Obituaries

Bobbi J ean ( Lutz) C oleman, 6 5, o f B assett, passed away Monday, November 10, at Bryan Medical Center East in Lincoln. Bobbi was born on June 17, 1960, in Mitchell, S.D., to Thomas and Ruth (Beutner) Lutz. The family lived in White Lake, S.D., before moving and settling in Long Pine. Bobbi attended elementary school in L ong Pine a nd h igh s chool a t Rock C ounty High School, graduating with the class of 1978. After graduation, she attended college at South Dakota School of Mines. After returning to Nebraska, B obbi m et Bryan. That w as t he start o f a love s tory t hat would s pan over 4 6 years. She and Bryan were married in Bassett on J une 23, 1 979. T hey h ad f our c hildren: Kylie, B ryce, N ikki, a nd T yler. She w as a wonderful and devoted mother. She and Bryan started their family life, with Bryan working for Kirwan’s, and the family later settled on the family ranch east of Bassett, where they worked the ranch and raised their family. She would join Coleman Associates and Coleman Irrigation, working alongside her father-in-law, Bryce, as an insurance agent while balancing work on the ranch and raising kids. They would work together over many years until his passing, when she and Bryan then took over the agency. She continued working until her passing.

A M emorial S ervice w ill b e h eld i n N ebraska a t a later d ate f or Christina Lynne Cook age 50 of Anchorage, Alaska. Christy Cook passed away November 10 in Anchorage. Survivors include children Jessamyn Lorene Cook and Decker Rodney Cook of Anchorage; parents Keevin and Dottie Arent of Ainsworth; three step-children and one step-granddaughter; special friend Monte Mauch of Ainsworth; along with other family members. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth is assisting with arrangements and condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Raymond D . “ Jack” McAndrew, 9 0, o f E lkhorn, p assed a way o n November 16. He was preceded in death by wife Connie; parents Leota and “Scotchie'; brother Ross “Slim”; and sister Janice Wanser.

Mary Anna Anderson, 90, of Holdrege, died on Thursday, November 13, at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. She was born August 28, 1935, at McPherson, Kansas, the eldest of three children of Clarence J. and Myrtle ( Hawkinson) C arlson. S he w as baptized and confirmed at the New Gottland Church of McPherson, Kansas. She attended country grade schools in McPherson County and g raduated a s a n h onor s tudent f rom McPherson H igh S chool w ith t he class o f 1953. S he p ursued h igher e ducation a t t he Immanuel School of Nursing, Omaha, where she received her R.N. degree.

Funeral service for Vernon E. Van Epps, age 86, of Springview, was held on Tuesday, November 18, in the New Hope Community Church at Springview. Burial followed in the West Enterprise Cemetery near Springview. Vernon Van Epps passed away Thursday, November 13, at his home near Springview.

Gerald (Jerry) Francis Steinhauser was born on F ebruary 7 , 1 944, i n A tkinson, t o F rancis and Kathleen (Morgan) Steinhauser. He was later joined by brothers Kenny and Terry. Jerry grew up on the family homestead southeast of Stuart where he acquired his love of ranch and farm life. He graduated from Stuart H igh S chool i n 1962 w here he w as a n accomplished athlete. After spending a couple of months after graduation with some friends working in California, Jerry returned to Stuart where he lived for the rest of his life. He was a lifelong member of St. Boniface Catholic Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Mable 'Phyllis' (Olson) Slattery, 92, of Tacoma, Wash., passed away peacefully on October 14, surrounded by family. Born in Yankton, S.D., on July 11, 1933, Phyllis g rew u p i n S outh D akota and Nebraska.

Ira M. “Jim” DeWalt, Jr. was born to Dr. Ira M. DeWalt, S r. a nd D r. G race P . Wagner-DeWalt in Wisner, Nebraska. His first b reath o n earth w as d rawn o n O ctober 24, 1 928. H is first b reath of h eaven w as drawn on October 12, 2025.

Mary Lou Purvis Collins Sheets, 81, of North P latte, p assed a way O ctober 1 0 a t her home in North Platte. Mary, the daughter of Alfred and Bessie (McDaniel) Purvis, was born June 1, 1944, in Ainsworth.

Donna Lee (Schlueter) Marlatt was born in Ainsworth on December 7, 1935 to Lee Schlueter and Madonna (Saxton) Schlueter. She attended a rural elementary school south of Wood Lake, graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1953, and attended one year at Doane College before attaining her cosmetology license in 1954.