Obituaries

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, at the Hoch Funeral Home in Ainsworth for Roy Ellis Appelt, age 80, of Springview. Those attending are asked to please wear casual attire. Inurnment will be held at a later date in the Mt. Hope Cemetery at Springview. Roy Appelt passed away Thursday, January 15, at the Good Samaritan Society in Atkinson. Survivors include sister Sharon Appelt of Atkinson; sister-in-law Ann Appelt of Ainsworth; nieces, nephews and other family members. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to the Meadville Cultural and Historical Society in Roy’s name. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Donald Dewey Davison, 86, of Ainsworth, passed away on January 9 at the Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth at the age of 86 years, five months and 13 days. Don was born July 27, 1939, to John and Nellie (Strand) D avison i n A insworth. H e and h is older sister, Janice, grew up on the family ranch south of town. He graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1957 before attending college at the University of Nebraska and later enlisted in the Army. Don was discharged f rom the m ilitary t o h elp o n t he f amily r anch a fter t he death of his father. On November 22, 1964, Don married his wife of 42 years, Mary Beth Bailey, in the Congregational Church at Ainsworth. To this union two children were born, Michael and Julie. For many years Don farmed north of Ainsworth. As he neared retirement, Don enjoyed traveling to Australia, New Zealand, and Jamaica. Later in life, Don married Sharon (Haszard) Swett, on September 27, 2017, at the family farm north of Ainsworth. They spent five years together until Sharon’s passing. Don was k nown f or h is q uick w it a nd d iverse k nowledge f rom a lifetime of being an avid reader. His family remembers his kindness, generosity, love and devotion. The hand-made fishing flies, fishing rods, a nd g olf c lubs D on m ade a re c herished m ementos b y f amily members he gifted them. Don was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Beth who passed away in 2006, his wife Sharon, who passed away in 2023, and sister, Janice Pennington, w ho passed a way i n 2 016. H e i s s urvived b y his son, Mike Davison of Orlando, Fla.; his daughter, Julie Davison and husband, Dennis Ferris of Milwaukie, Ore.; three grandchildren, Kelsey Lane of McMinnville, Ore., Kyle Lane and wife, Taylor of Lincoln, and Casey Ferris of Milwaukie, Ore.; with special mention of nephew, Stan Pennington and niece, Meg Mara; in addition to other nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members. A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 10, at 11 a.m. in the Burton Assembly of God Church for Maxine A. Schoettger, age 89, of Springview and Ainsworth. Inurnment will be held at a later date in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Springview. Maxine passed away Monday, December 29, at the Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth. Survivors include husband Kevin of Springview/Cottonwood Villa, Ainsworth; three children Connie (Chuck) Higginson of Crete, Rodney (Darla) Schoettger of Springview, and David (Dawn) Schoettger of Kearney; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; sisters Judy (Jim) Lerdahl of Lincoln and Carol (Willie) Lawrence of Sparks; along with nieces, nephews and other family members. Memorials have been suggested to the family in Maxine’s name for future designation. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth is in charge of arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Word has been received of the death of Michael Irving Kelley, age 77, of Ainsworth. Michael Kelley passed away Saturday, January 3, at his home in Ainsworth. Per his wishes, no services will be held. Survivors include wife Connie Kelley of Ainsworth; children Michael Kelley Jr. of Sacramento, Calif., and Michelle (Martin) Arellano of Council Bluffs, Iowa; 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; step-children Levi Lucht, Zachary Gillis, Christopher Gillis, Cheyenne Gillis and Kasandra Gilbert, all of Ainsworth; eight step-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and other family members. Memorials may be made to the family in Michael’s name. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth is assisting with arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Freddie 'Cook' D. Lentz entered into the arms of our Heavenly Father on Dec. 26, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents Elmer and Viola Lentz, and his daughter Caroline Carritt (Kevin). He i s s urvived by his wife of 65 y ears, Lois; s on Tim (Charyl); grandchildren Timmy, Madison, Caleb, Parker all of Lincoln; and Kyle and Jeff in Omaha. He graduated from Long Pine High School in Long Pine and served four years in the US Air Force. Later, he earned his bachelor's degree in engineering technology from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He was employed with the Nebraska Dept. of Roads for 50+ years in a variety of positions and was a Plan Reviewer/Engineer since mid-1970s, before retiring at 78 years old. Cook and Lois exemplified a dedicated commitment to marriage and family. Cook was known for his patience, strong work ethic and sense of humor. T o h is c hildren/grandchildren, h e w as not o nly a h ero b ut the best dad/grandpa, a steady guiding presence, whose legacy of kindness and d evotion w ill b e c herished f orever. A b urial w ill b e h eld o n Saturday, January 10, at 11:30 a.m. in the Grandview Cemetery in Long Pine. Lunch will follow at the Sandhills Lounge in Long Pine.

Ila Mae Blake was born May 30, 1943, in Ainsworth, and passed away December 15 at her home in Rock County at the age of 82 years, six months and 15 days. She and her brother, Arlo, spent their childhood in southern Rock County with their parents, Austin and Naomi (Sokol) Sybrant. Ila Mae attended elementary school at Sybrant School District 77, which was the same school her dad had attended, and later, her children would attend. She attended and graduated from Rock County High School. Ila Mae married Archie Blake in 1962. During the Berlin Crisis, Archie was recalled into military service, they made their first home in Louisiana and later Corpus Christi, Texas, where he was stationed.

