Obituaries

Conway Andrew Griess, 6 months, 11 days old, passed away in the arms of his parents, Andy and Sarah, at Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford in Palo Alto, CA, Friday, June 24, 2022. After struggling with a congenital heart defect, he went up into the arms of Jesus.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m., Friday, July 1, 2022, at Zion Lutheran Church near Hampton, with Pastor David Feddern officiating. Interment followed at the Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later.

Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com

Conway was born Dec. 13, 2021, in Omaha to Andrew and Sarah (Carlson) Griess.

Though his time with us was short, he left a remarkable impact on so many hearts. He was born with immense strength that was felt through all who knew him. Though the odds were against him, he showed his strength through everything he endured.

Wanda Hanson, age 89, of Columbus, died Thursday, June 23, 2022, at Meridian Gardens in Columbus.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Monday, June 27, 2022, at the First United Methodist Church in Columbus. Graveside services were at the Red Cloud Cemetery.

Wanda Lee (Ham) Hanson was born Aug. 18, 1932, in Clay Center to Rueben and Viola (Stanton) Ham. She graduated from Clay Center High School and attended the University of Nebraska, receiving her B.S. in Home Economics. Wanda married Marvin A. Hanson on Jan. 24, 1954, in Clay Center.

Wanda taught Home Economics at Schuyler Central High School. She also worked at the Wasenius Paint Store in Schuyler, Sherwin Williams in Columbus, and Schweser’s Clothing Store.

Wanda was a 4-H Leader, FHA Advisor and volunteered for the Columbus Hospital Auxiliary.

Mildred Eloise Ridgway, 97, of St. Paul, died Friday, June 17, 2022, at the Howard County Medical Center in St. Paul.

Funeral services were Thursday, June 2, at the First Presbyterian Church in St. Paul. Pastor Lisa Ewald officiated. Interment was in the Fairfield Cemetery in Fairfield.

Memorials are suggested to the St. Paul EMT’s, Howard County Medical Center Foundation, or the First Presbyterian Church in St. Paul.

Mildred was born on June 6, 1925, in Fairfield to Theodore and Blanche (Mock) Walther. She was also baptized and raised in Fairfield, and graduated in 1943. She was united in marriage to Rolland Ridgway on Aug. 5, 1946, in Fairfield. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Fairfield American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed her quilting group, sewing, traveling with her husband’s job, and being a homemaker.

Norman V. Thompson Jr. 71, of Alta Vista, KS, passed away Monday, June 20, 2022, in Manhattan, KS. Cremation will take place. A graveside service with military honors will take place at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery.

Norman was born Oct. 29, 1950, in El Dorado, KS, the son of Norman V. and Margaret (Foster) Thompson, Sr.

Norman served in the United States Army for twenty years until his retirement in 1990. After his retirement, he went to work at Fort Riley repairing helicopters. He was an avid gun collector. He was a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge where he attended the Alta Vista Masonic Lodge. He recently was awarded a twenty-five year member. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.

On March 5, 1979, he married Mary T. Thompson in Dale County, AL.

Former Clay Center resident Leah L. Harms, 98, passed away Monday, June 20, 2022, at Memorial Community Care in Aurora.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Monday, June 27, 2022, at the United Church of Christ in Clay Center, with Pastor Ethan Feistner officiating. Interment will follow at the Clay Center Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later.

Condolences may be left at www.mclaughlinchapel.com

Leah was born Aug. 11, 1923, in Campbell, to Emil and Augusta (Kumke) Volk. She received her education in Hastings and graduated from Hastings High School in 1941. She married Edward R. Harms on Oct. 30, 1948, and to this union four children were born.

Brian Hultine passed away Friday, June 10, 2022, in Glendale, AZ at the Thunderbird Senior Living center. He called Thunderbird home for the last two years.

Born and raised near Saronville, he made his living on the family farm for the first part of his life before eventually moving to Lincoln to pursue other endeavors. Brian graduated from Sutton High School in 1966 and Grand Island School of Business in 1967. Brian served in the Army Reserves and was a Veteran of the Vietnam War. He was known for his engineering and mechanical prowess and as a pioneer in grain ethanol development in the 1970’s. He later helped install some of the water systems in the Nebraska Memorial Stadium.

Brian was preceded in death by his parents, Dale and Hildy; sister, Beverly; brother, Bart; and grandson, Izaac.

Velma C. Schneider, 100 years 16 days, died June 9, 2022, at her residence at the Legacy in Lincoln.

Mrs. Schneider was born April 23, 1922, to Albert and Cecil (Lytle) Johnson in Fillmore County.

Velma grew up in the Sutton area. After graduating high school, she completed her nurses training and began her life’s work of caring for people. In 1942, before he left for the service, she married her high school sweetheart, Perry M. Schneider.

Velma was a talented seamstress and avid quilter. She will be remembered for her strong faith, kind and loving ways and her sense of humor.

Velma was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters, Dorothy (Paul) Schneider, Jerre (Harry) Hank; brother, Sheldon (Mary) Johnson.

Survived by her daughter, Vickie (John) Stroh; sister-in-law, Marilyn (Morris) Schneider, nieces and nephews, and the Ficke family.

Jerry (Gerald) Dean Hinrichs, age 79, of Glenvil passed away June 9, 2022, at Edgewood Vista Memory Care in Columbus.

Jerry was born June 17, 1942, to Klass and Edna (Ocker) Hinrichs in RFD Glenvil. Jerry graduated from Glenvil High School in 1960. On April 17, 1964, Jerry was united in marriage to Janie Yvonne Gellinger. They remained in the Glenvil area most of their lives and raised their family there. Jerry worked heavy equipment and land leveling with his brother and father for many years and for the Clay County Roads Department where he retired in 2010.

Sutton resident William “Bill” Hale, 92, beloved husband of Doris Hale of Sutton, died peacefully on June 5, 2022, at the Sutton Community Home in Sutton.

A Rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m., Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sutton. Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, June 9, 2022, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sutton, with Father Harlan Waskowiak and Father William Holubek officiating. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery near Sutton. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 1– 5 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated at a later date.

Marianne E. Zinnecker, age 92, died peacefully with her family by her side on June 1, 2022, her 69th wedding anniversary.

Marianne was born Aug. 18,1929, to Theodore “Ted” Wenzlaff and Frieda Griess at Fort Riley, KS. The first of three children born to a military family, she attended elementary schools in VT, TX, and OK. She later attended and graduated from Sutton (Nebraska) High School and Hastings College with a degree in Elementary Education.

Marianne met Bud Zinnecker on a blind date while they were attending Hastings College, and they were married June 1, 1953. She taught elementary school in Alma and Sutton. A lover of music, she taught piano from home in David City and at East Butler High School. During their marriage, they lived in David City; Ranchester, WY; Hastings; and Lincoln.