Obituaries

John Wesley Dodds, age 70, passed away at home on January 16, 2025, in Ainsworth, NE. He was born to Frank “Doc” and Renona (Reed) Dodds on June 22, 1954, as the second of a set of twins.

Funeral Service for John W. Dodds, age 70, of Ainsworth, NE was held Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at the Hoch Funeral Home in Ainsworth. Inurnment will follow at a later date in the Ainsworth Cemetery. John Dodds passed away Thursday, January 16, 2025 at his home in Ainsworth.

Jeanne (Bammerlin) Graff passed away peacefully at The Cottages in Spokane, WA on January 17, 2025. With the given name of Emma Jean Iva, she was born March 18, 1927 to Edward and Iva (Sherman) Bammerlin on the family ranch near Burton, NE.

Betty Jean (Terry) Hasch was born in Edgerton, WY on March 22, 1938, to Clifford M. and Lillian A. (Swanson) Terry. They lived in Wyoming until Betty was five years old, when the family moved to Cody, NE, and soon after, moved to Bassett, NE. Betty died at the Rock County Hospital Long Term Care facility on January 7, 2025, with Ernie Hasch, her husband of 67 1/2 years, by her side.

William “Bill” Lee Assarsson was born in Ainsworth, NE on April 4, 1960, the son of Clifford and Virginia (Fox) Assarsson, and passed away January 7, 2025 at the Rock County Hospital in Bassett, NE.

Funeral Service for Betty J. Hasch, age 86, of Bassett, NE will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. in the Bassett Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Bassett Memorial Park Cemetery in Bassett. Betty Hasch passed away Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at the Rock County Hospital Long Term Care in Bassett.

Larry Wayne Ogden, 73, of Atkinson, NE, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2024, at West Holt Memorial Hospital following a brief illness, with his devoted wife of 51 years, Marlene, by his side. Born on January 29, 1951, in Payette, ID, to Betty (Thompson) and Sherman Ogden, life brought him to Ainsworth, NE in 1958 when his family relocated. Growing up as one of 12 siblings, Larry experienced a lively and spirited childhood filled with playful mischief and cherished moments, fostering deep and lasting connections with his brothers and sisters.

Stanley Eugene Smith was born in Ainsworth, NE on July 27, 1936, to Earl and Lois (Barrington) Smith. Stan passed away on December 19, 2024, at the Brown County Hospital. He lived his childhood on the family ranch and worked for various neighbors. He graduated at the age of sixteen from Ainsworth High School.

Funeral Service for Stanley E. Smith, age 88, of Ainsworth, NE will be held on Friday, December 27, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. in the Hoch Funeral Home at Ainsworth. Interment will follow in the Ainsworth Cemetery. Stan Smith passed away Thursday, December 19, 2024 in the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth.

Jeff attended grade school in O’Neill, NE and high school at Rock County High School in Bassett, NE, graduating with the Class of 1977. After graduation, he attended Western Nebraska Technical College in Sidney, NE for aviation mechanics and autobody technology. Returning to Bassett in 1980, he worked for Jim Shaw at Bassett Body & Glass and in March of 1983, he opened his own business, Rainbow Autobody.