George Lee Brieger, 63 of Tekamah, NE

GEORGE LEE BRIEGER, 63 years of Tekamah, Nebraska, passed away Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at his home in Tekamah.

George was born December 31, 1950, in Chanute, Kansas, to George H. and Hellen (Dupee) Brieger. He graduated from High School in 1969 at Jetmore, Kansas.

He was employed by A & S Construction.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Tracy Mills.

Survivors include his daughter, Dawn R. Tilton of Blair, NE; son, Anthony (Susan) Brieger of Grand Forks, ND; six grandchildren; one great grandchild; ex-wife, Carol A. Brieger of Tekamah; three sisters, Carol Thompson of Dodge City, KS, Janet Ellis and Cathy Brieger of Chanute, KS; nieces and nephews.

No Services were held.

Neva Jeanette Peterson, 93 formerly of Uehling, NE

NEVA JEANETTE PETERSON, 93 years, formerly of Uehling, Nebraska, passed away at Hooper Care Center in Hooper, Nebraska.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: Services are pending with Pelan Funeral Services Oakland

George Lee Brieger, 63 of Tekamah, NE

GEORGE LEE BRIEGER, 63 years of Tekamah, Nebraska, passed away Wednesday, January 15, 2014, at his home in Tekamah.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Services are pending with Pelan Funeral Services

Terry R. Roeber, 69 of Fremont, NE

Earl E. Burt Jr., 70 of Oakland, NE

EARL E. BURT JR., 70 years, of Oakland, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, January 9, 2014, at A.J. Merrick Manor in Fremont, Nebraska.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Monday, January 13, 2014, 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Craig, Nebraska

BURIAL WITH MILITARY HONORS: Craig Cemetery

VISITATION: Sunday, January 12, 2014, 1- 8 p.m. with the family receiving friends from 4 – 6 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Oakland. Visitation Monday will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

MEMORIALS: To the Family

Earl Burt Jr.

Helen I. Cram, 80 of Lyons, NE

Helen Cram

HELEN I. CRAM, 80 years, of Lyons, passed away Monday, January 6, 2014, at her home in Lyons.

It is December, 1933 and Arnold and Alice (Launsby) Nelsen have been awaiting the birth of their second child.  For a time on December 25th, they thought that this young infant was about to share the birthday of Jesus Christ…well it wasn’t to happen. They continued on with the waiting game…tomorrow, the 26th was Papa Arnold’s birthday. The sharing could still be an honor. It was not to be…but on the 27th day of December little Helen Ilene made this day hers. Her grandmamma (Bestama) Launsby was celebrating her birthday on this day also. We almost all can claim our birthday as a special day and all should accept such a special gift from our Heavenly Father with great appreciation.
My early life was pretty much run of the mill… I remember a pretty good life. I was unaware of the whole happening of the great depression. And then World War II, Pearl Harbor day December 7th was the first worldly event that I became aware of and it still holds a life shuddering effect on me. The cost in human life is devastating. And it all should be remembered by each of us and we should remember, keep it remembered by our children and their children, and show our thankfulness for all military and people in the war zones. I sure am thankful that I lived in America.
In 1946 our family moved to Lyons, NE. I thought I had gone to a city. I graduated from Lyons School District #20. This whole experience growing up in Lyons was fine – we were really poor but….we had 2 – 3 grocery stores, a Gamble Store, a clothing store, a summer roller rink which became a dance hall in the winter, two movie theatres…plenty of babysitting for ‘mad money’, and a really good school with all of its studies and extracurricular activities. Good living all in all for kids.
In 1952, I met and was courted by the guy that became my sweet heart husband in 1952. We shared 48 years together and 6 special children, 17 grandchildren and 29+ (1 due in July) great grandchildren. As time goes on there will be more and more of our descendants. What a life!!
My childhood and teen time was enhanced by our Presbyterian Church. I am thankful for that. As a family we joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints – or LDS – or Mormon. (Not a cult at all).
Helen was preceded in death by her parents, 2 sisters, a brother, an infant daughter and her very special husband, Phil.
I am presuming that I am leaving to morn, my children, Shawnee Cram/Raymond of Estes Park, CO, and her children Mechelle and Morgan (Doug) and 5 grandchildren, Christina Wood of Hastings, NE and her children Jeremiah (Jamie) and Joselyn (Jacob) and 6 grandchildren, Brenda (Wade) Fleming of Williston, ND and their children Philip (Amanda), Austin ( Danielle), Chelsea (Curtis), Corban and Parker and 12 grandchildren, Robin (Frank) Weber of Gardner, KS and her children Wynter, Tylor, Ashleigh and Chase (Angela) and 3 grandchildren, Barbara Erin Cram and her daughter Tobi (Jeff) and 2 grandchildren, our one son, Heath (Kimberley) Cram of Lyons, NE and their children Kyrie (Chance), Phillip (Katie) and Alec (Jessica) and 1 grandchild with one due in July. I would like to name all the members in my special family but space is at a minimum. Phil’s two daughters by his first wife are not to be unmentioned here, Diana (Jerry) Case of Las Vegas, NV and their children Christian (Christine), Tracy (Adam), April, and Rhonda (Jared) and 11 grandchildren, and Vickie Heinz of Covina, CA.

