Fr. Louis M. Cortney, O.S.M.
1914-2000
Fr. Louis M. Cortney, O.S.M., a solemn professed friar-priest of The Order of Friar Servants of Mary (Servites) - U.S.A. Province died on October 21, 2000, after a long illness at Addolorata Villa, Wheeling, IL. He was 86 years old and a priest for 61 years.
He was born on September 9, 1914 and baptized William Michael in Gilead, Nebraska, the son of John and Ellen Mary (Deaver). He received his elementary education at a rural Cheyenne Co. school and secondary education at St. Patrick's Academy in Sidney, Nebraska. He entered religious life in the Order of Servants of Mary (Servites) at Mater Dolorosa Seminary, Hillside, IL on September 12, 1931; was vested as a novice on September 4, 1932; professed first vows on September 17, 1933 and completed his philosophy studies in 1935 all at Mount Saint Philip, Granville, WI. He completed his theology studies at Our Lady of Sorrows Monastery, Chicago, IL and Mater Dolorosa Seminary, Hillside, IL. He professed solemn vows on December 26, 1935 and was ordained to the priesthood by Auxiliary Bishop Bernard J. Sheil on May 28, 1939 at Mater Dolorosa Seminary, Hillside, IL. In 1938 he earned at Ph.B Degree in Math and Philosophy from Loyola University.
Fr. Cortney served the Servite Order and the Church in a variety of ministries. His assignments in the Chicago Archdiocese included: High School Instructor at St. Philip High School (1939-1940), Pastor at St. Domitilla Parish, Hillside, IL (1964-1970), Associate pastor at Assumption Parish (Illinois Street), Chicago, IL (1970-1975). He was also assigned to Our Lady of Sorrows Monastery, Chicago, IL serving the Servite Order as Province Secretary (1940-1952), Province Treasurer (1946-1949 & 1964-1980), Province Archivist, Historian & Examiner (1946-1952), Province Definitor (1946-1949 & 1964-1966), Provincial of Our Lady of Sorrows Province (1958-1964), Assistant Provincial (1949-1951 & 1966-1967).
His other assignments included: Pastor & Prior at St. Joseph Parish, Carteret, NJ (1952-1958); Chaplain at Alvernia Manor, Lemont, IL (1975-1980); Chaplain at Villa Vianney Retirement Center, Sherman, IL (1980-1990). He retired in 1990 at Addolorata Villa, Wheeling, IL where he resided until his death. He was also active in The Institute of Religious Life, Chicago, IL for many years.
Proceeding him in death were his sisters, Marguerite Poole and Lenora Vogt and his brothers, Dennis and Leonard Cortney. He was the nephew of the late Fr. Alphonse M. Cortney, O.S.M. and a cousin of Fr. Edward Cortney, Fr. Stephen Deaver and the late Fr. Kevin Cortney, all of Grand Island, NE Diocese and Msgr. Lawrence Gibson of the Los Angeles, CA Archdiocese; the uncle of many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
Visitation and The Mass of Christian Burial were held at Addolorata Villa, Wheeling, IL on October 24, 2000. Interment was in the Servite Section of Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Hillside, IL.

Lyle O. VanNess
1920-2000
Lyle O. VanNess, 80, a longtime Sidney resident, died, Dec. 12, 2000 at Memorial Health Center in Sidney. Funeral services for Lyle will be held on Monday, Dec. 18, 2000 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Sidney with Fr. Ted Nekoliczak officiating. Burial will be held in the Bridgeport Cemetery at 2 p.m. A Christian wake will be held on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Sidney. Friends may call at the funeral home on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The family has designated the Dorwart Cancer Center in Sidney as the Memorial.
Lyle O. VanNess was born on September 17, 1920 in Shoshoni, Wyo., the son of Carl and Lucy (Fendrich)VanNess. He lived and attended schools in Northport, Neb. His family moved to Sidney in 1942 at which time he went to work for the Sioux Army Depot, he also owned and operated a grocery store in Lodgepole and he worked at the Gambles store in Sidney before retiring. Lyle enjoyed fishing and going to the dog races. His parents and one brother preceded him in death.
Survivors include three sisters, Veronica Wells of Sidney, Theresa Collins of Wilmington, Calif., and Lucille Bacon of Windsor, Calif.; one brother, Lewis VanNess of Whittier, Calif.; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Gehrig & Son Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Arthur Wilder
1911-2000
Arthur Wilder, 89, of Potter, died Wednesday evening, December 13, 2000 at the Beverly Health Center in Sidney.
Funeral arrangements are pending at the Holechek Funeral Home in Sidney.
A complete obituary will appear in the Saturday paper.

