Obituaries

Roy Neal Farwell, 82, of DuBois, was born in Pawnee City, Nebraska on August 22, 1937, the tenth of 10 children born to Albert Clyde (Bert) and Laura Velma (Pelton) Farwell. He attended school in DuBois until 11th grade and then graduated from Bern High School in 1955.

Death Notice

Passed away Friday, September 27, 2019 at the age of 70 years, 9 months and 14 days. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, October 3, 2019 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska, with Rev. Hugh Giesbrecht officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh, Nebraska. Memorials may go to the family’s choice. Interment will be in the Tecumseh Cemetery, Tecumseh, Nebraska, will military rites by the Nebraska National Guard Funeral Honors Team and Tecumseh American Legion Post #2 and VFW Post #8221. Online condolences may be left @ www.wherrymortuary.com.

Kyle Herbert Klepper, of Pawnee City, NE tragically passed away on September 21, 2019. He was born November 21, 2003 in Syracuse, NE. He is the son of Herbert and Laurie (Fricke) Klepper.

Kyle has resided in Pawnee City his whole life. He attended Lewiston Consolidated Schools in Lewiston, NE up until 5th grade. He then transferred to Pawnee City with the rest of his siblings to continue his education. The siblings agreed to all graduate where their dad and many of their family members had graduated from. Kyle started the 2019 school year as a Sophomore at Pawnee City High School.

Kyle was a simple, easy going young man with a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone, especially his family. He was creative and very smart. If no one could imagine it or fix it, Kyle could. He was smart with electronics and loved to build anything that gave him a challenge.

William Wert Jr., age 91 of Chaska, MN and formerly Waconia, MN passed away Thursday September 12, 2019 at Chaska Heights Senior Living in Chaska, MN.

Memorial service is at 1:30 PM Saturday  September 28, 2019 at the Chaska Heights Senior Living Chapel (3120 Chestnut St. N.) in Chaska with Chaplain Randy Ruckdashel as officiant.  Gathering of family and friends one hour prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred.

William H. Wert Jr. was born April 22, 1928 in Table Rock, Nebraska the son of William H. and Millie W. (Langer) Wert Sr.  William attended the Elk Creek Public School and graduated from the Pawnee City High School.   William was united in marriage with Marcella L. Ude on December 26, 1946 in Pawnee City, Nebraska.  To this union of 72 years are sons Michael and Steven.

Betty Lou (Finch) Bowhay was born on February 24, 1931 on the family farm in rural Pawnee County, the only child to Tillman and Anna (Vrtiska) Finch. She attended country school in rural Pawnee County and graduated as Valedictorian from Liberty High School in 1948.  

 On September 5, 1953 she married Robert “Dallas” Bowhay. While he served in the U.S. Army they made their home in Lampasas, Texas until 1954 when they then moved to Gage County, Nebraska.  They then moved to Summerfield where they purchased and operated a gas station/tire repair shop. Betty was Dallas’ true partner in every business they had. Betty repaired many flat tires in the service station, helped Dallas with the custom harvesting and started and operated Bowhay Truck Line Inc until she retired in 2015. She always helped at the farm but after riding a hog that ran between her legs while sorting, she refused to ever help him sort hogs or cattle again.  

Violet D. (Rottman) Laun of Pawnee City, Nebraska passed away on September 16, 2019 at the age of 93. She was born on August 20, 1926, on a farm near Elk Creek, Nebraska to Fred and Emma (Antholz) Rottman.

The family resided in Table Rock, Nebraska. Violet graduated from Table Rock High School and also worked for the telephone company. Violet was married to Robert Laun on June 24, 1945 at Salem United Church.

They began life on a farm close to Table Rock, and then bought a farm west of Pawnee City. Violet was a homemaker who always had a huge garden. She was also a gifted seamstress. As her children grew up she worked at Currey’s General Store in Burchard. Next she worked at Warnke’s Store in Pawnee City. She later managed the S and G Store in Pawnee City. She loved helping customers choose outfits and buy fabric. Education was very important to Violet. Her wish was that all three of her children would graduate from college. This wish was granted.

Marvin August Ebeler, one of nine children of Arthur and Elsie (Doeden) Ebeler, was born January 11, 1924 at Unadilla, Nebraska. He attended school in Syracuse, Nebraska, where he graduated from high school in 1942.

On October 11, 1945 Marv was inducted into the U. S. Army at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He was honorably discharged on January 7, 1946 and the next day enlisted in the U. S. Air Force at Keesler AFB in Mississippi. After three years with the Air Force Marv was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant and entered the Air Force Reserve. He went on active duty from August of 1950 to August of 1951, when he returned to Auburn, Nebraska.

Doris Marjorie (Winchell) Aylor was born November 3, 1918 in Lewiston, Nebraska.  She passed from this life to her eternal life on September 5, 2019 at the age of 100 years, 10 months and 2 days.  She was the second oldest of seven children born to Robert J. and Vada K. (Gifford) Winchell.  Her very early years were spent in Lewiston and Steinauer, Nebraska, until their move to Pawnee City where she lived until her marriage.

Doris’ father was killed in a tractor accident when she was 11 years old.  This necessitated that she and her two oldest brothers started working at a young age to provide for her family.  This instilled in her a strong work ethic which she exemplified throughout her lifetime.  Her mother had many health issues, and her youngest sister and brother said she was more of a mother to them than a sister.  

Irene M. Frerking, 85, of Summerfield KS, died on September 8, 2019 at Cambridge Place Nursing Home in Marysville, KS. She was the youngest born of eight children to Hope and Irene (Bruss) Sewell on January 30, 1934 in Tucson, AZ. She attended school, worked as a secretary, and did odd jobs in Tucson. While attending a New Year’s Eve party at Grace Lutheran Church she met Leonard Frerking, who was stationed at Davis-Monthan Air Force base, and they were married on August 30, 1952. They lived in Tucson and later moved to Summerfield where she was active in the Dorcas church group, West Stateline Club, American Legion Auxiliary and the Red Hat Society. She enjoyed going to her family’s sporting events, gardening, quilting, making crafts, sewing and babysitting after she and Leonard sold the grocery store in Summerfield in November of 1979. She loved being “Grandma” to many kids around town, and even when she had Alzheimer’s, she found joy in having children around her.

Morris Edward Blecha 86, of Pawnee City passed away on Friday, August 30, 2019 at Premier Estates in Pawnee City, Nebraska. He was born on May 12, 1933 to Joseph F. And Mary E. (Wies) Blecha in Pawnee City, Nebraska. He grew up on the family farm 4 miles south of Steinauer, Nebraska. He attended school at District # 11 near Violet, Nebraska.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army on May 19, 1953 at 19 years of age. He went to basic training for eight weeks in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri during the Korean conflict. He was a truck driver hauling troops in the 333rd pipeline company. He was honorably discharged on May 18, 1955. After his service, he returned home to work on the family farm and also worked for neighbors. He started farming for himself in 1959.