Obituaries

Londa K ristine P aul ( Rap), 5 9, p assed away September 10 in Nampa, Idaho, in the presence of her devoted husband and loving son. Her sister gathered with the family virtually at the time of Londa’s passing. Londa was born April 22, 1966, in Ainsworth to Larry and Lola Rap. Larry—a carpenter and true craftsman—and his wife Lola received a call to ministry and moved t he f amily t o C olorado i n 1 976 t o attend Nazarene Bible College. In her youth, Londa and her younger sister, Lynnelle, sang alongside their parents as Larry and Lola ministered to various congregations. Londa graduated from Longmont High School in Longmont, Colorado, i n 1 985 a nd w ent o n t o c omplete an A ssociate o f A rts in early childhood education from Northwest Nazarene College (now University) in Nampa, Idaho. While studying for her associate’s, Londa met the love of her life Harold W. Paul II (Hal) whom she married in 1987. Londa a ccompanied H al a cross t he U nited S tates o ver t he m any moves o f h is m ilitary s ervice. I n 1 989, s he g ave b irth t o t heir s on, Joshua, fulfilling Londa’s lifelong wish “to be a mommy.” In 2011, when Hal retired from the military, the couple returned to Nampa where Londa eventually completed a Bachelor of Arts at NNU, incorporating course credits she had earned at other universities near Hal’s various duty stations. Freely describing herself as “artsy-fartsy”, Londa practiced a number of art forms over her lifetime including Dutch tole painting, pen and paper drawing, fiber crafts, scrapbooking, acrylic on river-stone, and ceramics. As her work in ceramics matured, she developed some favorite m otifs including a d istinctive t ree o f l ife m otif a nd m ugs embellished with sculpted animal and human faces. In recent years, she exhibited some of her work in community art shows. Londa faced many health challenges over her lifetime. She was diagnosed with type I diabetes at the age of seven, and suffered many complications of this disorder over the years. In her twenties, her kidneys failed and she began dialysis treatment. Londa subsequently received a successful kidney transplant in 1999, which remained functional for 21 years. After the transplanted kidney failed in 2020, she resumed dialysis treatment with the aim of eventually having another transplant. During this period, she suffered multiple health crises. As a result, she was unable to undergo a second transplant surgery. Through all the pain, struggle, and setbacks, Londa demonstrated remarkable resilience, always meeting her challenges and triumphs with grace and grit. Londa remained a woman of great faith and conviction throughout her life and freely shared the joy, reassurance, and compassion she found in Jesus Christ with all she met. She constantly lifted her friends and family to the Lord in prayer and looked forward to experiencing the glory of God in Heaven. In h er f inal days, L onda s hared w ith f riends a nd family t hat s he believed those who have gone before continue to root for us from the sidelines. We are so grateful that she remains our biggest fan. The family requests that in lieu of flowers that gifts be given in Londa’s name to the National Kidney Foundation or the American Diabetes Association. Arrangements are under the direction of Nampa Funeral Home. An online guestbook and obituary can be found at www.Nampafuneralhome.com

Curtis Shawn Malone, age 60, of Long Pine, passed away on September 1 alongside his son, Shawn Malone. Curtis was born in Atkinson on May 13, 1965 to Charles “Chuck” Malone and Sharon (Morrison) Malone.

A joint celebration of life service for Curtis Shawn Malone, age 60 of Long Pine and Shawn Lee Malone, 41 of Ainsworth will be held at the American Legion in Ainsworth at noon on Saturday, September 20th with lunch provided. Malone passed away on September 1 along side his son Shawn Malone.

Shawn Lee Malone, age 41, of Ainsworth, passed away Monday, September 1, in the Black H ills o f South D akota. H e w as b orn November 1 4, 1 983, i n A insworth, t o C urtis Malone and Lonny (Malone) Evans.

Christopher G. Martin, 68 Christopher G.

Funeral Service for Christopher G. Martin, age 68, of Ainsworth, will be held on Thursday, September 4, at 10 a.m. at the St. Pius X Catholic Church in Ainsworth. Interment will follow in the Ainsworth Cemetery. Chris Martin passed away Thursday, August 28, a t F aith Regional Health Services in Norfolk. Survivors i nclude w ife M ary M artin o f A insworth; daughter H eather (Brian) H ollenbeck o f L ong P ine; s ons J eremy ( Amanda) M artin o f Goodland, Kan. and Cory Martin of Omaha; nine grandchildren; brothers Dick (Deb) Martin of Battle Creek and Tim (Colleen) Martin of L incoln; sisters-in-law P aula M artin o f M aryville, M o. A nd J acalyn Martin o f P ierce; a long w ith n ieces, n ephews a nd o ther f amily members Visitations for Chris Martin will be held on Wednesday, September 3, from 5 – 7 p .m. a t t he H och Funeral H ome i n A insworth w ith a Rosary/Prayer Service scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Visitations will continue Thursday from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 10 a.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to the family in Chris’ name for a future designation. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Ardath Marie (Moore) Sydor was born February 3 , 1 937, i n A insworth, t o S helley Theodore Moore and Minnie Marguerette Moore (née West). She earned her bachelor’s degree in education and then a master’s degree in library science. Ardy l oved w orking w ith c hildren. S he liked to say, “Being around young people keeps you young.” In 1970 she married James “Jim” Sydor of Langley, British Columbia, where they enjoyed 41 years of marriage until Jim’s death in 2011. Ardy w orked i n the L angley S chool D istrict f or o ver 3 5 y ears a s a n elementary school teacher and a librarian. She passed away July 19, in Twin Falls, Idaho. A full obituary may be viewed at https://www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com/obituar ies/ardath-sydor. Ardath i s r emembered w ith l ove a nd g ratitude b y h er f amily and friends. A graveside service was held at the Langley Lawn Cemetery on August 19, at 10 a.m. If you would like to make a donation in Ardath’s name in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Jesus Film Church Planting Strategy.