David Barney Benson
1933-2001
David Barney Benson, 67, of Glendale, Calif., died Friday, March 2, 2001 in Los Angeles, Calif. Services will be at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, March 7, at the LaCrescenta Foursquare Church in LaCrescenta, California.
Burial will be at Forest Lawn in Glendale, Calif.
David Benson was born on November 8, 1933 to Barney and Ella M. (Hagemeier) Benson in Sterling, Colo. He graduated from Sterling High School in 1951 and from Life Bible College in Los Angeles in 1955.
He married Colleen "Mickey" Miller on June 18, 1955.
He then served as the pastor of the Foursquare Church in Sidney from August of 1956 until February of 1958.
David then returned to California and worked as a computer designer and programmer for the Burroughs Corporation and other computer companies until his retirement in 1995.
Mr. Benson is survived by his wife, Mickey; four brothers, Russell Benson, Tucson, Ariz.; Roy Benson, Sterling, Colo.; Larry Benson, Gresham, Ore. and Lanny Benson of El Paso, Texas and one sister, Carol Ann Capps, Sunland, Calif.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Robert.
Cards can be sent to: Mickey Benson, 1928 Montecito Drive, Glendale, California, 91208.

Lester E. Kealy
1910-2001
Lester E. Kealy, age 90, died Thursday afternoon at the St. John's Center where he has been a resident since March 13, 2000.
Lester was born November 25,1910 on a farm near St. Edward, Neb. to George T. and Mabel (Preble) Kealy. He graduated from St. Edward High School in 1930 and married Olga B. Linnerson on December 11, 1932 in Genoa, Neb. Lester and Olga moved to Kearney in 1942 and Lester was a truck driver for Safeway and then was employed as a supervisor at the Kearney Airbase during World War II. He then worked as a truck driver for Brown Transfer for 32 years until be retired in 1968. Following his retirement he worked as a custodian at Lincoln Equipment Company and then at the Kearney Junior High School.
Lester was a member of the First Lutheran Church, Teamsters Union #554 and the Kearney Lions Club.
Surviving relatives include: one daughter, Jeanine Goedert of Kearney; one son, Richard "Dick" Kealy of Waterloo, Iowa; five grandchildren; three great grandchildren; one brother, Elwood Kealy of Sutherland, Neb.
Lester was preceded in death by his wife Olga on October 12, 2000, his parents, one son, Merle on July 3, 1953, four brothers and one sister.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, March 6 at 11 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church with Pastor Jer Gilbreath officiating. Burial will be in the Kearney Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary and until service time Tuesday morning at the Church..
Memorials are planned to the St. John's Center. Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Earl Neel
1920-2001
Earl Neel, 80, a longtime Cheyenne County resident died Monday, Feb. 26, 2001 at the Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, Va.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 3 in the Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney with Father Lyle Martin of the Christ Episcopal Church officiating. Burial with military rites by the American Legion Post #17, the V.F.W. Post #610 and the D.A.V. Chapter #40 will be in the Greenwood Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at the Holechek Funeral Home in Sidney.
Earl was born July 5, 1920 at Dalton, Neb., the son of Perry and Maude (Bassett) Neel. He grew up in Dalton and attended school there. He was a veteran of WWII.
He was united in marriage to Olive R. "Bobbie" Neel, and she preceded him in death in 1983.
Earl retired in 1986 after working for over 15 years for Pfeizer's in Sidney. He moved to Grafton, Va. late in 2000 to be closer to his son.
Survivors include his son, Byron Neel and his wife Linda of Grafton, Va.; three brothers: Art Neel of Aurora, Colo., Delbert Neel of Fowler, Colo., and Glenn Neel of Sterling, Colo.; three sisters: Grace Rood of Milton-Freewater, Ore., Florence Flohr of Dalton, and Katie Brown of Bly, Ore.; 7 grandchildren and 7 Great-grandchildren.

