Obituaries

Colleene Ann (Hiatt) Hampton of Hastings was born March 26, 1951, to parents LaVonne and Marvin Hiatt. and passed away Sept. 23, 2021, at Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings at 70 years of age.

Colleene was preceded in death by LaVonne Mohr (mother), Marvin Hiatt (father), Leonard Hampton Jr (son) and Linda Hiatt (sister).

Clay Center resident Joyce E. Holeman, 74, passed away Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Bryan Medical Center West Campus in Lincoln.

Memorial services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Oct. 18, 2021, at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, with Rev. David Feddern officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Clay Center Cemetery in Clay Center. In honoring her wish to be cremated, there will not be a visitation or viewing.

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

Condolences may be left at www.mclaughlinchapel.com.

James “JD” Baltzell, 52 of Paxton, passed away Sept. 21, 2021, at the Ogallala Community Hospital.

JD was born Aug. 20, 1969, at Goodland, KS, to Otis (Jim) and Billie (Morland) Baltzell. He attended school at Wauneta before graduating from Paxton High School with the class of 1989.

JD married Lisa Still March 16, 1991, at Paxton. JD worked for Titan Industries for several years before eventually taking a job at NPPD in warehouse inventory. He would later work at Claas before relocating to Lawrence, where he worked as a beloved Maintenance Director at Kingswood Court Assisted Living/ Caring Friends In Home Care.

Sutton resident Laurence Edmund Ulmer, 84, passed away Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at the Sutton Community Home in Sutton.

Memorial services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, at the Federated Church, with Rev. Mary Scott officiating. Inurnment followed at the Sutton Cemetery in Sutton. In honoring his wish to be cremated there was no viewing or visitation.

In Lieu of Flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Federated Church, Lung Cancer research or Dementia research.

Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com

Laurence was born Dec. 19, 1936, to Edmund and Christine (Ackerman) Ulmer on their Fillmore County farm. He attended country school and then Sutton High School, graduating in 1954.

He farmed with his family near Lushton and served in the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserves from 1958 to 1964.

Harvard resident Jay Francis Weston, 59, went to his heavenly home Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, at the Harvard Rest Haven in Harvard. A lover of Batman and cheeseburgers (no onions), it was fitting he passed away on National Batman and Cheeseburger Day. The bat signal has dimmed for our sweet Jay.

A Rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 23, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Sutton. Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 24, at St. Mary Catholic Church, with Father Michael Zimmer officiating. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Sutton.

Visitation will be Thursday, from 1 p.m.–4 p.m., with the family present from 1 p.m.–4 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Harvard Rest Haven, St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Hastings or to the donor’s choice.

Condolences may be left at www. suttonmemorial.com

Trisha Lee Mewhirter, 46, of Harvard died in the early morning of Sept. 11, 2021, at Nebraska Medicine Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.

A memorial service was at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, at the Clay Center Christian Church. Trisha was born on Aug. 8, 1975, in Portsmouth, VA, to James M. Mewhirter and Laura Lee Dixon. She spent most of her childhood in Albion. Trisha attended Albion High School.

She was a member of the Albion United Methodist Church and Harvard’s Community Clef Club. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and especially her cat, Ryker. Trisha enjoyed spending time with her granddaughter, Lieah Isabelle, watching the Lady Cardinals on the court and watching Netflix series with her daughters.

Dennis D. Epp, age 97 of Henderson, died on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 at Aurora. He was born July 21, 1924 in rural Henderson to Dietrich and Marie (Dueck) Epp. Dennis and Esther (Epp) were united in marriage on April 5, 1946 in Henderson.

Dennis was a member of the Bethesda Mennonite Church and the Henderson Volunteer Fire Department. He was a serviceman for Kansas Nebraska Natural Gas. He enjoyed fishing, especially with his grandchildren, and loved his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Dennis is survived by his daughters Florence (Robert) Friesen of Henderson, and Kathleen (Galen) Friesen of Aurora; grandchildren Evan (Kristen) Friesen of Hampton, Erik (Corrine) Friesen of Henderson, Kendra (Brian) Fast of Moundridge, KS, Gentry (Joy) Friesen of Aurora, Gibbon (Brooke) Friesen of Hampton, Keshae (Brett) Freese of Sutton, eight great-grand daughters and eight great-grandsons.

Hastings resident Marcia Rae Shane, 78, passed away Monday, Aug. 30, 2021, at Edgewood Vista, Hastings.

Services were held at 10 a.m., Friday, Sept. 3, at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hastings, with Pastor Joel Remmers officiating. Burial was at Glenvil Cemetery in Glenvil. Memorials may be given to First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Start Over Rover, or Heartland Pet Connection. Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.

Brenda Kay (Schroetlin) Thompson, 56, passed away Friday, Aug. 27, 2021, surrounded by family. She was strong and courageous during her five-year battle with cancer.

Brenda was born to Don and Dianne (Flickinger) Schroetlin Sept. 27, 1964, in Hastings. She grew up in Sutton, active in local activities. With the love and faith of her parents, three sisters and one brother, Brenda was given a strong foundation of faith and kindness. She would carry, with grace, these qualities throughout her life as she married and raised her own family.

Brenda was united in marriage with James B. Thompson, Jr. on Aug. 17, 1991, in Sioux Falls. Together they loved and laughed for thirty years. She devoted her life to raising their son, Creighton.

Sutton resident Kimberly Ann (Gowen) Wilson, 58, passed away peacefully Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021, at her home in Sutton.

Memorial services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, at Zion Lutheran Church in Sutton, with Rev. Tim Stacy officiating. Inurnment will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, at the Stockholm Lutheran Cemetery near Shickley. In honoring her wish to be cremated, there will not be a visitation or viewing.

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

Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com

Kim was born on Sept. 2, 1962, in Hastings, at Mary Lanning Hospital. She was the daughter of Gordon and Doris (Peterson) Gowen of Sutton.

Kim graduated from Sutton High School in 1981. She went on to graduate from Doane College in Crete with a BA in Music.