Joyce K. Nelson, age 79, passed away July 31 at the Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth. Joyce w as b orn t o M ilan a nd W ilda (Williamson) Nelson on May 9, 1946, in Ainsworth. She attended rural schools in Brown and Rock counties before starting 7th grade at Bassett Elementary School. The fall after g raduating f rom R ock C ounty H igh School with the class of 1964, Joyce married Marvin Hart of Ainsworth. They had one son, Lanny D ean H art, i n 1 966. A fter their divorce, Joyce and Lanny moved to Lincoln, followed by moves to Denver Colo., and Los Angeles, Calif. They returned to Nebraska for a few years before settling down in Phenix City, Ala. with her life partner, Ron McNally. After Ron's death in 2015, Joyce moved back to their hometown of Ainsworth. Joyce had a special love for horses and fond memories of growing up in the Sandhills helping her dad and brother care for the cattle on the ranch south of Bassett. Preceding her in death were her parents, Milan and Wilda Nelson; infant brother, Lyle; niece, Terisa Nelson; grandparents, Hallie (Cornett) Nelson, Vic and Vera Nelson, Rueben and Alma Williamson; her life partner, Ron McNally; and most recently her best canine companion, Max. Joyce is survived by her son, Lanny Hart of Foley, Ala.; brother, Harlan 'Roy' Nelson (Patty) of Ainsworth: sisters, Norma Horner (Phil) Hendersen, Nev., and Joanne Laine, Lawrence, Kan.; and nieces and nephews: Rod and Nathan Nelson, Amy, Jared and Mandy Sanger, John and Michele McNally, Kelly McNally-Cook and their families. A p rivate family g athering w as h eld Monday, A ugust 4 , a t t he Ainsworth Cemetery, per Joyce's request. The family kindly requests that any memorials be sent to Live-Love-Wag, 144 N. Maple, Ainsworth, N E 6 9210, t he local p et r escue, t hat took l oving c are o f Joyce’s b eloved M ax a fter s he m oved t o t he c are c enter in M arch o f 2023. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth assisted with arrangements and condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Denton James Weichman, age 78, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at St. F rancis H ospital i n G rand Island o n August 4. Denton was born on February 5, 1947, in Stuart to Frank and Grace (Kaup) Weichman, t he t hird o f f our siblings. H is early years were spent on the family farm and d riving t o t own f or s chool a nd practices. His steadfast beliefs of right and wrong were on display early in life when he refused a typing assignment that landed him in after school detention. This act of defiance did earn him the sympathy of another student, Ann, who delivered him cookies through the window. T hey were together ever since, married in 1970. A r ancher all h is l ife, D enton a lso w orked a s a h igh school s cience teacher and spent summers as a firefighter with the United States Forest Service. He had a keen eye for acting when the time was right and m oved i nto b anking i n t he 1 980s, m oving u p t o e ventually purchase First National Bank of Ainsworth with his wife. He proudly served Ainsworth for many years, both in his work and his community involvement, including serving on the school board, chamber of commerce, and North Central Development Center. He retired from banking, but never from ranching, working and tending to his properties that he loved. He spent his final years enjoying the athletic and academic prowess of h is g randchildren w hile l iving i n G rand I sland. D enton w as a n advocate f or a griculture a nd t he o utdoors, a s well a s a s elf-styled track coach for his children and grandchildren alike. He imparted valuable wisdom to all, and he worked hard to make life better for his family until his final day. Denton is survived by his wife Ann of Grand Island; siblings Karen MacClendon and husband, Travis, of Blountstown, Fla., brother, Leon Weichman and wife, Connie, and sister, Rochelle all of Stuart; mother-in-law, Jan Brayton of Stuart; children Molly Johnson and husband, Justin, and their children, Brayton, Connor, Grace and Willa of G rand I sland, d aughter, K atie Z ulkoski a nd h usband, W alker, a nd their children, Calvin and Leo of Lincoln, and son, Taylor Weichman of Bentonville, Ark.; along with nieces, nephews and other family members.

A Private Family Inurnment will be held in the Ainsworth Cemetery at a later date for Joyce K. Nelson, age 79, of Ainsworth. Joyce N elson p assed a way T hursday, July 3 1, a t the S andhills C are Center in Ainsworth.