Obituaries

Jan. 7, 1936 ~ Sept. 16, 2022

Sutton resident Rolly Ray Kastens, 86, passed away Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at Legacy Square in Henderson.

A rosary was prayed at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sutton. Mass of Christian Burial followed at 2 p.m., at the church, with Father Doug Daro officiating. Interment took place at Calvary Cemetery in Sutton.

Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sutton or the American Legion Argonne Post #61 Josie Kastens Scholarship Fund.

Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com. Rolly was born Jan. 7, 1936, in Unadilla, to Clarence and Lenora (Sewell) Kastens. He grew up in Unadilla and received his education from Unadilla High School.

Rolly was a staff sergeant in the Air Force from 19541958 and during that time, he flew from Guam to Korea assisting fighter pilots.

Feb. 28, 1946 ~ Sept 10, 2022

Floyd E. Rhodes, age 76, of Hastings passed away at home Sept. 10, 2022, surrounded by loved ones, after a courageous battle with cancer. Floyd was born Feb. 28, 1946, in Grand Island to William Burns and Evelyne Menagh. He attended Fairfield High School, where he was a standout athlete. Floyd received many awards for his athletic ability; one highlight was the ‘60-61’ football team being honored at the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame event as a Golden Anniversary team for their 8-0 football season. Floyd graduated from Fairfield High School in 1964, and Kearney State College in 1968, earning a degree in education. At Kearney State College, Floyd was a pole vaulter on Kearney State’s track team. Floyd was also a member of the Theta Xi Fraternity. His fraternity brothers were like a second family to him, and he kept in contact with them all these years.

Oct. 1, 1932 ~ Sept. 9, 2022

Dolores Marcene Gunn (“Teed” or “Dee”) passed away peacefully Sept. 9, 2022 in Surprise, AZ, just shy of what would have been her 90th birthday. Dolores was born in Burr Oak, KS Oct. 1, 1932, to Orville Scott and Marguerite Rouse Peters. Dolores graduated from Edgar in 1951, where she excelled as a cheerleader. Shortly after high school, she moved to Denver, CO. In Denver, Dolores reconnected with the love of her life, Billy Gunn, who was also from Edgar and the two were married April 6, 1952. Dolores eventually became a skilled bookkeeper while Billy began his career with the Union Pacific Railroad. The railroad allowed them numerous travels and they finally settled in Cheyenne, WY.

Jan. 31, 1925 ~ Aug. 2, 2022

Lenora H. Hofmann was born in 1925 to Richard and Henrietta (Nuss) Griess in Stockham. She was united in marriage to Lester L. Hofmann at her parent’s home. They moved to Scottsbluff in 1949. She was employed as a school lunch manager for many years. She loved to cook and bake as well as garden. She made the world’s best cherry coffee cake. She and Lester enjoyed attending local baseball games and, later, watching the Colorado Rockies on television. She loved listening to country music. After retirement, she enjoyed traveling with Lester, solving crossword and jigsaw puzzles as well as playing a variety of card games. After they retired, they also enjoyed spending time as “snow birds” in Yuma, AZ.

The family of Mike McLaughlin want to thank you and offer our appreciation for all of the cards, memorials, food and kindness shown to us following Mike’s death.

Lorraine Mac & Heather, Julia, Dominic and Blaise Jim & McKenzie, Moses and Monroe Guy

& Angela, Lily and Cora

Harvard resident Gerald Patrick “Jerry” Ryan, 69, passed away Tues., Sept. 6, 2022, after a brief battle with brain cancer. Services were at 10:30 a.m., Sept. 12, at Harvard United Methodist Church in Harvard, with Pastor Buck Linton-Hendrick officiating. There was no burial at this time. Memorials may be given to the family for a memorial to be established at a later date. The service was live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Jerry’s obituary and click the play button shown towards the bottom of the page. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.

Sharon Faye Ewing, 65, passed away Mon., Sept. 5, 2022, at her home west of Emporia,KS, surrounded by her loving family and closest friends.

Oct. 26, 1953 ~ Sept. 5, 2022

Linda Ruth Kohtz (Ott), 68, of Sutton, passed away Sept. 5, 2022, at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Linda, daughter of Wilber and Marie Ott (deceased), was born Oct. 26, 1953 and grew up in Giltner. Linda married Robert (Bob) Kohtz of Hampton April 2, 1977, and together they had four sons. Linda is survived by her husband, Bob; their four sons and their wives, Tyler (Wendy) of Lincoln; Kyle (Brooke) of Medford, OR; Kelsey (Ashley) of Lincoln; and Kaelyn (Kelly) of Bennington; 11 grandchildren; brothers, Melvin and Dennis Ott; and many nieces and nephews.

Linda’s kindness and hugs touched many and will be missed. A celebration of life will be held at a future date.

May 1, 1932 ~ Aug 25, 2022

Former Fairfield resident William “Bill” Carl Ridgway, 90, passed away Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022, at Memorial Community Care in Aurora. Memorial services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at the Fairfield Community Church, with Pastors Ivan and Joyce Dean officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Fairfield Cemetery with military honors by the Fairfield American Legion Post #256 and the Offutt Air Force Base Honor Guard. The family will greet friends Thursday, from 6-8 p.m., at the Fairfield Community Church in Fairfield. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Fairfield Community Presbyterian Church and/or the Fairfield American Legion Post #256.

Dale Edward Livgren, 96, passed away Monday, Aug. 22, 2022, at College View in Hastings. A celebration of life was at 10 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022, at the Clay Center Christian Church, with Pastor Arick Johanson officiating. Interment followed at the Clay Center Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Clay Center Christian Church Building Fund in Clay Center, or the Wellspring Crisis Pregnancy Center in Hastings. Condolences may be left at www.mclaughlinchapel. com Dale Edward Livgren was born on Aug. 17, 1926, to Albert and Judith Livgren on a farm at rural Harvard. He received his education at Price Rural School and Clay Center Public School, graduating from there in 1944. He married Ruth VonSpreckelsen on Aug. 22, 1946, in Mankato, KS and to this union four children were born.