Howard M. Sheets
1921-2001
Howard M. Sheets, 79, Garden City, Kans., died Monday, March 26, 2001 at St. Catherine Hospital in Garden City. Celebration of Life Services will be held today at First United Methodist Church in Garden City and on Monday, April 2, 2001 at the United Methodist Church in Potter. Inurnment will be in the Potter Cemetery.
Howard was born June 17, 1921 in Lorenzo the son of William C. and Willimina Ritchey Sheets. On February 22, 1922 he married Carol M. Baumbach at San Jose, Calif.
He was a carpenter and had been a resident of Garden City, Kans. since 1973 moving from Rye, Colo.
Survivors include his wife, 2 sons, Phillip Sheets and Harold Sheets, both of Garden City, Kans.; one daughter, Marlene Ziegler, Loveland, Colo.; one half-brother, William Sheets and one sister, Eunice Cook, both of Sequiem, Wash.; 8 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by 1 sister and several half-brothers and sisters.
Memorials may be given to the Audio Reader Program in care of Price and Sons Funeral Home, 620 N. Main, Garden City, Kans. 67846.

Matthew Chase Good 
Matthew Chase Good 6-month-old son of Chris and Julie Good, Des Moines, Iowa, died of a heart ailment last Thursday at Mercy Medical Center. Services will be at 11 a.m. on Monday at Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints-Northwest Congregation. Cremation will follow services.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by a sister, Kylie Good, and a brother, Sean, both of Des Moines; his grandparents, Richard and Nancy Good of Herndon, Va., Jim and Rose Seavey of Aurora, Colo., and Gene and Carol Vanderwood of Lamoni; and his great grandparents, Bob and Betty Slama of Potter, Neb., and Dorotha Vanderwood of Lamoni.
The family received friends at the church, Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association. Hamilton's Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Lila Bunnell
1935-2001
Lila Bunnell, daughter of Earl and Leola Bishop and grand daughter of Effie and Rasmussen Madsen passed away on Tuesday, March 27, in Placentia, Calif. Lila was born April 2, 1935 in Sterling, Colo. Lila attended Sidney High School, and had a number of friends and family in the Sidney area.
She met her husband, Bob Bunnell a KSID radio station announcer in 1955. After marriage they moved to California. She resided in Riverside, Calif. and raised her family there for over 30 years. She was the wife of husband Bob and mother of five sons, John of Highland, Calif.; Brad of Garden Grove, Calif.; Blake of Redding, Calif.; Greg of West Covina, Calif. and Jack "J.D." of Palm Springs, Calif. She was the grandmother of 11 grand children.
Funeral arrangements are being made by Sierra Memorial Chapel Mortuary in Riverside, Calif. Services are Friday, March 30, at 12:30 p.m. with internment to follow at Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, Calif.