All in all my whole life has been full of love and lots of activity. It has definitely been a great gift from Our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. Your life can be a special gift too. We have to take the good with the bad but keep your faith OR acquire that faith and you can have a great life too. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Saturday, January 11, 2014, 2:00 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Lyons.

VISITATION: Friday, January 10th, 5-7 p.m. with the family receiving friends and a 7:00 p.m. PRAYER SERVICE all at the funeral home. Visitation Saturday will be held one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Lyons Cemetery

Pelan Funeral Services
Lynn, Karen and Jim Pelan
www.pelanfuneralservices.com

Earl E. Burt JR., 70 of Oakland, NE

EARL E. BURT JR., 70 years, of Oakland, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, January 9, 2014, at A.J. Merrick Manor in Fremont, Nebraska.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Services are pending with Pelan Funeral Services Oakland.

Madeline W. (Weddingfeld) Barker, 97 of Pender, NE

Madeline Barker

Wilma Grace Bassett, 91 of Bancroft, NE

Wilma Grace Bassett, age 91, of Bancroft, Nebraska passed away Tuesday, January 7, 2014, at the Wisner Care Center in Wisner, Nebraska. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Bancroft; Pastor Charity Potter will be officiating. Burial will be in the Bancroft Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday from 3 until 8 P.M. at the Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft with the family present from 5 until 7 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church and the Bancroft Senior Center. Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft is in charge of arrangements.

Wilma was born on a farm west of Bancroft on April 29, 1922, the daughter of William and Grace (Peterson) Sorensen. She attended Bancroft Public School, graduating in 1940. On May 7, 1948, she was united in marriage to Charles Bassett. To this union four children were born: Collean, Fred, Tom and Deb. Charles died on October 2, 1965. She loved spending time with her family and friends, playing cards and going to the Bancroft Senior Center. Wilma was also active in her church.

She is survived by her children Collean (Richard) Hawk of Sioux Falls, SD, Fred (Jolynn) Bassett of Bancroft, NE, Tom (Gabriele) Spearfish, SD, Deb (Rock) Daberkow of Madison, NE, eleven grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Irene Venner of Bancroft, NE and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Charles, a sister Doris Orris and a brother Glen “Red” Sorensen.

Louise (Warren) Blankenbeckler, 96 of Lyons, NE

LOUISE (WARREN) BLANKENBECKLER was born June 14, 1917, in Decatur, Nebraska, to Leslie and Agusta (Busse) Warren.  She passed away Monday, January 6, 2014, at Oakland Heights, in Oakland, Nebraska, at the age of 96 years.

Louise graduated from Decatur High School in 1935. She attended Dana College in Blair, Nebraska, where she received certification to teach country school. Louise taught in the Decatur area until her marriage. On August 12, 1937, Louise and Howard Blankenbeckler were married at Wisner, Nebraska. They resided in the Silver Creek area of Tekamah, where she was a farm wife and where son, Dennis was born. In 1948, they moved to a farm in the Lyons area, where Louise taught country school at Viles, Dist No. 56. In 1958, Louise and friend, Merna Miller established L & M Dress Shop in Lyons.  In 1982, Howard retired from farming and they moved into Lyons. Louise sold and retired from L & M after the move to city living. Howard passed away in February 2007. Louise had been a resident of Logan Valley Manor and Oakland Heights since 2008.

Louise enjoyed and especially loved teaching and reacting with the children she taught in country school; clothing, it was only fitting she started a dress shop and due in part to her sharp business mind resulted in a successful business which still operates today on Lyons main street; people, L & M was not only a dress shop but a local hang out and coffee spot for local ladies; and especially her grandchildren and fishing trips to Alaska to visit them.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Howard; brothers, John and Sid Warren; nieces, Marge (McKenzie) Schold and Rosemond (McKenzie) Redding; nephew, Bob Warren.

Survivors include her son, Dennis Blankenbeckler of Lyons; two grandchildren, Jim Blankenbeckler of Duvall, WA, Lori Blankenbeckler of Silverdale, WA; five great grandchildren, Melissa Blankenbeckler of Los Angeles, CA, Kyle, Luke and Jace Blankenbeckler of Duvall, WA, Danielle Bloomfield of Silverdale, WA; nieces, Virginia (Blankenbeckler) Richards of Omaha, NE, Judy (Blankenbeckler) Nelson of Oakland,  Brenda (Blankenbeckler) Gustafson of Wakefield, NE, Jean (Warren) Worley of Decatur, Nebraska, Nona (Warren) Kjeldgaard of Bancroft, NE, Mary Lou (McKenzie) Werkmeister of Denver, CO; nephews, Gary Warren of Decatur, Leslie Warren of Tekamah, NE, Lindley Warren of Hastings, MN, Lonnie Bucy of Santa Rosa, CA.

MEMORIAL SERVICE: Tuesday, January 14, 2014, 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Decatur.

NO VISITATION

BURIAL: Lyons Cemetery

MEMORIALS: American Cancer Society

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelan@pelanfuneralservices.com