dowhower, Irene Peterson and Faye Crozier; brothers-in-law, John Ziarko and Gerald Grim; and grandsons, Neal and Jacob.

Cremation was chosen. Memorial Service will be 10 a.m. Friday, June 22, 2018, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Norm Morash and Wayne Godfrey officiating. Inurnment with military honors will follow in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the church. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.

Elton “Al” Albert Coleman, age 88 of North Platte, NE passed away Friday June 15, 2018 at Great Plains Health.

Al was born August 7, 1929 in Taylor, NE to Albert Elton and Ida Florence (Lewis) Coleman.  He grew up in Loup County and graduated from Taylor High School in 1946.  He worked on different ranches and married Gertrude Pearl “Trudy” Yocum on June 4, 1950 at Trudy’s parents’ farm in Loup County.  They resided in Loup County for 2 years before moving to Broadwater, NE in 1952 and North Platte in 1956.  He worked for Miles Cleaners until 1966 and then went to work for Adams & Swanson Funeral Home.  He attended the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science in Dallas, TX and graduated in August 1972, returning to Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte.   He worked for a period of time at the Odean Colonial Chapel until his retirement in 1998.  He was a member of the Grace Community Bible Church.  Following the death of Trudy in 1998, he married Audrey Beener on November 23, 1999.

Al is survived by his children, Robert (Kim) Coleman of Lincoln, NE, Linda Jo (Charles) Krenzel of Minneapolis, MN, and Dennis (Donna) Coleman of North Platte, NE; 8 grandchildren Dan (Nicole) Krenzel, Trisha (Ben) Prescott, Eric (Rachael) Krenzel, Denise (Matt) Sesker, Crystal (Matt) Seluk, Kayla Coleman, Nate (Jackie) Coleman and Abbey Coleman;18 great grandchildren; and 2 great-great grandchildren; 2 stepdaughters Patricia (Larrie) Patterson, and Carol Wescoat;  brother Clyde “Dick”  (Joan) Coleman; sisters-in-law Nancy Coleman and So Cha Coleman; as well as other extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Ida Coleman; wife Trudy in 1998; wife Audrey in 2017; son-in-law Dan Zuger; step daughter Elaine Kay Finch; brothers Chester and Rex Coleman; and sister Alice Tracy.

Memorials are suggested to the Grace Community Bible Church and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.  Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday June 22, 2018 at the Grace Community Bible Church with Rev. Mike Wing officiating.  Burial will follow at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens.  Visitation will be Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. with Family Receiving Friends from 6:00 until 8:00  at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.