Obituaries

Johnny Ray Brown was born on January 29, 1957 in Phillipsburg, Kansas to Alvin Ray and Dora Marie (Watkins) Brown. Johnny passed away at his home in Long Pine, NE on September 6, 2021. The first few years of his life he spent with his parents in Phillipsburg. Shortly after his brother Gary was born, he and his family moved to McCook, NE. In 1961, John received another sibling in his life, his sister Gina. John went to McCook Public Schools until he graduated in 1976. He then worked at Anderson Motors as a mechanic.

In the winter of 1936 during a raging snow storm, Brent Edwin Johnson was born to Earl and Edith (Greene) Johnson on January 28, 1936 in the Marshall house south of the tracks at Johnstown, NE on Main Street. Shortly after (seven minutes), twin brother Bruce joined him. They lived at the Tinkham place north of Johnstown until they were three years old. The family then moved to a farm west of the Ainsworth Regional Airport. He attended grade school at North 84 and South 84, then high school at Ainsworth, NE. He graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1954. Brent and Bruce set the state record in Class B track running the 880 yard relay for the years of 1953 and 1954.

Word has been received of the passing of John E. Lucht Sr., age 82 of Ainsworth, NE. Graveside memorial services will be held in the Spring of 2022. John Lucht died Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth.

Carol Ann Link Waring, 86, died in hospice care at Dunklau Gardens on August 25, 2021. She was born in Lincoln, NE on February 3, 1935 and grew up in Ainsworth, NE where she graduated from high school in 1953.

Stella M. Thompson was born March 21, 1927 to Albert and Mollie (May) Gale at their home northwest of Bassett, NE. She graduated from Rock County High School with the class of 1945. Stella was united in marriage to Charles Thompson on June 24, 1947. To this union four children were born: Judy, Linda, Mary and Rowdy.

Orville Beyea, age 92 of Valentine, NE, passed away July 1, 2020. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m.

Ben Burdick was born in a sod house on October 21, 1926 in the Purdum, NE area. He was one of seven children born to Raymond and Vera (Athey) Burdick. Ben’s family worked hard and had little to show for it, as with many other people in that time. Ben lived through the Great Depression. His childhood involved walking or riding a horse five miles to school every day, where he learned the essential subjects of arithmetic, writing and reading. Following school, it was home to do the daily chores and help on the ranch.

Jimmie M. Howard was born on February 3, 1959 in Omaha, NE to James and Eunice (McNamee) Howard of Ainsworth, NE. Jimmie passed away at the age of 62 in his home on September 1, 2021 after a long series of health complications.

A memorial service for Michael J. Smiley, age 58 of Bassett, will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at the Emmanuel Community Church in Bassett. Mike Smiley died Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

With deepest sorrow we announce that Zachorey Dean Jones, age 22, our beloved son, brother, uncle, family member and friend passed away on August 29, 2021 in Ainsworth, NE. Those who knew Zach, even just a little, lost one of the most charismatic, loyal, hardworking and selfless men around.