Bertha Downing

Bertha “Bert” Maude Downing, age 73, a wife, mother, and cherished member of her community, passed away on Feb. 26, 2026, at Cherry County Hospital in Valentine, Nebraska.Born on Aug. 20, 1952, in Alliance, Nebraska, Bertha was the daughter of Ray and Leon Bassett.

Richard Macke

Richard Lee Macke passed away on Feb. 11, 2026, in his home surrounded by family.Richard Lee Macke was born on Aug. 21, 1949, to Edgar and Pauline (Boyer) Macke in Mullen, Nebraska. Known to most as Dick, he grew up in Mullen and graduated from Mullen Public Schools in 1967.

Randall Jacobs

Randall “Randy” Jacobs, 67, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away on Dec. 12, 2025, at the family farm in Chula, Missouri. He was born on May 12, 1958, to Deane and Rita (Sowder) Jacobs.Randy attended Meadville High School, where he graduated in 1976.

Gerald Ritenour

Gerald Paul Ritenour was born in the Sandhills of Nebraska in May 1939 along with his twin brother, Darrell, to Paul and Evelyn Ritenour.

Betty Brown

Betty Lou (Fletcher) Brown of Mullen, Nebraska, was born July 10, 1927, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Betty was called home by her maker on Nov. 28, 2025, at the Great Plains Medical Center in North Platte, Nebraska.

Lana Pearman

Lana Kay Pearman, 74, of Olathe, Kansas, passed away on Nov. 22, 2025.Lana was born May 4, 1951, in Broken Bow, Nebraska, the daughter of Olen Olson and Dorothy (Daily) Olson.Lana spent her early years in the Anselmo/Merna area until Olen’s death.

Wanda Hickman

Wanda Faye Edelman Hickman passed away Nov. 4, 2025, at Brookestone Gardens in Kearney, Nebraska.The daughter of Clifford and Dorothy McCawley Edelman, Wanda was born in Hyannis, Nebraska, Jan. 19, 1937.

Sandra Royle

Sandra L. Royle, 81, of Minden passed away on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. A private family service will be held at a later date.In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged at two of Sandra’s favorite organizations: Children’s Hospital in Omaha and the Humane Society.

Brayden Hulquist

Brayden Charles Hulquist, age 18, of North Platte, died Oct. 31, 2025, as a result of a motor vehicle accident. He was born on Aug. 11, 2007, in North Platte, Nebraska, to Brian and Eileen (Bourn) Hulquist.

Loren Elliott

Loren Dean Elliott, age 79, of Valentine, Nebraska, passed away on Oct. 25, 2025, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska.Loren was born on Aug. 2, 1946, in Thedford, Nebraska, to Harry and Tracy Elliott.