Obituaries

Steve Moran, 75, died on September 17 in Omaha. Steve was born on August 10, 1951, in Lincoln. Steve spent his early years in Hemingford, where he attended grade school. He later attended St. Agnes Academy in Alliance from fifth through twelfth grade. During his school years, he stood out as an exceptional athlete, participating in basketball, football, and track. Football remained his greatest love. Because of both his intelligence and athletic ability, he was recruited by all three military academies and chose the Air Force Academy, a decision shaped in part by its closeness to his family, who were his greatest support system.

Funeral service for Gerald L. Ammon, 71, of Bassett will be held on Saturday, October 3, at 10 a.m. in the Bassett Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Sybrant Community Cemetery southeast of Bassett. Gerald Ammon passed away Wednesday, September 23, at home near Bassett. Survivors include son Tony (Nellie) Ammon of Cairo; daughter Misty (Ryan) Zulkoski of Meridian, Idaho; several grandchildren; mother of his children Caren Ammon of Bassett; siblings Denise (Ron) Tech of Alda, Keith (Lorraine) Ammon of Bassett; Shirley Bell of Gillette, Wyo., and Rhonda (Jeff) Wulf of Kearney; along with nieces, nephews and other family members. Visitations for Gerald Ammon will be held on Friday, October 2, from 5 – 7 p.m. at the Bassett Methodist Church and will continue Saturday one hour prior to the services. Those attending services are asked to please wear casual attire. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to the family in Gerald’s name for future designation. Hoch Funeral Home of Bassett is in charge of arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Joe “JR” Andrews was born to Joe Glenn and Eva Ada (Barnes) Andrews on May 6, 1928, at his grandparents’ home in Cody. He grew up with his siblings on the family ranch along the Snake River, south of Nenzel. From an early age, Joe developed a lifelong love for cattle and the ranching way of life. He rode horseback six miles to attend school and later graduated from the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis in 1946.

Memorial service will be held at a later date for Gordon Hitchcock, age 83, of Ainsworth. Gordon Hitchcock passed away Saturday, September 26, at the Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth. Survivors include wife Shirley of Ainsworth, three children Jay (Krista) Hitchcock of Friend, Wes (Joy) Hitchcock of Sparks, and Kara Hitchcock of Glenwood, Iowa; 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; along with sister Phyllis (Gary) Leach of Ainsworth; and nieces, nephews and other family members. Memorials have been suggested to Camp Witness in Gordon’s name. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth is in charge of arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Joan Margaret Callaway Jackson, born January 5, 1931, in Dustin to parents Margaret Bruns Callaway and Connie C Callaway, and passed away on January 14, 2025. Joanie is survived by her children Marsha Hanson of Wyoming, Minn., Michael Jackson of Surprise, Ariz., Marti Rothrock of Greeley, Colo., and Paula (Robert) Grady of Elbert, Colo. H er surviving siblings are Con (Bette) Callaway of Sun City, Ariz., Jody Callaway of Wood, S.D., and sister-in-law Sue Callaway of Ainsworth. S he i s also s urvived by her step siblings Steve Babbitt (Sally) of Broken Bow, Nancy Drent (Ernie) of Beatrice, and Gary Babbitt (Sharon) of Richland, Wash. Also survived by her grandchildren Kristy, Eric (Lori), James (Tanya) Hanson of Minn., Stephanie and Jennifer Henderson of Colo., Chase Williams and Brennen Jackson of Colo., and Blake Jackson of Texas. She was affectionately known as GG to her eight great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Douglas W. “Doug” Mulligan passed away on September 13 in Bassett at the age of 79.

