Obituaries

Bernadine E. Baker of Leawood, KS, died May 5, 2015, at home with her son ather side. She was  born October 19,1924, in Sutton, NE, the daughter of Edward and Louise Nuss Ebert. She was married to Robert F. Baker, who preceded her in death, December 29, 1984. She was also preceded in death by George F. DeMond on April 22, 1995; sister Helen Brogden of  Memphis, TN; and brother, Mervin Ebert of Sutton, NE. “Berny” was a member of the Broadway United Methodist Church, a past member of the Cortland Memorial Hospital Auxi l iary, V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary, Women of the Moose,  Chapter 72, Cortland, NY. She was employed by the Cortland County Sheriff’s Department for 32 years, retiring in 1980. She continued part-time employment for the Loyal Order of Moose for 10 years, retiring in 1993. Berny is survived  y a son, Gregory F.DeMond, and wife, Martha, of Leawood, KS, two grandchildren; Lynn A. (husband To d d ) B a c hma n o f Harriso n v i l le,MO; and Marcus  R.

Former Clay Center resident Roland Knox, 94, died April 28, 2015, at Ridgewood Care Center in Seward, NE. Roland was born March 25, 1921, to John and Flossie (Kirst) Knox ,near Clay Center, NE. He was united in marriage to Lorna D. Knox on August 25, 1946, in Fairfield, NE. They lived on their family farm southwest of Clay Center, NE, until 2008, when they moved to Seward, NE. Roland is survived by his children, Connie (Aubrey) Fitzke of Omaha, NE; Steve (Barbara) Knox of Seward, NE; one grandson, Jeff (Jennifer) Fitzke of Omaha, NE; four granddaughters, Alicia Knox of Denver, CO; Megan (Scott) Wilson of Omaha, NE; Lindsay Knox of Ridgway, CO; Lauren Knox of Lancaster, PA; and three great-grandsons, Jayden and Justin Fitzke, Samuel Wilson, all of Omaha, NE. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Lorna. Roland was a Master Mason of the Mid-West Lodge No. 317, member of The Scottish Rite, and a Shriner for over 50 years.

Harvard resident Ethel Mae (Cundall) Samuelson, 92, passed away Mon., April 27, 2015, at Memorial Long-term Care in Aurora, NE. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 2, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church in Harvard, NE, with Rev. Travis King officiating. Visitation was held Friday, May 1, 2015, from 1-8 p.m., with the family present from 5-7 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, NE. Graveside services were conducted at the Harvard Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family for a later designation at a later date. Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com. Ethel was born September 10, 1922, to Arthur and Florence (MacDonald) Cundall near Sutton, NE. She attended and graduated from Sutton Public Schools. After graduation, she moved to Lincoln, NE, and worked at Woolworth’s Department Store. She married Milan Samuelson on December 5, 1942, on the family farm near Sutton, NE.

Harvard resident Sherrill “Sheri” Dowse, 57, passed away Tues., April 28, 2015, at the Harvard Rest Haven in Harvard, NE. Funeral services were 2:30 p.m., Fri., May 1, 2015, at the United Church of Christ in Harvard, NE, with Pastor Dave Johnson officiating. Interment followed at the Harvard Cemetery. Visitation was Thursday, from 1-8 p.m., with the family present from 6–8 p.m., at McLaughlin Funeral Home in Clay Center, NE. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family. Condolences may be left at www.mclaughlinchapel.com. Sheri was born June 4, 1957, in Kansas City, MO, to Sherman and Faith Ann (Walter) Johnson Jr. She lived in Missouri until 1960, when the family moved to Hastings. She attended Hastings Public Schools and later earned her GED. In February of 1975, they moved to Harvard. Sheri married her soul mate, Danny Dowse, in Harvard on Dec. 2, 1978, in the middle of a blizzard. To this union, four children were born.

Services for Barbara Larson, 77, of Tilden, were April 16, at Peace United Church of Christ in Tilden. Burial of cremains was at the Oakdale Cemetery in Oakdale. She died Sunday, April 12, 2015, at her home in Tilden. Barbara Jean (Fields) Larson was born Feb. 7, 1938, in Meadow Grove to Clyde and Neola (Prevo) Fields. Her first few years were spent in Meadow Grove, where her father worked as a welder for Schinck Implement. The family moved to a farm south of Oakdale in the early 1940s. She attended rural school for eight years. Barbara graduated from Oakdale High School in 1955 and continued her education at Norfolk Junior College and Wayne State College as an education and music major. She married Lamont Larson of Wausa on Aug. 5, 1956, at Peace Evangelical Church in Tilden. They moved to Clay Center, where both taught in the Clay Center school system. Barbara retired in 2003. To this union, two daughters were born, LuAnn and Laurie.

Hastings resident Paul David Becker, 88, passed away Fri., April 3, 2015, at Homestead Assisted Living, Hastings, NE. Memorial services will be held Mon., May 11, 2015, 2 p.m., at Butler Volland Chapel, 1225 North Elm Ave., Hastings, with Pastor Charles M. Webster officiating. A private burial will be in Sutton Cemetery, Sutton. Memorials may be given to First Presbyterian Church of Hastings. There no viewing or visitation. Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family. Paul was born July 30, 1926, in Shickley, NE, to David and Marie (Scheierman) Becker. He married Anna Ulmer on Aug. 15, 1945, she preceded him in death on Feb. 18, 1977. Paul married Goldine Hall on Nov. 3, 1979, she preceded him in death on Sept. 23, 2013. He was an area farmer for many years until he retired.

Former Fairfield resident Robert “Bob” Jr. Matticks, 85, passed away Friday, May 1, 2015, at Harvard Rest Haven, Harvard, Nebraska. Services were held Tues., May 5, 2015, 2 p.m., at Fairfield Community Presbyterian Church, Fairfield, with Pastor William Nottage-Tacey officiating. Burial with military rites by Fort Riley Honor Guard and Fairfield American Legion was in Fairfield Cemetery. Visitation was Mon., May 4, 2015, 1–7:00 p.m., with the family present from 3–5 p.m., at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be given to Fairfield Troop 94, Clay County Historical Society, Fairfield Community Presbyterian Church, Hastings Museum or Fairfield Post 256 American Legion. Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family. Bob was born July 17, 1929, to Willard and Ermal (Dill) Matticks in Hastings, NE.

Ruth Mildred Pearson - September 2, 1915 – April 17, 2015, Ruth Mildred Turner was born in Clay Center, NE, on Sept. 2, 1915, to Fred and Elizabeth Turner. She had four brothers. Her mother died when she was six years old and although the siblings were seperated, Ruth and her brothers remained very close throughout their lives. Ruth graduated from Clay Center High School in 1933 and then Secretary College in Minneapolis, MN, in 1936. She returned to Clay Center to begin an adventurous career and family life, living in Omaha, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Clay Center, Chicago and finally settling in the Los Angeles area in 1945. She had a 30+ year administrative career until retiring to care for her then ailing husband, Sidney Pearson, who passed away in 1980. In 2003, she moved to Fountain Valley, CA, to live with her daughter, Patricia, and son-in-law Orlando Burillo.