Obituaries

Shawn Lee Malone, age 41, of Ainsworth, passed away Monday, September 1, in the Black H ills o f South D akota. H e w as b orn November 1 4, 1 983, i n A insworth, t o C urtis Malone and Lonny (Malone) Evans.

Christopher G. Martin, 68 Christopher G.

Funeral Service for Christopher G. Martin, age 68, of Ainsworth, will be held on Thursday, September 4, at 10 a.m. at the St. Pius X Catholic Church in Ainsworth. Interment will follow in the Ainsworth Cemetery. Chris Martin passed away Thursday, August 28, a t F aith Regional Health Services in Norfolk. Survivors i nclude w ife M ary M artin o f A insworth; daughter H eather (Brian) H ollenbeck o f L ong P ine; s ons J eremy ( Amanda) M artin o f Goodland, Kan. and Cory Martin of Omaha; nine grandchildren; brothers Dick (Deb) Martin of Battle Creek and Tim (Colleen) Martin of L incoln; sisters-in-law P aula M artin o f M aryville, M o. A nd J acalyn Martin o f P ierce; a long w ith n ieces, n ephews a nd o ther f amily members Visitations for Chris Martin will be held on Wednesday, September 3, from 5 – 7 p .m. a t t he H och Funeral H ome i n A insworth w ith a Rosary/Prayer Service scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Visitations will continue Thursday from 9 a.m. until the time of service at 10 a.m. at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to the family in Chris’ name for a future designation. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Ardath Marie (Moore) Sydor was born February 3 , 1 937, i n A insworth, t o S helley Theodore Moore and Minnie Marguerette Moore (née West). She earned her bachelor’s degree in education and then a master’s degree in library science. Ardy l oved w orking w ith c hildren. S he liked to say, “Being around young people keeps you young.” In 1970 she married James “Jim” Sydor of Langley, British Columbia, where they enjoyed 41 years of marriage until Jim’s death in 2011. Ardy w orked i n the L angley S chool D istrict f or o ver 3 5 y ears a s a n elementary school teacher and a librarian. She passed away July 19, in Twin Falls, Idaho. A full obituary may be viewed at https://www.magicvalleyfuneralhome.com/obituar ies/ardath-sydor. Ardath i s r emembered w ith l ove a nd g ratitude b y h er f amily and friends. A graveside service was held at the Langley Lawn Cemetery on August 19, at 10 a.m. If you would like to make a donation in Ardath’s name in lieu of flowers, please donate to the Jesus Film Church Planting Strategy.

