Obituaries

Thomas Victor Hoffmann of Nenzel, NE passed away Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at his home in Nenzel. He was born February 18, 1936, to Victor Leo Hoffmann and Frances Joan (Pfisterer) Hoffmann at the Hoffmann Ranch during the bad winter of 1936.

Luree Lien, 96, passed away January 29, 2025, at Maples Centennial, North Platte, NE. Inez Luree Linabery was born to Mervin R.

David Ray Leonard was born October 26, 1962, in Bassett, NE to Joe Ross Leonard and Elsie Judith Gipson Leonard. He was the last of three children, arriving after his sister LeAnn and his brother Joe. Throughout his childhood Dave was active in 4-H and FFA and enjoyed hunting, rodeo, and fishing. In 1981, he graduated from Rock County High School and later attended Chadron State College to major in Rodeo. After college, Dave was a hunting guide in the Rocky Mountains. Dave saw great success in rodeo and was proud to be the Mid States Rookie of the Year as a Team Roping Header in 1982.

Donald Jay Wiley was born April 23, 1943 to Edward and Emma Wiley in Pilger, NE. While still young, the family moved to rural Missouri. Don was the second to youngest of eight siblings and along with his father, Edward, was the only one in the family not affected by polio. What Don’s family lacked in money, they made up for in fun and resourcefulness. Anyone that had the pleasure of hearing Don tell stories from growing up will never forget them. His story of chopping down a tree with his brother Larry waiting in the top, we will never forget the laughter.

Anthony David ‘Tony’ Eklund was born to Bernard Albert ‘Bernie’ and Vicky Lynn (Regan) Eklund October 24, 1972, at the Baptist Hospital of Winner, SD. Dr. Stiehl delivered the nine pound seven ounce boy. He told the parents to get that boy on mashed potatoes when he got home.

Linda (Murray) Quick, age 72 of Crookston, NE, passed away peacefully at her home January 9, 2025. Linda was born in Ainsworth April 19, 1952, to Joe and Arlene (Brown) Murray.

Venetta F. (Colle) Arganbright passed away at the age of 100 December 23, 2024 at home in Valentine. She was born January 20, 1924 on the family farm near Sterling, KS, to Tony and Mable Colle. She was the fourth child in a family of four boys and three girls. She attended a little country school through the eighth grade and some days would share riding the horse to school with her siblings. She attended Lyons High School in Lyons, KS, and graduated in 1942.

Margaret Marie (Mathiesen) Brinda of Valentine, NE passed away in the Cherry County Hospital in Valentine January 8, 2025, after a short illness and complications of dementia. Margaret was born June 17, 1947, in Valentine to Harvey and Ruby (Turner)Mathiesen.

Charlotte Patricia Phelps (Pat to her friends and family), was born in Ainsworth, NE August 5, 1927, to Charlotte Belle and Orville Alfred Ralston. She was the youngest of three siblings, following Janet Muriel and Robert Orville. The family moved to Valentine in 1937, where Pat met her grade school classmate Gilbert Phelps, who promised himself that someday he would marry the charming new girl in the bonnet.

Julie “Jules” Ann Parks, 65, of Emporia, died December 18, 2024, at Research Medical Center, Kansas City, MO. She was born September 12, 1959, in Mullen, NE, to Myron and Delores “Dee” (Elliott) Barnes.