Caroline C. Root
1906-2001
Caroline C. Root, 94 a longtime resident of Sidney died at home on Monday, March 26, 2001. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 30 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Sidney with Fr. Ted Nekoliczak officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. A Christian wake service will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday March 29 at St. Patrick's Church in Sidney. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The family has designated either St. Patrick's Catholic Church or MHC Hospice as the memorials.
Caroline Christine Root was born June 14, 1906 in Sarpy County, Neb., to George and Caroline (Proplash) Guthardt. She attended schools in rural Sarpy County. She lived in the ranch country of Arthur County for 20 years. She was married to Henry Elias in 1925 and to this union two children were born, Dona and Henry (Hank). Henry died in 1929. She then moved to Mitchell, Neb. and was married to Lloyd Root in 1949. The family then moved to Sidney. Lloyd preceded her in death in 1994. Her parents, four sisters and two brothers preceded her in death.
Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Henry and Florine Elias of Sidney; one daughter, Dona Akin of Denver, Colo.; 7 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Gehrig & Son Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Helen Hernbloom
1906-2001
Helen Hernbloom, 94, Lodgepole, died Sunday morning, April 1, at the Miller Memorial Care Center in Chappell.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. today in the Lodgepole United Methodist Church with the Rev. Lyle Schoen officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant View Cemetery at Lodgepole.
A memorial has been established.
The Holechek Funeral Home in Sidney was in charge of arrangements.
Helen Jesse Hernbloom, the daughter of Charles and Ruth (Werhan) Bills was born June 5, 1906 at Fairbury, Nebr. She moved with her family to Lodgepole in 1915. She attended the Lodgepole schools, graduating from Lodgepole High School.
On December 28, 1927 she was united in marriage to Morris Hernbloom at the parsonage in Lodgepole. They made their home on a farm north of Lodgepole. Her husband preceded her in death in 1983. She resided in her home in Lodgepole until about a year ago when she entered the Miller Memorial Care Center.
She was an active member of the Lodgepole United Methodist Church, the W.S.C.S., the Luceba Chapter of the Order of The Eastern Star and the American Legion Auxilliary.
Survivors include two sons: Dwayne and Dick Hernbloom, both of Salina, Kans.; one brother, Roscoe Bills, Alliance; two sisters: Doris Kerker and Charlotte Wise, both of Portland, Ore.; 4 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Eula Fern McFall
1929-2001
Funeral services for Eula Fern McFall, 71, Scottsbluff, who died Sunday, April 1, at Beverly Health Care in Scottsbluff, will be held today, April 4, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Scottsbluff with Rev. Wayne Alloway officiating. Cremation will follow. Memorials have been established to KCMI or to the American Cancer Society.
She was born December 3, 1929 at Gurley to Raymond E.A. and Velma C. (Nelck) Miles where she grew up and graduated from Gurley High School in 1947. She married Lyle Bennett in May of 1948 at Sidney. She worked at Sishc Manufacturing as a bookkeeper for fifteen years. She married Herbert McFall on June 5, 1970 at Chadron. She drove a flag car for Magnolia Mobile Homes until her retirement.
She was a member of the church, secretary of the local chapter AARP, VFW Auxiliary, and the Moose Lodge.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Lloyd Dunn, Morrill; son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth and Shelley Bennett, Georgetown, Ind.; sisters, Lois McCurry, Grover, Colo., Donna Jean Bowne, Missoula, Mont. and Marilyn Wiles, Sidney; stepson and stepdaughter-in-law, Milton and Wanda McFall, Mira Loma, Calif.; stepdaughters and stepsons-in-law, Mary Lou Lore, Alliance, Karen and Bob Moscrip, Scottsbluff, JoAnne and Gordon Keller, Gering and Janet and Mark Schmeeckle, Gering; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; her aunt, Thurma Gibbons, Sidney and numerous step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one infant brother, and one infant son.

Lawrence Johnson
1914-2001
Lawrence Johnson, 86, Chappell died Wednesday afternoon, March 28, at the Memorial Health Center Extended Care in Sidney.
Funeral services were held Monday, April 2, in the Berea Lutheran Church with Pastor Jack Coffee officiating. Burial was in the Berea Cemetery. 
Lawrence Frank Johnson, the son of Fred and Edith (Bloomquist) Johnson was born April 17, 1914 at Valparaiso, Neb. As a child, he moved with his family to a farm in Deuel County. He grew up in the Berea area where he attended country school. He spent his entire life farming, starting by driving a tractor at age 13. He loved going to the Phoenix, Ariz. area during the winter months where he had a home. While there he enjoyed dressing up and going out to dinner.
Lawrence was a faithful member of the church he loved, the Berea Lutheran Church.
Survivors include two brothers: Albert and Leonard Johnson both of Chappell; and one sister, Evelyn Hickman of Sidney.
Memorials were established to the Berea Lutheran Church.
The Holechek Funeral Home in Chappell was in charge of arrangements.

Elwood L.H. Harms
1913-2001
KIMBALL - Elwood L.H. Harms, 87, Kimball, died Saturday, March 31, at the Kimball County Hospital. Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 4, at the First English Lutheran Church, with Pastor Dwayne Hunzeker officiating. Burial of the cremains will follow the service in Potter Cemetery in Potter. Memorial gifts may be made to the First English Lutheran Church in Kimball or to a charity of the donor's choice. Cantrell Funeral Home of Kimball is in charge of arrangements.
He was born on October 30, 1913 in Dodge County, Neb. to Arthur T. and Freda (Wiekhorst) Harms. He came to Cheyenne County with his parents in 1928. He graduated from Potter High School. Elwood married Wilma Schreinert on June 2, 1935 in Dalton. They had been married for over 65 years. The couple had lived in Dix and Burns before coming to Kimball in 1966. Elwood was a section foreman for the Union Pacific Railroad for 40 years. He retired in 1974.
He was a member of the First English Lutheran Church of Kimball. He was a member of the Maintenance Union of Railroad Workers. He had served on the Dix School Board and had been on the Town Council at Burns, Wyo.
He is survived by his wife Wilma, Kimball, one son, Elwood J. (Junior) Harms, Potter; two sisters, Marjorie Curtis, Salem, Or., and Betty Bennett, Auburn, Wash.; 4 grandchildren, Candice Dudney, Lori Maas, Randy Harms, all of Potter, and Ronald Harms, Ft. Collins, Colo.; 10 great-grandchildren and 1 great great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister Harriet Sanders.

