Obituaries

Marion Eleanor (Sue) Behrns, age 99, passed away peacefully Nov. 20, 2020. She was born Aug. 11, 1921, in Clay Center, to Mabel and Hjalmar Swanson. She was the young sister to Harold and Russell Swanson. After attending high school in Clay Center, she attended Hasting Business College. On Dec. 16, 1945, Marion married her grade school sweetheart, Harold E. Behrns, and they were married for 60 years. During their years together, they lived in Santa Ana, Coronado, and Lakeside, CA.

Over the years, Marion enjoyed teaching Sunday School, reading mysteries, trying new recipes on the family, especially, casseroles. Her signature recipes were tacos and oatmeal cookies. She loved to sew and created many beautiful items. She spent a great deal of time researching geneology articles that she found interesting, and sending newspaper clippings to those the articles may pertain too. Marion enjoyed her involvement and fellowship in the women’s philanthropic organization, PEO.

Former Sutton resident Jonathan E. Griess, 91, passed away Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020, at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney.

Funeral services were at 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, at Emmanuel Reformed Church in Sutton, NE with Rev. Carl Gobelman officiating. Interment followed at the Sutton Cemetery. Visitation was held Wednesday, Dec. 2, from 1 – 7 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

Services were live-streamed from Sutton Memorial Chapel’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/suttonmemorial.

Phyllis Lorene (Merrill) Traudt of Hebron was born to Fred and Irene (Anderson) Merrill on Jan. 19,1937, in Geneva. She was the youngest of four children. She was called home on Nov. 26, 2020, at Parkview Haven Nursing Home in Deshler at the age of 83 years.

Phyllis was baptized March 7, 1937, and confirmed March 30, 1947, at the First Methodist Church. She grew up in Geneva and graduated from Geneva High School with the class of 1955.

Phyllis was united in marriage to Lawrence Traudt on March 11, 1956, in Geneva, by Pastor F.E. Foutz at the First Methodist Church. This union was blessed with the birth of daughters, Lorene and Lois.

Kimberly Kay Folts, age 53, of York, died Monday, Nov. 23, 2020, at Omaha. She was born Oct. 27, 1967, in York, to Paul and Jean (McDevitt) Grotz. On Dec. 16, 2018, Kim was united in marriage to Scott Folts in Las Vegas, NV. Kim worked at the York General Hearthstone for 19 years, and also at Cutter’s Corner in York as well. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in York.

Kim was a member of the Eagle’s club in York and she loved the outdoors, gardening and bonfires. But most of all, she loved her family.

Surviving is her husband Scott of York, daughter Lauren (Brett) Swantek of McCool Jct., step-sons Michael (Cheree) Folts and Hunter Folts, step-daughter Whitney Folts, all of York. She is also survived by her grandchildren Braxton, Burk, and baby on the way Laney Swantek all of McCool Jct., and Cannon and Chase Folts of York, brother Michael Grotz of Beatrice, and sister Susan Jackson of Sutton.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Kurt Allen, 52, of Blue Hill died on Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings. Services were held on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 2 p.m., at Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Hill, with Rev. Jeffrey Kuddes officiating. The service was also live streamed to the Blue Hill High School Gymnasium and broadcast on FM 103.5. Burial was in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Blue Hill. Visitation was Friday, Nov. 20, from 1-8 p.m., with family present from 6-8 p.m., at Merten-Butler Mortuary in Blue Hill. Memorials can be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church, Blue Hill FFA, Webster County Beef Show, and Blue Hill Golf Course. Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.mertenbutlermortuary.com. Merten-Butler Mortuary, Blue Hill, was in charge of arrangements.

Our dear Tabitha Rose Heftie, age 17, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, following a car accident.

Tabitha was a senior at Pius X High School in Lincoln and attended Cathedral of the Risen Christ School K thru eighth grade. She was a member a Cathedral of the Risen Christ Parish and participated in the Godteen program. Tabitha loved school, and was active in choir. She participated in the Penguin Project at the Lincoln Community Playhouse where she spent four years as an artist mentor.

Her many friends and classmates are going to miss her great smile and silly sense of humor. Among her favorite things were her cats, Linus and Bailey, streaming Criminal Minds and Grey’s Anatomy, and a good bacon double cheeseburger, fries and a Cherry Pepsi. She was so excited for college and was planning to attend the University of Nebraska at Kearney, majoring in nursing.

On Nov. 10, Ken Moncrief of Pierre, SD, passed away at the age of 75. A memorial service in his hometown will take place next summer.

Born Nov. 17, 1944, in Elwood to Clyde and Doris (Houlden) Moncrief, Ken was the oldest of three siblings. He graduated from Elwood High School in 1963 and then attended a trade school where he studied autobody repair. He set up shop on an acreage near Harvard. Ken loved to restore old vehicles, build things out of wood, and at one point built an experimental aircraft. When he wasn’t fixing and painting cars or on his sailboat, he enjoyed tinkering. A friend and neighbor said, “He always had the answer, the part to fix it, or the willingness to supervise us through it.” Ken moved to South Dakota from Nebraska several years ago. He loved the camping, fishing, and beauty the area had to offer.

Norma Kreutz, age 96, of Grand Island, formerly of Aurora, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020 at Bickford Assisted Living.

A Graveside Memorial Service was held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Harvard Cemetery. Current CDC guidelines will be followed. Face masks are required. Memorials may be made to the Hamilton Community Foundation. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www. higbymortuary.com.

Norma Jean Kreutz, the daughter of Arnold and Anna (Zimmerman) Kreutz, was born on a farm near Harvard on Sept. 29, 1924 and passed away in Grand Island on Nov. 12, 2020, at the age of 96. Norma grew up on the family farm.

Norma grew up on the family farm. She attended Rural School District #68 in Clay County and graduated from Harvard High School in 1942. Norma received her Bachelor’s degree from University of Nebraska Lincoln in 1955 and her master’s degree from Denver University in Denver, CO in 1959.

Sutton resident David Benjamin Huber, 79, departed this life on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, with family by his side at Bryan Medical Center West Campus in Lincoln.

Funeral services was conducted at 1:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16, 2020, at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, with the Free German Reformed Salem Church Elders officiating. Interment followed at the Free German Reformed Salem Church Cemetery near Sutton. Visitation was Sunday, from 1–7 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 ,

Sutton resident Dorothy J. Nelson, 91, passed away peacefully of natural causes Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, at Heritage Crossings in Geneva.

Graveside services was conducted at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2020, at the Ong Cemetery in Ong, with Pastor Mary Scott officiating. Visitation was Monday, from 4–6 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton.

Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com

Dorothy was born on June 5, 1929, to Joseph and Caroline (Isley) Miller. She graduated from Geneva High School in 1947. She received a one-year Rural Teacher’s Certificate from Hastings College in 1948 and taught at a county school near Exeter and Lakeside School near Sutton.

On Aug. 16, 1950, she married Lee Nelson of Sutton and three children were born: Ron, Merle, and Kay. She graduated from Joseph’s College of Cosmetology in 1973 and operated a beauty shop in her home until she retired.