A Memorial Service for Paula Joan Roehrkasse Knepper will be held on Monday, April 4, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Rev. Kenton Birtell officiating. Family members will greet friends and relatives for an hour before and after the service. A visitation will be held Sunday, April 3, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege. Family members will be there from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A family inurnment will be held later that week at Woodlawn Cemetery in Grand Island, Nebraska.

Patricia Ann Theobald, age 74, of Beaver City, Nebraska departed this life on Monday, January 10, 2022 at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege. She has left a hole in our hearts that won't be filled again until we meet our Creator. She was born in Wray, Colorado on March 6, 1947 to Rex Harrold and Florence Lorraine (Reed) Daniels. She was the first of their three daughters.

Arlo Ray Banzhaf, 85, of Cambridge, Nebraska, died January 15, 2022 at Tri-Valley Health in Cambridge. Arlo was born February 22, 1936 in Cambridge, NE, son of Irene E.

Theodore (Ted) L. Lueking was born July 31, 1929, at the rural Arapahoe, Nebraska farm of his Grandparents Frank and Anna Riepe. Ted’s parents were Otto M. and Helen (Riepe) Lueking. He attended grade schools in various states, graduated from Mascot HS (Nebraska), Class of 1947; graduated from San Bernardino Valley College (California), Class of 1959. He served with the U.S. Air Force in the early 1950’s; discharged as a Staff sergeant, March Air Force Base, California, in January 1955. Ted was employed at Norton Air Force Base from August 1955 to August 1984, with duty primarily with the Air Force Commissary Service. He was a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), local Riverside chapter 188. Ted was Baptized in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in 1929 and confirmed at St. John’s Lutheran Church of Oxford, NE. in 1945. He was most recently a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Riverside, California. He lived in Bloomington for more than 65 years.

Harold Dugan Wisdom, age 66, of Arapahoe, Nebraska passed away on Friday, January 7, 2022 at his home. He was born at Tonasket, Washington on May 1, 1955 to Robert Lee and Amie Marguerite Wisdom.

Lawrence E. Friestad age 75 of McCook passed away at his home on January 11, 2022. He was born in Ottawa, IL on September 22, 1946, to Joseph M. and Hazel I. (Foreman) Friestad. Lawrence attended College View Academy in Lincoln, NE graduating in 1964. He attended Union College in Lincoln NE and obtained his Nursing Degree in 1971. He worked in Hinsdale, IL for 3 years before moving to Seattle, Washington to attend Group Health’s Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) program and graduated as a CRNA in 1976. Lawrence moved to Winner, South Dakota to begin his career.

Ruth Ellen Minchow passed from this life on January 5th, 2022 due to complications from Covid. Ruth was born May 11, 1935 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Woodrow and Lola (Bird) Wetenkamp.

A Funeral Service for Edward L. “Ed” McInturf was held on Monday, January 17, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Oxford, Nebraska with Pastor Brian Jenkins officiating. Interment will follow at the Deaver Cemetery.

McCook, Nebraska—In case it has not been apparent, Community Hospital, like all hospitals in the United States has been challenged by the state of healthcare in the nation, according to Troy Bruntz, President & CEO. “I would say that in my 18 years we have never been busier for this long of a period of time. We are shortstaffed and our staff is tired and facing burnout.”

We’ve had some cold days, but we’ve certainly had some really nice ones, especially considering that it’s mid-January. Our 6” or so of snow is gone except for a few sheltered areas. Time for more? Snow isn’t pleasant to deal with but we do need the moisture.