Joyce K. Nelson, age 79, passed away July 31 at the Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth. Joyce w as b orn t o M ilan a nd W ilda (Williamson) Nelson on May 9, 1946, in Ainsworth. She attended rural schools in Brown and Rock counties before starting 7th grade at Bassett Elementary School. The fall after g raduating f rom R ock C ounty H igh School with the class of 1964, Joyce married Marvin Hart of Ainsworth. They had one son, Lanny D ean H art, i n 1 966. A fter their divorce, Joyce and Lanny moved to Lincoln, followed by moves to Denver Colo., and Los Angeles, Calif. They returned to Nebraska for a few years before settling down in Phenix City, Ala. with her life partner, Ron McNally. After Ron's death in 2015, Joyce moved back to their hometown of Ainsworth. Joyce had a special love for horses and fond memories of growing up in the Sandhills helping her dad and brother care for the cattle on the ranch south of Bassett. Preceding her in death were her parents, Milan and Wilda Nelson; infant brother, Lyle; niece, Terisa Nelson; grandparents, Hallie (Cornett) Nelson, Vic and Vera Nelson, Rueben and Alma Williamson; her life partner, Ron McNally; and most recently her best canine companion, Max. Joyce is survived by her son, Lanny Hart of Foley, Ala.; brother, Harlan 'Roy' Nelson (Patty) of Ainsworth: sisters, Norma Horner (Phil) Hendersen, Nev., and Joanne Laine, Lawrence, Kan.; and nieces and nephews: Rod and Nathan Nelson, Amy, Jared and Mandy Sanger, John and Michele McNally, Kelly McNally-Cook and their families. A p rivate family g athering w as h eld Monday, A ugust 4 , a t t he Ainsworth Cemetery, per Joyce's request. The family kindly requests that any memorials be sent to Live-Love-Wag, 144 N. Maple, Ainsworth, N E 6 9210, t he local p et r escue, t hat took l oving c are o f Joyce’s b eloved M ax a fter s he m oved t o t he c are c enter in M arch o f 2023. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth assisted with arrangements and condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Denton James Weichman, age 78, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at St. F rancis H ospital i n G rand Island o n August 4. Denton was born on February 5, 1947, in Stuart to Frank and Grace (Kaup) Weichman, t he t hird o f f our siblings. H is early years were spent on the family farm and d riving t o t own f or s chool a nd practices. His steadfast beliefs of right and wrong were on display early in life when he refused a typing assignment that landed him in after school detention. This act of defiance did earn him the sympathy of another student, Ann, who delivered him cookies through the window. T hey were together ever since, married in 1970. A r ancher all h is l ife, D enton a lso w orked a s a h igh school s cience teacher and spent summers as a firefighter with the United States Forest Service. He had a keen eye for acting when the time was right and m oved i nto b anking i n t he 1 980s, m oving u p t o e ventually purchase First National Bank of Ainsworth with his wife. He proudly served Ainsworth for many years, both in his work and his community involvement, including serving on the school board, chamber of commerce, and North Central Development Center. He retired from banking, but never from ranching, working and tending to his properties that he loved. He spent his final years enjoying the athletic and academic prowess of h is g randchildren w hile l iving i n G rand I sland. D enton w as a n advocate f or a griculture a nd t he o utdoors, a s well a s a s elf-styled track coach for his children and grandchildren alike. He imparted valuable wisdom to all, and he worked hard to make life better for his family until his final day. Denton is survived by his wife Ann of Grand Island; siblings Karen MacClendon and husband, Travis, of Blountstown, Fla., brother, Leon Weichman and wife, Connie, and sister, Rochelle all of Stuart; mother-in-law, Jan Brayton of Stuart; children Molly Johnson and husband, Justin, and their children, Brayton, Connor, Grace and Willa of G rand I sland, d aughter, K atie Z ulkoski a nd h usband, W alker, a nd their children, Calvin and Leo of Lincoln, and son, Taylor Weichman of Bentonville, Ark.; along with nieces, nephews and other family members.

A Private Family Inurnment will be held in the Ainsworth Cemetery at a later date for Joyce K. Nelson, age 79, of Ainsworth. Joyce N elson p assed a way T hursday, July 3 1, a t the S andhills C are Center in Ainsworth.

Elmer Lawrence Schwager, 91, peacefully passed away on July 16, at the Rock County Hospital in Bassett. Elmer w as b orn i n Orchard t o A ugust and Christine (Leiding) Schwager on August 19, 1933, the youngest of seven living children.

Word has been received of the death of John M. Lamphier, age 64, of Ainsworth. H e p assed a way T hursday, J uly 2 4 2 025, a t t he B rown County Hospital in Ainsworth. Per his wishes, no services will be held. Survivors include significant other Tammy Huston of Ainsworth; daughters Lisa Lamphier and Margaret Lamphier of Massachusetts; son Christopher Huston of Ainsworth; one granddaughter and one great-granddaughter; brother James Lamphier of Maine; sisters Michele Lamphier and Edith (Paul) Binkley of Michigan; along with other family members. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.

Memorial Service for Elmer L. Schwager, age 91, of Springview, will be held on Saturday, August 2, at 10 a.m. at the Hoch Funeral Home in Ainsworth. Inurnment will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Springview with M ilitary H onors to b e c onducted b y the S pringview American Legion Post #98 and Ainsworth American Legion Post #79. Elmer Schwager passed away July 16, at the Rock County Hospital in Bassett. Survivors include daughters Judy Schwager of Springview and Joann Schwager of Valentine; adopted granddaughter Miah Wiebelhaus of Springview; sisters-in-law Nancy Harlan of Bassett and Violet Sullivan of E stacada, O re.; a long w ith n ieces, n ephews a nd o ther f amily members. A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, August 1, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a prayer service scheduled for 7 p.m. Those attending services are asked to please wear casual attire. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been suggested to the family in Elmer’s name for a future designation. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.hochfuneralhome.com.