Christina L. Cook, 50 Christina Lynne Arent was born on September 30, 1975, to Keevin and Dottie (Pojar) Arent at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth

Memorial services will be held at a later date for Darrel W. Steele Sr., age 96, of Ainsworth. Darrel Steele Sr. passed away Friday, December 18, 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 two great-grandchildren; brother Dale Steele of Pierce; along with other family members. Memorials m ay b e made t o t he B rown C ounty Historical S ociety, Ainsworth American Legion Post #79 or to Silver Cord Lodge #224 AF and 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.

Judith Lee (Farber) Boerger, 85, passed away on December 15, 2025, in Grand Island surrounded by her family. Services were held Monday, December 22, at St. Pauls Lutheran Church in Grand Island. Pastor Bill P avuk o fficiated. A b urial followed a t t he Duff Cemetery. Condolences can be left at www.giallfaiths.com. Memorials a re s uggested t o S t. P aul’s L utheran Church of Grand Island or the Duff Cemetery. Judy w as b orn, O ctober 2 4, 1 940, t o J ohn V irgil Farber, J R, a nd Verna Mary ( Bratthauer) F arber i n A insworth. J udy was the oldest daughter of John and Verna. Five years later, her sister Marie Jeanette (Farber) Dodd joined their family. Judy attended school in Ainsworth from elementary through high school. Judy graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1958 with very close classmates. To this date, the Class of 1958 girlfriends continue to send a “Round Robin” letter to stay in touch with one another. After high school, Judy resided in Omaha and was a secretary to a trucking company. Her life changed when she was back home in the Sandhills and attended a dance in Valentine, where she met the love of her life Ben Boerger. Ben & Judy were married on July 12, 1959, at the United Methodist C hurch in A insworth. T hey p roudly s hared 6 1 y ears o f marriage prior to Ben’s passing. They made their home in Rose on a family ranch that was homesteaded by Ben Boerger’s grandparents from Germany in 1885. They were blessed with two daughters, Lori and Carole. J udy was filled with love for her husband and two girls. Together t hey t aught t heir g irls c ompassion a nd t he v alue o f h ard work ethics on the ranch. The Boerger family was proud recepients of the Nebraska Pioneer Farm Award in 1995, honoring the ranch's 100-year heritage. Judy w as a lways t he f irst p erson t o b ring a h omemade m eal t o someone in need or want to share her cooking and baking talents. The vegetable gardens Judy raised and canned goods she preserved were truly a mazing. H er b aking a bilities began a t a y oung age w hen s he worked at the Ainsworth Bakery that her parents owned. They were famous for their made-from-scratch pastries, especially the “Chubbie Roll” which Judy’s father John mastered. In 1996, Ben and Judy retired from ranching and moved to Grand Island to make their home. Together Ben and Judy enjoyed their church f amily a t S t. Paul L utheran C hurch a nd after s ervices y ou would find their group going for brunch. They were blessed to spend 23 winters in South Padre Island, Texas, where they made life long friends. T he “ Chapel b y t he Sea” i n S outh P adre w as d ear t o t heir hearts. Ben and Judy enjoyed traveling to many countries throughout the years, creating many memories to enjoy. Their five grandchildren brought them pure joy. They delighted seeing them grow into the professional adults they are today. They were blessed with four greatgrandchildren to love on and treasure! Judy believed in giving and serving in her community until her health began to fail. J udy s erved a s 4 -H L eader f or R ose S couts, h eld a ll officer positions in the Jolly Neighbors Extension Club, a member of the KBR Extension Council Board, Rock County Extension Council Chairman, Rock County High School Advisory Board Member, Charter Member and President of Sandhills Quilt Guild, collaborative writer of the R ock C ounty C entennial B ook a nd member o f S t. P aul L utheran Church of Grand Island. When asked her greatest accomplishment of these, her reply was composing the Rock County Centennial Book with her friends Susan Buell and Geneva Davis because of all of the information they gathered and compiled. Judy was an articulate gardener, famous holiday sugar cookie maker, afghan knitter, accomplished seamstress, a quilt maker, china painter, South Padre Snow Bird, and amazing listener, and a genuine caring and kind hearted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She was known for her advice of “Put your faith in God and He will work it out”. Judy i s s urvived by h er d aughters, Lori ( Rod) Stolcpart o f Newport and Carole (Brian) Urbom of Grand Island; five grandchildren, Brad (Tara) S tolcpart o f K earney, J enna ( Ryan) Pickel o f J ohnson L ake, Michaela (Chayse) Gulzow of Doniphan, Allison (Ryan) Roach of Allen, Texas, and Andrew Urbom of Grand Island; four great-grandchildren, Brynlee and M arley S tolcpart, E mma P ickel and B arron G ulzow; a sister, Marie Dodd of Ainsworth; sister-in-law, Lois Nydle of Grand Island; nieces and nephews; a very special caregiver, Kathy Thompson; and a host of friends. She is preceded in death by her husband Ben L. Boerger; her parents John and Verna Farber; her father and mother-in-law Herman and Eunice Boerger; and brother- in-law Fred Nydle.