OBITUARIES

Jan 27, 2026

Beloved mom and grandma, Avis Marie Summerville, went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 27, 2026 at the age of 88. Her family and friends are forever blessed to have had her influence in their lives.

Avis was born on January 7, 1938 to Vernon and Thyra (Feddersen) Toof. She joined a large and loving family as the...

Jan 27, 2026

Tamara Kae Riggs, affectionately known as Tamy, graced this world with her warmth and love beginning on October 26, 1958, in Lander, Wyoming. She departed this life on January 27, 2026, leaving behind an indelible mark upon all who knew her.

Tamy was celebrated for her deep devotion to family and friends, a testament to her unwavering belief that once she...

Jan 27, 2026

Thelma Mae Elwess (Pettegrew), age 92, passed away on January 27th, 2026, at Crestview Care Center. Thelma (Tiny) was born on November 4, 1933, to Rodney Loree Pettegrew and Ida Harnish.

Tiny attended Pettegrew grade school. She Graduated from Chadron Prep High School. And she received an Elementary School Teaching Certificate from the State Teachers College at Chadron. Tiny taught at...

Jan 22, 2026

John Wright Schleicher was born on April 11, 1942, in Natick, Massachusetts, to Ervin and Constance (Somers) Schleicher. John passed away on January 22, 2026, at Pioneer Manor in Hay Springs at the age of 83.

He married Jeannie Lynn in 1965. To this union, three children were born: Christopher, Candis, and Charles. They divorced in 1980. He married Ruth Fraser...

Jan 18, 2026

Mary Elizabeth O’Donnell Wolvington

January 8th,1933- January 18th,2026



Sadly, our beloved Mary Elizabeth Wolvington 93, passed away on January 18th,2026 of rural Chadron, Nebraska, at Pioneer Manor in Hay Springs, Nebraska. Mary was born on January 8th,1933 to Patrick O’Donnell of Dublin, Ireland & Bertha(Burr)O’Donnell of Pringle, South Dakota, North of Chadron on White River. Mary was 2nd born of 8 children....

Jan 16, 2026

Chandler “Chuck” Cole Bakley



Chandler “Chuck” Cole Bakley, 27 of Mitchell, South Dakota, formerly of Martin, South Dakota passed away unexpectedly Friday, January 16th, 2026.

Chandler was born May 5th, 1998, to Mike and Sherry Bakley in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. He spent his young years growing up in the family home in Martin, SD where he attended the Bennett County Grade...

Jan 12, 2026

Eleanor P. Strang was born on December 4, 1938 to Thomas Westley and Margaret McFarland in Chester County, Pennsylvania. She was part of a large family, having 12 siblings.

In time, she had 4 children of her own; David, Jordan, Jason and Tara. In the early 1970’s, Eleanor bravely moved her family from the area she had always known to Chadron,...

Jan 10, 2026

In loving memory of Joan V. (Bolek) Colwell, who was born to Edward and Fern (Daniel) Bolek on November 20th, 1931, and passed on to heaven peacefully at the age of 94 on January 10, 2026, at Gordon Countryside Care.

She spent her entire life in and around the Rushville, Nebraska area. She was raised on a farm near Rushville, being...

Jan 9, 2026

Raymond John Kocer, age 83, passed away on January 9, 2026, at the Long Term Care facility in Winner, South Dakota.

Raymond was born on January 11, 1942, in Gordon, Nebraska, to John and Sylvia (Hladky) Kocer. He grew up near Elm Creek in southern Bennett County with his parents and his older brother, Lawerance Kocer. Raymond attended La Creek Elementary...

Jan 8, 2026

Gene E. Robinett, born August 9, 1944, in Greeley, Colorado, passed away on January 8, 2026, in Denver, Colorado.

Gene was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Cheri Robinett, who passed in 2015.

He is survived by his children Jason Robinett and Trisha Touchton; his daughter by marriage, Ramona Agin; his grandchildren Tyler Robinett, Hailey Robinett, Brooke Brooks, Lawrence Schneider, and...

Jan 6, 2026

Willis Wayne Wellman, 54, of Chadron, Nebraska, passed away on January 6, 2026.

Willis proudly served his country as a soldier with the 101st Airborne Division, deploying to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He is survived by his mother, Evelyn Wellman; his brothers, George Wellman and Jerry Wellman; his daughters Tiffany Brandon and Taylor Pruitt.

Willis found fulfillment in the great outdoors. An...

Jan 6, 2026

Margaret “Rose” Orr August 11, 1927 — January 6, 2026, Gordon, Nebraska

Margaret “Rose” Orr, 98, of Gordon, Nebraska, passed away on January 6, 2026, at Gordon Countryside Care. Born Margaret Rose Kearns on August 11, 1927, to Eugene and Mary (Nelson) Kearns on the family farm southeast of Rushville, she grew up surrounded by the rhythms of rural life that...

Jan 3, 2026

Sadly, our beloved Bonnie Sharon Bruckner 79, passed away on January 3, 2026 in Crawford NE. Bonnie was born on February 4, 1946 to Richard and Evelyn Bruckner of Floral Park, NY. Bonnie had an impact on each person she interacted with. She was a stunning beautiful soul, strong, courageous, inspirational, kind, loving, funny, and full of joy. She lived...

Dec 30, 2025

Randy Neal McClure passed away December 30, 2025 at the age of 68, at the Chadron Hospital after a long health battle.

Randy was born in Orange County, California on June 24th, 1957 to Calvin and Jo McClure. He was the first of five children. When he was a toddler, the family moved to Colorado. Growing up in Colorado he became...

Dec 30, 2025

Nina M Retzlaff

November 6, 1944-December 30, 2025

Nina M. Retzlaff was born on November 6, 1944, to George and Bessie Sexton; Anne was raised in the Hay Springs, Nebraska area. She passed away at the age of 81 at the Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Nina met her husband, Roy Retzlaff, at the diner she worked at in Whiteclay,...

Dec 20, 2025

Neva Jean Bartlett was born May 28, 1928 in Dannebrog, NE, to Alice and George Hendricksen. She spent her high school years in Dannebrog and Hay Springs, NE, graduating from Dannebrog in 1946. She met her husband, Morton Bartlett while in Hay Springs and they were married in 1948. She worked in Chadron at the Kenwood grocery store and sold...

Dec 19, 2025

Dec 19, 2025

With deep love and gratitude for a life well lived, we remember a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Ellen Barker passed away peacefully on December 19, 2025.Ellen was known for being social, outgoing, and friendly—someone who truly never met a stranger. She valued conversation, connection, and staying in touch with the people in her life. One of her greatest...

Dec 18, 2025

Jay Alan Lembke passed away on December 18, 2025, at the age of 66, in his home in Chadron, Nebraska. He was born on November 2nd, 1959, to Wayne and Roberta Lembke. His family and friends remember him for his quiet strength and kindness.

Jay was a big man, but those fortunate to know him understood his physical size hid a...

Dec 16, 2025

Leona Fae Hamilton was born in Montrose, CO on Sep. 17, 1943, to Walter and Lenore (Williams) Champlin of Ridgeway, CO. She was the middle of 3 children, remembering fondly times when money was scarce, but love of God and family grew in abundance. She died on December 16th from cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents, her...