Obituaries

Shirley (Greiner) Minne was born February 27, 1935, and left this Earth on February 15, 2026. Shirley was born the middle child to Earl and Alvina (Hollingsworth) Greiner.

Ted Keys, age 88, of Elsmere passed away March 15 in North Platte. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 24, at the United Church of Christ in Purdum. Burial followed in the Purdum Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Christian Challenge at USC or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Online words of remembrance or condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com. Alva Teddy “Ted” Keys was born on June 26, 1937, in Ainsworth to Laurence and Roxie (Body) Keys. Growing up the only thing Ted ever wanted to be was a cattle rancher. He wanted to “wear out, not rust out”. Ted attended grades first through eighth grade at Elsmere 101 North Rural School and graduated from Ainsworth High School as Salutatorian at the age of 16, in 1954. Ted bought and drove Grandma Keys' single seat Coupe to high school. Ted married Marlea Hebb on January 28, 1956, in Ft. Pierre, S.D. The couple returned to the family ranch near Elsmere where they lived the rest of their years. Ted was a member of the Nebraska Cattleman’s Association and R-Calf. Ted was very involved in the community, serving on the Elsmere School Board, serving in every position. He was on the Purdum Volunteer Fire Department and a 4-H leader. Ted always greeted you with a big smile and a strong handshake. He enjoyed visiting with family, friends, or a stranger. But what Ted enjoyed t he m ost was h is family, h e a nd Marlea h ad f our sons: Teddy, Perry (Ruth), Bruce, and Larry (Donna), seven grandchildren Kevin (Kim), Kraig, Kristin (Jon Tomasevic), Jordan (Elizabeth), Ryan (Jessie), Lisa and Amy, and seven great-grandchildren. Ted was preceded in death by his parents; brother Keith and sister-in-law Bonnie Keys; sister Bonnie and brother-in-law Joseph Giles; nephew Jerry Michael Giles; and a niece Karen and her husband Jerry Nance.

Rev. George T. Whitney met his Savior and Lord Jesus the Christ, March 7, 2026. George Thompson Whitney was born March 12, 1943, i n S eattle, W ash., t o M ildred E lizabeth Thompson Whitney and Gale Quinton Whitney. A m ajority o f h is y outh w as s pent i n Ainsworth. He graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1961. He attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney, graduating with a BA in Education in January of 1966. He taught school and coached in Randolph at both Randolph St. Frances Catholic high school and Randolph Public high school. In June of 1974 he went to work for Old Northwest Agents, Inc. as a sales associate and eventually became a district manager. H e m oved t o M issouri i n 1 977 t o e stablish a n ew s ales territory there as the district manager. He retired from Old Northwest Agents in 1997 and finally accepted his call into the ministry. George was in the United Methodist tradition and he began attending Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis while simultaneously serving as the pastor of Elsberry United Methodist Church. He graduated from Eden Theological Seminary in 2001 with a Master of Divinity degree. He w as ordained Elder i n t he U nited M ethodist t radition i n M ay o f 2003. In Missouri, he served churches in Elsberry, Wright City, Bellefontaine Neighbors, and later in retirement, Eagle Rock. He r etired f rom t he m inistry i n M arch o f 2008 a nd h e a nd his ministry partner, wife June, moved to Hot Springs Village, Ark. The retirement did not last long. He began serving Manchester United Methodist Church in rural Arkadelphia for five years, then began serving as pastor of New Salem United Methodist Church in rural Hot Springs for four years and Gardner United Methodist Church in Hot Springs for three years. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, and his only sibling, brother Grant. He is survived by his wife June of Hot Springs Village; daughter Michelle and husband Gary Chance; daughter Kimberly and husband Chris Noil; daughter Angela and husband Wesley Middleton; daughter Gayle and husband Travis; son Neil and wife Heidi; and step-son John and friend Ange. Also surviving are 19 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

A M emorial S ervice w ill b e h eld at a l ater d ate f or K ippy J ay Burkinshaw age, 70, of Ainsworth. Kip Burkinshaw passed away Sunday, March 8, at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth. Survivors i nclude w ife L isa o f A insworth; s on S cott Burkinshaw o f Lincoln; mother Jean Burkinshaw of Long Pine; sisters Connie Roark of Keaau, Hawaii, and Carmen (Steve) Theiman of Norfolk; brother-in-law Robert Arehart of Creighton; along with nieces, nephews and other family members. Memorials have been suggested to the family in Kip’s name for a future designation. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth is in charge of arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Gary Wayne Stoeger was born February 18, 1960, to Robert Sr. and Norma (Brown) Stoeger in Valentine. He joined older sister, Karen, and older brother, Robert Jr., younger brothers Mark, Doug, and David followed.

Gerald “Jerry” Lee Benne, age 85, of Oakland, Nebraska, passed away, surrounded by family, o n F ebruary 1 2. J erry w as b orn December 29, 1940, in West Point, to Herman and Evelyn (Ahrens) Benne.

William D. Armold, “Bill”, 92, of Lincoln, passed away February 15.

A graveside service for Dale R. Steele, 100 years old, of Pierce, were held on Wednesday, February 18, at the Ainsworth City Cemetery.

Darrel Wayne Steele Sr. was born February 3, 1929, to Eugene K. Steele, Sr. and Rose Leahl (Booth) Steele of Ainsworth. He attended rural district #53 school through the eighth grade and graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1948.

Beverly Jean (Gustafson) Stahl was born on August 16, 1944, in Ainsworth to Russell A. and Leona V. (Roberts) Gustafson. She was one of 11 siblings. Beverly passed away suddenly after a short illness at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth on February 12.