First Day of School

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“First day of school! Wake up! Come on. First day of school,” the little fish shouts at his dad in the opening scene of Finding Nemo. The first day of school is an important transition for students of all ages, and it is often a challenging one. That is particularly true this fall as we start yet another academic year marked by the pandemic.
First Day of School

DEATH NOTICE

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Larry Lynn Kasson of Riverton, Wyoming passed from this life on August 2, 2021. He was a Veteran of the VietNam War and formerly of Wilsonville, Nebraska. More information including memorial services will be printed in the future."

DONALD K. PAULSON

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A Celebration of Life Gathering for Donald K. “Don” Paulson who passed away on Thursday, December 17, 2020 was held on Saturday, August 14, 2021 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Golden Generation Center at 600 Central Street, Oxford, NE 68967. A memorial has been established in Don’s honor and kindly suggested to the Oxford Food Pantry, Golden Generation Center, or donate blood at your local blood drive.
DONALD K. PAULSON

JEAN LUBECK

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A Funeral Service for Jean Lubeck was held on Saturday, August 14, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Stamford, Nebraska with Pastor Thalia Woodward officiating. Interment will follow at the Stamford Cemetery at Stamford.
	JEAN LUBECK

CHARLEEN M. BENNETT

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A Memorial Service and Inurnment for Charleen M. Bennett was held on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the Edison Christian Church in Edison, Nebraska with Pastor Kirk Einspahr officiating. A private inurnment of Charleen, Charles and Kathleen will be held prior to the service at the Edison Cemetery in Edison, Nebraska.
CHARLEEN M. BENNETT

RALPH E. KNEPPER

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A Memorial Service for Ralph Eldon Knepper was held on Monday, August 16, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. at the Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Holdrege, NE with Rev. Kenton Birtell officiating with Military Honors provided by the United States Army Funeral Honors Team. Inurnment was held on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the Westlawn Cemetery in Grand Island, NE.
RALPH E. KNEPPER

KATHY REID

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Kathy was born October 4, 1955 in McCook to Eldon and Marilyn (Doyle) Moore of Bartley, NE. She was the oldest of 4 children born to this union. At the age of 8 her mother passed away unexpectedly from Guillain-Barre Syndrome, leaving a young family without a mother. The family lived with Eldon’s mother and father. On July 26, 1964 Eldon married Delores Horky, a young mother who herself had 4 children under the age of 10. Eldon adopted the children and together raised their family on the farm north of Bartley. Kathy loved farm life. She loved spending time with her grandparents Bill and Eula Doyle and Earl and Doris Moore. She often spoke of their adventures as kids and had many stories to share of their mischief. She enjoyed going for drives to the farmstead and country even present day and recalling the good times they had. In January she retired and enjoyed a few cattle sales with her Dad just weeks before her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer on April 28, 2021. As a young girl Kathy was active in choir, pep club and sports. She was active in the Bartley Christian Church where she was baptized as a teenager. After graduation from Bartley High School in 1973 Kathy worked as a CNA in Kearney, NE. She later attended McCook Community College where she received a degree in secretarial science. She married Doug Newcomb at Bartley Christian Church on August 18, 1973. They welcomed three children twins Kari and Kayla and later a son, Kyle. She stayed home raising the “twins” until they were in school when she started working for Stratton Insurance Agency (now MNB Insurance) where she worked for the next 32 years until her retirement in January, 2021. She loved visiting with the farmers and it kept her close to her love of the farm life. On December 31, 2004 she married Christopher Reid at the United Methodist Church in Stratton. They enjoyed 16 years of marriage. They enjoyed a trip to Hawaii and planned to travel after her retirement. In 2016 Kathy, Kari and Kayla went to Switzerland to see their foreign exchange student Gisela, who stayed with them for a year in 1994 and was like another daughter to Kathy. Chris was an avid supporter of her love of horses and farm life as they enjoyed caring for their farm south of Stratton. They enjoyed time spent with kids and grandkids at the house watching the kids ride, play in the dirt, eat Grandma’s delicious meals, and swim in the hot tub. Kathy was very active in the community of Stratton, where she lived her entire adult life. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, UMW, the church choir, community choirs, Tops Club, the election board, Lions Club and numerous other school and community events over the years. She was an amazing cook and host which she learned from her mother Delores over the years cooking for their family of 9. She was happiest hosting family gatherings whether it be a Sunday fried chicken meal after church or holidays. She passed this love of cooking and hosting to all 3 of her children. She was an amazing gardener, growing produce of all kinds and canning it over the years. She was looking forward to retirement and enjoying leisurely gardening, attending her grandchildren's activities, and traveling with her husband Chris. We are at peace knowing she is with her Lord and Savior. She was preceded in death by her mother Marilyn Moore, infant brother, Mark, and nephew, Brady Koch. Those left behind to cherish her memory are her husband, Chris Reid, her parents Eldon and Delores Moore, children Kari Vacek and husband Tim of Lincoln and their children-Patricia, Theodore, Molly, and Luke, Kayla Smalley and husband Scott of McCook and their children Hailey and Hayden, Kyle Newcomb and his wife Hayley of Stratton, step children Kirsten Reid and Michael Reid, sister Jeanne Brown and husband Frank, Don Moore and wife Vonnie, Bill Moore and wife Trisha, Carol Chalupa and husband Bob, Carla Malleck and husband Brian, Mike Moore and wife Brenda, numerous nieces and nephews as well as many beloved friends and her special aunt Margaret (Doyle) Messersmith.
 KATHY REID

STELLA F. BUSCH

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Stella Faye Busch, age 97, of Arapahoe, Nebraska passed away on August 12, 2021 at the Cambridge Hospital in Cambridge, Nebraska surrounded by her four daughters. She was born in Fort Collins, Colorado to Elbert and Amelia (DeWald) Street, the eldest of 10 children She attended school in Fort Collins, Colorado. She married Byron Kennedy and to that union were born two daughters; Judy and Linda. In 1946, she married Gerald P. Busch, her husband of 55 years. To that union were born 3 children; Cathy, Connie, and Terry. During those years she was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother to six grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren. She was an outstanding cook, seamstress, and quilter. She worked along with her husband for many years at their Standard Station in Arapahoe. She was a faithful member of 72 years of the First United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women organization.
 STELLA F. BUSCH

JEAN M. WITTE

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Jean M. Witte age 91 of Cambridge passed away at the Cambridge Memorial Hospital on Sunday, August 8, 2021. She was born near Orafino, NE on October 27, 1929, to Theodore “Ted” and Eunice (Moore) Ohlson. Jean attended and graduated from Cambridge High School in 1947. On August 31, 1949, she was united in marriage to Gerald “Jerry” Witte in Cambridge at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. The couple would have celebrated their 72anniversary at the end of this month. The couple made their home on the farm south of Cambridge.
JEAN M. WITTE

Lebanon News

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Gratefully, I don’t have to begin this week’s column with funeral notices. The community has had more than its share of them in the last few weeks.