Obituaries

Herbert Charles Kenyon was born on February 15, 1931, in Spokane, WA, to Guy and Edna (Decker) Kenyon. He joined sisters Anita and Anola, and later the family grew with the birth of brothers Douglas and Rodney. When Herbert was age three, the family returned to the family farm north of Johnstown, NE. As the eldest son, Herbert learned farming from his father, continuing to work on the family farm while his father sought work at other farms to help support the family. He graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1948 and soon met a beautiful young lady named Ruth Shaw at church, and they fell in love. In 1951, he enlisted in the US Air Force, and they continued their courtship by way of cards and letters. Herbert was discharged from the service in December 1955, and he married Ruth the following summer on June 29, 1956.

Funeral Services for Walter W. Larson, age 67, of Springview, NE will be held on Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at the New Hope Community Church in Springview. Burial will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery at Springview. Those attending services are asked to please wear casual attire.

Word has been received of the death of Merrill D. Strate, age 85, of Ainsworth, NE.

Lonnie Gene Schnakenberg, originally from Deshler, NE, was born on December 24, 1959 and passed from this life on January 4, 2023 in Tucson, AZ. Lonnie’s wife, Shirley Schenk Schnakenberg resides in Oro Valley, AZ.

Eleanor F. (Hartmann) Schipporeit was born at home on March 2, 1930 near Corunna, IN to Hilda A. (Ziebell) and Walter H. Hartmann. Because her father was a Lutheran pastor, Eleanor’s family lived in a number of different towns in Indiana and Illinois during her school years. When World War II broke out, Eleanor’s father joined the United States Army and served as a chaplain. During this time the family moved again, ending up in Fort Wayne, IN, where Eleanor graduated from high school in 1947. Shortly after that, Eleanor moved with her family to Ainsworth, NE, where her father had accepted a call to Zion Lutheran Church. Here, Eleanor met Ralph Schipporeit, and on August 20, 1950, they were united in marriage. Ralph and Eleanor raised four children. Over her lifetime, Eleanor worked in the Ainsworth Bakery, was a farm wife and mother, sang in the Zion Lutheran Church Choir, served in various ways as part of the Ladies Aid and LWML at the church, worked as a school cook at Ainsworth Community Schools, volunteered at the Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop, and greatly enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Raymond Eugene “Ray” Harp, 70, of Grand Island, NE, passed away Sunday, January 8, 2023. A Memorial service and celebration of Raymond’s life was held on Saturday, January 14th at All Faiths Funeral Home.

Jacqueline Anderson Bokelman, November 20, 1940 - November 24, 2022. Service will be held at First Lutheran Church, 1515 N.

Larry Joseph Ries passed away on January 9, 2023 at his home. Funeral services were held on January 14th in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Atkinson, NE. Burial was in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Atkinson. Larry was born July 15, 1951 to George and Gladys Ries in Atkinson. He attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School where he graduated in 1969.

Billy Dean “Bill” Phillipps, 72, of Burwell, NE died January 8, 2023 at the Valley County Health Systems Hospital in Ord, NE. Bill was born September 9, 1950 in Burwell, NE to Dale and Elizabeth Belle (Hiser) Phillipps.

Word has been received of the death of Steven D. Carroll age 65 of Long Pine, NE. Steven Carroll passed away Friday, January 13, 2023 at his residence in Long Pine. Per his wishes, no services will be held.