Obituaries

Sheridan Louise Popp was born in Omaha on December 26th, 2025. Sheridan was loved every day of her life by her parents Jordan and Maria Popp, a nd t win sister S ierra G race P opp. G od called S heridan h ome o n F ebruary 14th, 2 026; following her battle with a congenital heart defect.

Cleo Annette (Hood) Cooper passed away with her beloved daughter and son by her side. Born in Springview, Cleo moved to California at t he a ge of 1 8, eventually m aking h er h ome in Denair and later in Modesto.

A Celebration of Life for Janice “Jan” Mitchell, age 89, of Ainsworth and formerly of O’Neill, was held on Monday, February 16, at Biglin’s Mortuary in O’Neill. Jim Wakefield officiated.

Helen “Joan” Smith, 88, of Minden, passed away on F riday, F ebruary 2 0, at B ethany H ome i n Minden. Private family services will be held at a later date in Burwell. Memorials in Joan’s honor are kindly s uggested t o t he f amily f or f uture designation. Craig Funeral Home in Minden is assisting the family.

A graveside memorial service for Darrel W. Steele Sr., 96, of Ainsworth will be held on Wednesday, February 18, at 1:30 p.m. in the Ainsworth Cemetery with Organizational Rites by Bethany Chapter #113 Order of the Eastern Star, Masonic Rites by Silver Cord Lodge #224 AF & AM, and M ilitary Rites b y A insworth A merican L egion P ost # 79. D arrel Steele Sr. passed away December 18, 2025, at the Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth. Survivors include wife Ruth Ann Steele of Ainsworth; son Darrel Steele Jr. of Ainsworth; daughter Ann Pfeiffer and significant other Daryl Sulzbach of Alliance, two grandchildren and three great grandchildren; along with other family members. Memorials m ay b e made t o t he B rown C ounty Historical S ociety, Ainsworth American L egion P ost # 79, o r t o S ilver C ord L odge # 224 AF & AM in Darrel’s name. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Shirley B. Anderson, 90, of Long Pine, formerly of Kearney, died February 10th, in Long P ine. S he w as l iving w ith h er d aughter and husband, Renee and Tracy Tucker. Funeral service was held February 16, followed by burial at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Axtell. Memorials are suggested to the Ainsworth Evangelical Free Church. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney is in charge of arrangements. Shirley Barbara Anderson was born in Estelline South Dakota on July 27th, 1 935, t o J ohn a nd Alta ( Parks) A ulner. She w as p receded i n death by her husband Conrad Anderson in 2014, grandson Jerrad Carranza in 2018, daughter Aletha Sands in 2025 and five of her six siblings. Shirley is survived by a brother Marvin Aulner, three of her four children Janell (Brad) Jorgensen, Keven (Sara) Anderson, and Renee (Tracy) Tucker, son-in-law Don Sands, 14 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Shirley Barbara Aulner/Anderson graduated from High School in Hastings and met her husband Conrad Anderson in early 1953 while working a t t he R ivoli Theater i n H astings. T hey w ere m arried o n August 2 1,1954 i n H astings a nd i n A ugust 1 959 C onrad g raduated from the Mary Lanning School of Nursing in Hastings. A fter one year of living in Broken Bow, they moved to Omaha. Conrad attended Creighton Memorial Hospital Anesthesia School and Shirley was the head of the Hematology department at Creighton Hospital. During this time, Shirley and Conrad had four children, Janell in 1955, Keven in 1956, Renee in 1958 and Aletha in 1959. Following Conrad’s schooling they lived in Schuyler until 1973 then Kearney, where Conrad worked with the Anesthesia group until 1993 finally retiring in Long Pine. There they had built a home on the land they had always dreamed of. Shirley and Conrad were excellent stewards of the land and cherished living there while they were able. Over the years Shirley and Conrad hosted many family a nd friends to their home. I t w as a place of peace and beauty, God’s country. Shirley and Conrad attended St. Peter Lutheran Church in Bassett while living in L ong Pine. S hirley w as a ctive in the c hurch a nd w ith the Brown County Legion serving as the secretary for a time. They both had a passion for antiques and started their own business, called “Shirley’s Lost A nd F ound” a nd t raveled t o m any a ntiques shows i n several states selling beautiful antique dishes and other items. This was more of a passion than a hobby for both of them. Shirley had many wonderful attributes. She was a hard worker and loving wife and mother. She was an excellent and talented cook and seamstress, making many dresses for her daughters when they were young. Shirley and Conrad had many friends and loved playing in bridge c lubs. S he w as v ery c ompetitive w hile playing c ards, b oard games, sudoku and puzzles. S he excelled at word games. Shirley and Conrad were both very giving and sacrificing, many times putting others’ needs and wishes before their own. Shirley was so loved by her family and friends and appreciated for the wonderful women that she was.

James Henry “Rudy” Rudnick, 75, of Grand Island, passed away on Friday, January 30.

Loretta Joy (Edwards) McGill was born on March 16, 1939, in Valentine, the first child of Robert and Leola (Case) Edwards. She grew up in Valentine and graduated from Valentine High School in 1957. Following high school, Joy entered the workforce in Valentine, where she worked at a local bank and later for Bell Telephone Company.

Roy Ellis A ppelt was born June 22, 1 945, in Ainsworth to Jack E. and Lois V.

Funeral service for Loretta Joy McGill, age 86, of Blair, formerly of Ainsworth, will be held on Saturday, January 31, at 11 a.m. at the Hoch Funeral Home in Ainsworth. Burial will follow in the Ainsworth Cemetery. Joy McGill passed away Sunday, January 25, at the Carter Place Senior Living in Blair.