Obituaries

Jane Neely, 72, of Lincoln, died on Aug. 16, 2019.

Jane was born Dec. 30, 1946 to Byron and Merna (Schlachter) Kinnison in Hastings.

Jane was a kind and gentle person, who was devoted to family and friends. Jane enjoyed sunsets and rainbows and to take quiet walks. She enjoyed traveling, especially to Estes Park, CO. She was the best apple pie baker in Lincoln. Everyone looked forward to her gravy at the holidays. She put her love into all that she did.

Preceded in death by her father.

Survived by her husband, Dave Neely; mother, Merna Kinnison (Warren Harms); children, Jackie (Pete) Castater, Patty (Craig) Kersey, Kurt (Bernita) North, Jon (Chris) North, Laurie North, Michelle Neely; siblings, Kris (Gary) Christman, Roxie Rose, Bobbie (Michael) Baker, Clark (Cindy) Kinnison; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.

Richard Lavern Alkire, the son of Roy Alkire and Teresa (Hartgrave) Alkire, was born Oct. 21, 1929, in Haddam, KS, and passed away on Aug. 20, 2019, at Republic County Hospital, Belleville, KS, at the age of 89 years, 9 months, and 29 days.

Richard grew up in the Haddam area, graduating from Haddam High School.

Following his schooling, he worked for Boeing Mfg. in San Diego, CA, and then served with the U. S. Army from 1954 until 1956. He later also served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1954 until 1994.

In 1956, he began working with Nixon Engineering as a telephone engineer in South Dakota and later in the St. Charles, LA, area. He returned to Belleville, KS, and was a policeman for five years before moving to Eagle Valley, CO, where he was a telephone engineer for Eagle Valley Telephone.

In Jan. of 1974, he returned to Belleville and worked and traveled for Associated Engineers of Billings, MT, until his retirement in 1994.

Ewald Ochsner, 87, of Greeley, CO, went to be in the presence of his Savior on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019.

Graveside services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 16, at the Sutton Cemetery in Sutton, with Pastor Scott Henry officiating. Visitation with the family present will be Thursday, from 5–8 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton. 

Memorial contributions may be directed to Grace Reformed Church, 1501 10th Ave, Greeley, CO 80631.Condolences may be left at www.suttonmemorial.com.

Ewald was born in Quinn, SD on Nov. 22, 1931, and graduated from Sutton High School in 1949. His entire career was with the Lincoln Telephone and Telegraph Company, where he worked for 44 years.

He was a member of Rotary International, Kiwanis, and the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America.

Richard H. Bettger peacefully passed away on July 28, 2019, on Camano Island, WA, at the age of 92.

Born and raised in Sutton, Richard was the youngest son of Frederich and Margaret (Giesler) Bettger, German speaking immigrants from Russia. He was doted on by his siblings, Milton, Rufus, Edwin and Lizetta.

After graduating from Sutton High School, Richard followed his brother, Ed, and joined the U.S. Navy, serving during WWII. While stationed in Bremerton, WA, Richard met the “love of his life,” Florence Stordahl, on a blind date. They were married for 65 years and raised three children, Nancy, David and Diane.

Blue Hill resident Cody A. Reutter, 29, passed away Friday, July 26, 2019, due to a fishing accident.

Services were 3 p.m., Friday, Aug. 2, at First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 501 North Burlington Avenue, in Hastings, with Pastor Joel Remmers officiating. The family requested casual attire be worn to the service. Private family burial was at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. Book signing was 1-7 p.m., Thursday, with family present 5-7 p.m., at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Cody A. Reutter Memorial Fund. Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.

Cody was born Feb. 4, 1990, in Hastings, to Kenneth Reutter and Barbara Beyke. He graduated from Adams Central High School in 2008. Cody married Crissy Beurskens on May 12, 2017. He worked for “Branching Out” Tree Service.

Melva Jean Schmidt, age 75, of Lincoln, passed away July 22, 2019. She was born Aug. 24, 1943 to Harold and Thelma Peter in Henderson. She attended Grafton Elementary and graduated from Sutton High School. She was employed with Lee’s Chicken for 20 years and Lincoln Public Schools for 20 years.

Survived by husband, of 57 years, Gerald Schmidt of Lincoln; daughter, Judy Foreman (Milton) of Lincoln; sons, Ricky Schmidt of Lincoln and Brian Schmidt (Christina Gebhard) of Spencerville, MD; grandchildren, Zachary Foreman, Jordan Schmidt, Ashleigh Schmidt and Austin Schmidt; great-grandchildren, Phoenix Noel and Xavier Foreman; siblings, Marvin Peter (Linda), Marge Curtis and Mary Peter.

Preceded in death by her parents. Memorials suggested to Nebraska Game and Parks.

Celebration of Life, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, from 2-4 p.m., at the family home, 1624 SW 15th Street, Lincoln.

Condolences: lincolnfh.com.

Beatrice resident Jonathan Griess, 77, passed away Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, at the Beatrice Community Hospital in Beatrice. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, 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 Tuesday, from 1–8 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.Jonathan was the oldest son of Reinhold R. and Ruth (Huber) Griess. He resided at the Beatrice State Developmental Center for 67 years. He is survived by his two brothers, Don (Esther) Griess of Sutton; Martin Griess of Hastings; sister, Dorothy Caddy of Hastings; brother-in-law, Gerald (Sally) Nuss of Sutton, and three nieces, one nephew, and their families.