Funeral service for Joe R. Andrews, age 98, of Bassett will be held on Wednesday September 23, at 1 p.m. at the Hoch Funeral Home in Ainsworth. Burial will follow in the Prairie Lawn Cemetery at Cody. Joe Andrews passed away on Saturday, September 19, at the Rock County Hospital Long Term Care in Bassett Survivors include wife Wilma of Bassett; children Deb Vonheeder of Ainsworth, T erry ( Erica) A ndrews o f E ricson, B ecky ( Tom) L ucht o f Ainsworth, Sheri (Steve) Gann of Ainsworth and Kristi (Ted) Thornburg of Bassett; daughter-in-law Karen Andrews of Prescott, Ariz.; 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter; seven step-grandchildren and 11 step-great-grandchildren; brother Harley Andrews of Valentine; nieces, nephews and other family members. Those attending services are asked to please wear casual attire. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to the Prairie Lawn Cemetery of Cody or the Rock County Hospital Long Term Care Activity Fund in Joe’s name. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Norma L ee ( Brown) Stoeger w as b orn i n N ewport o n A pril 9 , 1938, to Jim and Lena Brown. She grew up a typical farm girl and learned to have a work ethic from a young age. She took care of the housework, the neighborhood children, and helped her dad and siblings with the farm chores. Norma l oved l earning a nd a ttending S unday S chool. S he r ead every Sugar Creek Gang book she could get her hands on. Even as a child, she had a yearning for God. She would lie on the hay bales, watch the clouds, and wonder what God and Heaven were like. She was gifted in music from a very young age. She married Robert C. Stoeger on December 25, 1955. She w as just 17 at the time. This union was blessed with six children. Bob and N orma w ere i nstrumental i n t he f ounding o f t he B erean Bible C hurch i n V alentine. S he s erved t he L ord faithfully a s a student of Scripture and in humble prayer. Norma put on the full armor of God as stated in Ephesians 6. Throughout her life, Norma had numerous jobs. Some o f these included r unning a d aycare o ut o f h er h ome, c leaning h ouses, waitressing, and cooking at VES. Later in her life, she studied for and then c ompleted her GED. She c ontinued to read and study various topics throughout her lifetime. She especially loved Biblical history. Norma loved her family deeply. She prepared lovely meals, and the tradition of soup on Christmas Eve is a fond memory for her children and grandchildren. Bob and Norma set a loving example of a Christ-centered marriage. Through joy and pain, they were married for 58 years. Norma was p receded i n d eath b y h er p arents, J im a nd L ena Brown; h er h usband R obert Stoeger Sr.; h er son G ary Stoeger; son-in-law L arry G ill; g randson C harles S toeger; i n-laws J iggs and Irene Stoeger; and her siblings Betty Christensen, Richard Brown, Robert Brown and Clea Rae Storey. She is survived by her daughter Karen Gill; sons Bob (Margaret), Mark (Janell), Doug (Chelsea) and David. Norma is also survived by g randchildren T om, K ari ( Joe), T enille ( James), J ared (Mandy), Jamie, Lucas (Chloe), Lincoln (Stephany), Calvin, Preston, Kaylee, Grace, Eve, and 13 great-grandchildren. Norma passed away at home on September 10, 2026. While she will be missed greatly by so many, her wish for us here on Earth is to love each other and love the Lord each day. Funeral service for Norma Stoeger was held on Wednesday, September 1 6, a t t he V alentine M ethodist C hurch. B urial followed at the Harmony Cemetery north o f V alentine. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines was entrusted with service arrangements.

A memorial service for Debora Jean (Stamp) Brandt, age 67, of Norfolk, and formerly o f I nman w ill b e a t 2 p .m. Wednesday, September 23, at Biglin’s Mortuary in O’Neill. A private family inurnment will be held in the Ziems Cemetery south of Ewing. Debora passed away on Thursday, September 17, at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation and Care Center in Norfolk w ith h er f amily b y h er s ide. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin’s Mortuary in O’Neill. Debora Jean Stamp was born on March 16, 1959, i n O ’Neill, t o R obert a nd A nna (Herold) Stamp. She grew up in the Inman area, and attended Willow Lake Country School near Inman before continuing her education at Inman Elementary School. Debora later attended O’Neill High School. While in high school, Debora worked for Buzzy’s Café and Seger’s Café in O’Neill. After high school, Debora received her CNA License. Throughout her life, Debora lived in many different places before eventually making her home in Norfolk, where she was a caregiver for people of all ages. Debora found joy in the simple things in life. She enjoyed crocheting and needlepoint, creating beautiful and meaningful pieces with her hands. She also had a love for gardening, cooking, canning, caring for her pets and watching movies. Debora is survived by her siblings Jesse (JoAnne) Stamp of Inman, Robert (Dawn) Stamp of Lincoln, and Zena (Monte) Raitt of Long Pine; many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents and all of her grandparents.

A memorial service will be held at a later date for Shirley Ann West, age 87, of Johnstown. Shirley West passed away Friday, September 11, at The Bellflower at Whispering Ridge Assisted Living Facility in Omaha.