Obituaries

Donna Ruth (Heinz) Kroese, age 88, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away on Saturday, April 17, 2021, in Athens, TX.

Born in Sutton, Donna graduated from Fairmont High School in 1950 and received her BS in Education from the University of Nebraska. She was a blessing to so many, living a full life that centered on raising a family in the international life of her husband’s Air Force career.

Rosemary L. Friesen, 74, of Loup City, went to her heavenly home Saturday, May 8, 2021, at CHI Health, Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Celebration of Life services will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, May 20, 2021, at the Loup City Community Building in Loup City, with Jeff Friesen officiating. Burial will be held at a later date at the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m., Wednesday, May 19, at the Community Building. Masks are recommended for the visitation and funeral service. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the Higgins Funeral Home Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Loup City EMT’s, Sherman County Community Foundation or donor’s choice.

Higgins Funeral Home in Loup City is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences for the Friesen family can be left at higginsfuneralhomelc.com.

Fairfield resident James ‘Jim’ D. Engel, 81, passed away Wednesday, April 28, 2021, at College View Assisted Living and Memory Support in Hastings.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 4, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Glenvil, with Pastor Patti Byrne officiating. Burial was at Glenvil Cemetery in Glenvil following the service. Visitation was from 5-7 p.m. Monday, May 3, at Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to Immanuel Lutheran Church. The service was live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s Facebook page. The direct link for that page is www.facebook.com/lbvfh. Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home and Cremation Center is serving the family.

Sutton resident Walter V. “Walt” Becker, 101, passed away Sunday, April 25, 2021, at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings.

Funeral services were conducted at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 3, 2021, at the Federated Church in Sutton, with Pastors Mary Scott and Eric Biehl officiating. Interment followed at the Sutton Cemetery. Visitation was held Sunday, from 1 – 8 p.m., with the family present from 4 – 6 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton.

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

Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com

Mary Lou Swanson, 86, went peaceably to be with her Lord and Savior at Hospice of Wichita Falls in Texas, April 19, 2021, due to complications of COVID-19.

Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m., April 21, 2021, at the Hampton Vaughan Crestview Funeral Home Chape, with Pastor Dan Conaster officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 20, 2021, from 6-7 p.m.

Mary was born Nov. 16, 1934, in Clay Center to Frank and Mary Lemkau. Mary married David Swanson on Nov. 5, 1955, in Raton, NM. They were married for 65 years 5 months and 14 days. Mary was a loving, caring person who spent her entire married life raising her four children and husband. Growing up on a farm in Nebraska helped prepare her for the cooking and feeding of family, friends, and all lucky enough to get her special treats. She took great pride in providing cookies and holiday treats to so many people. We all remember her hours in the kitchen to make sure everyone got their favorites.

Former Fairfield, Deweese, Edgar resident, now Superior, Lana J. Black, was born Sept. 29, 1950, in Hastings and passed away April 18, 2021, at the age of 70, at her home in Superior.

Lana was born to Harold and Dorothy Shaw and graduated with the first graduating class of Sandy Creek in 1968. In 1970 she was united in marriage to Robert Black and to that union two children, Bobbi Jean Black and Ryan Black were born.

Lana spent most of her time enjoying her children and grandchildren, but in later years worked at Ken & Al’s, Pinnacle bank and delivered meals on wheels.

To those who knew Lana, they know how she loved to plant flowers and spend Sundays watching her favorite sport NASCAR.

She is preceded in death by her parents Dorothy and Harold; mother and father-in-law, Robert and Lavon Black and husband, Robert.

Clay Center resident Michael A. “Mike” Krause, 64, passed away Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at his home in Clay Center.

Memorial services and a celebration of life were held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 26, 2021, at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, with Pastor Patti Byrne officiating. Following the services, a reception for family and friends was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church Fellowship Hall in Sutton. In honoring his wish to be cremated, there was no visitation or viewing.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Clay Center Volunteer Ambulance Squad.

Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com

Mike was born March 14, 1957, to Lolan and Jean (Erthum) Krause in Hastings. He grew up in rural Sutton and graduated from Sutton High School with the class of 1975.

Sutton resident Walter V. Becker, 101, passed away Sunday, April 25, 2021, at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Monday, May 3, 2021, at the Federated Church in Sutton, with Pastors Mary Scott and Eric Biehl officiating. Interment will follow at the Sutton Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, from 1-8 p.m., with the family present from 4-6 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton. Memorial contributions may be

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

Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com

Eveleth, MN resident Nicholas Dale Wilson, 39, passed away suddenly Wed., April 14, 2021, at Essentia Health St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, MN

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m., Friday, April 23, 2021, at the Stockham Community Church in Stockham, with Pastor Paul Nauman officiating. Graveside services will be 2 p.m., Firday, at the First Evangelical Cemetery near Harvard. Visitation will be Thursday, from 1– 8 p.m., with the family present from 5 – 7 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton. Services will be live-streamed from http://stockhamchurch.com/live/ Memorial contributions may be direct

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later. Condolences may be left at www. suttonmemorial.com

Clara L. Ruttman, 86, passed away Wed., April 7, 2021, at Good Samaritan Society - Grand Island Village in Grand Island.

Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m., Mon., April 12, 2021, at the Clay Center Christian Church in Clay Center, with Pastors Rich Milliken and Arick Johanson officiating. Interment followed at the Nelson Cemetery in Nelson, with Pastor Scott Jones presiding. Visitation with the family present was held Sunday, from 5 - 7 p.m., at McLaughlin Funeral Chapel in Clay Center.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Clay Center Christian Church for children’s ministries.

Condolences may be left at www.mclaughlinchapel.com