Jerry James Schoolcraft
1943-2001
BRIDGEPORT - Jerry James Schoolcraft, 57, Bridgeport, died Wednesday, May 30, 2001, at Heritage Health Care Center in Gering. His funeral service will be at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 2, at the New Life Assembly of God Church in Bridgeport, with Pastor John Mustoe officiating. Burial will be in the Gurley Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Jolliffe Funeral Home in Bridgeport from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday. Memorials may be given to the Bridgeport Rescue Unit in Jerry's name.
He was born on August 19, 1943, in Sidney, to Jerry A. and Anna Caywood Schoolcraft. He attended school in Gurley. He was one of the first 50,000 called to active duty during the Vietnam Conflict. After his discharge, he moved to Newcastle, Wyo. where he worked in a sawmill. He returned to Gurley where he worked for the Vernon Miller farm. He was united in marriage to Dorene Smith on December 22, 1973, in Sidney. The couple lived in the Sidney and Bridgeport areas their married life. He attended railroad school in Sidney for Burlington Northern. He worked as a carman for the railroad until he was injured at work and forced to take disability leave. He was active in the Army National Guard. He attended the Assembly of God Church in Dalton as a youth. He was very friendly and never knew a stranger. He enjoyed fishing, wood working, and received great joy from his grandchildren. He will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife Dorene Schoolcraft, Bridgeport; daughter and son-in-law, Ruby and Tommy Joe Moon, Longmont, Colo.; daughter, Jeana Schoolcraft, Bridgeport; grandchildren, Carrie Ann Schoolcraft, Emily and Issaiah Moon; mother, Anna Schoolcraft, Gurley; sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Ivan Dobrinski, Bridgeport; brother and sister-in-law, John and Sherril Schoolcraft, Colorado Springs, Colo.; brother, Joe Schoolcraft, Gurley; sisters and brothers-in-law, Jill and Bob Wood, Mackinau, Ill.; Pam Longbine, Webb City, Mo.; and Lynne and Sean Smith, Elm Creek, Neb.; mother and father-in-law, Don and Carrie Smith, Minatare; sisters-in-law, LaDonna Christensen, Bridgeport, Judy and Guy Coward, Atwater, Calif.; and Tracy and Brian Jopeck, Chanute, Kans.; brother-in-law, Don and Shara Smith, Minatare; and aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and infant grandson.

Patricia Gugelman
Patricia Gugelman, 72, a long-time Sidney resident, died Friday, May 25 at Memorial Health Center Extended Care in Sidney. Funeral is pending at the Gehrig & Son Funeral Home. A complete obituary will appear in the next issue.

Bertha E. Schiller
Bertha E Schiller, 83 of Sidney passed away Monday morning, May 28, 2001 at Beverly Health Care in Sidney.
Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced when available. Holechek Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Joseph M. Feuerborn
1939-2001
Joseph M. Feuerborn, formerly of Sidney, died at his home in Costa Mesa, Calif., May 23 at the age of 62.
A Requiem High Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. today at the Saddleback Memorial Chapel in Tustin, Calif., with Fr. Patrick Perez officiating. Graveside services will be Tuesday, May 29, at 2 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney. Gehrig & Son Funeral Home is in charge of the local arrangements.
Joseph M. Feuerborn was born March 8, 1939, at Sharon, Kan., to Joseph and Justine Feuerborn. He graduated from St. Patrick's Academy in 1957 and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1959 to 1963. He was self-employed as a Quality Consultant at the time of his death. He was a member of the Catholic Church, Tridentine Rite. His interests included music, reading, politics and a life-long passion for motorsports.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mary Margaret and Catherine Michelle. 
He is survived by his daughter, Alexis, of Costa Mesa, Calif.; his sister, Gena, of Sidney; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Gregory and Donna of Alta Loma, Calif., Chad and Cathy of West Linn, Ore. and Marne and Denise of Sidney and numerous nieces and nephews.