Obituaries - R

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Mrs. A. M. Ross

Submitter: Volunteer Source: Grand Island Independent Monday, April 12, 1920

Mrs. A. M. Ross passed away at the St. Francis hospital in this city at 7 o'clock Sunday morning after and illness of about three months, death resulting from heart failure. The deceased had been a resident of Hall county for about 30 years and was very well known. For a number of years the family has resided on a farm northwest of the Soldiers Home. She was 59 years of age. Besides the bereaved husband one daughter and six sons survive her. Definite arrangements have not as yet been made. The many friends of the family extend their condolence in their bereavement.

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Dora Rathman

Submitter: Volunteer Source: Grand Island Independent Thursday, May 18, 1989

Dora M. Rathman, 83, of rural Cairo died Saturday May 13th, 1989 at a local hospital. Services were Tuesday from the chapel of the Livingstion-Sondermann Funeral Home in Grand Island. The Rev. Lavern Larkowski officiated. Burial was in the Westlawn Cemetery. Memeorials are sugested to St. Pauls Lutheran Church or ST. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. Mrs. Rathman's grandparents were among the first settlers in Hall County. She was born July 2, 1905 on a farm sourth west of Grand Island to Ferdinand and Amelia Hessch Stoltenberg. She attended District 4 School. On September 15, 1925, she married Edward J. Rathman in Grand Island. The couple lived on a farm east of Cairo. Mr. Rathman died in 1971. Several years later, Mrs. Rathman moved to Grand Island then Wood River and most recently to the skilled nursing unit of St. Francis Memorial Health Center. She was a member of St. Pauls Luthran Church, the Platt-Duetsche Society and was a lifelong member of Happy Homemakers. Survivors include three sons, of Wood River and Grand Island; two daughters, of Ravenna and of Wood River; 22 grand children; one brother, of Grand Island; and two sisters of Grand Island and Phoenix. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Richard and Rudolph, and two sisters, Esther Niedfelt and Anna Hargens.

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Fred Rathman

Submitter: Jackie Little Source: Unknown Unknown Date

Fred W. Rathman, 89, of Grand Island died Friday, June 30, 1995, at St. Francis Medical Center. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. The Rev. Joel Schroeder will oficiate. Burial will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Livingstion-Sondermann Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Mr. Rathman was born Aug. 11, 1905, to Hans and Mary (Schuett) Rathman on the family farm near Cairo. He grew up in the rural Cairo area. As a teenager, he formed the Rathman Family Orchestra with his sisters. they entertained crowds in various area dance halls. He married Olga Stoltenberg on April 5, 1031, in York. Mr. Rathman started his own business as a painting contactor in 1941. He retired from the business in 1965. He was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church. He enjoyed traveling, and especially loved hunting and fishing. Survivors include his wife, of Grand Island and two sisters, of Grand Island and St. Paul, Minn. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Glenna and Evelyn, and one brother, Edward.

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Amanda Marie Runge

Submitter: Volunteer Source: Grand Island Independent February 20, 1998

ST. PAUL ‹ Amanda Marie Runge, 86, of Heritage Living Center at St. Paul, died Thursday, Feb. 19, 1998, at St. Francis Medical Center. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Kleine Funeral Home. The Rev. Joel Schroeder will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday with the family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested at the donor's choice. Mrs. Runge was born July 9, 1911, at rural Cairo to Fritz and Mary (Witt) Runge. She grew up and received her education at Cameron Dist. 14. After her schooling she lived and helped on the family farm while caring for her mother who died in 1950. She and her brother Elmer moved to a farm west of Grand Island in 1954. She retired in 1973 and moved to town. She was a member of the Lutheran faith. She liked farming, gardening and cooking and baking. Survivors include one son, Darold of Monte Vista, Colo.; two daughters, JoAnn (Mrs. Aaron) Jerabek of Farwell and Sandra (Mrs. Kenneth) Martin of Grand Island; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by four brothers and four sisters.

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Leona O. Rockford

Submitter: Volunteer Source: Grand Island Independent March 19, 1998

Leona O. Rockford, 92, of Grand Island died Tuesday, March 17, 1998, at St. Francis Skilled Care Unit. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the Gollaher Chapel of Trinity United Methodist Church. The Rev. George Wheat will officiate. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the O'Neill Cemetery with the Rev. Philip Morrison-Sloat officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday at Kleine Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the family. Mrs. Rockford was born on Aug. 1, 1905, at Pierce to Charles and Ida Mae (Harding) Gilman. She grew up in the Pierce and Norfolk area. She married William A. Rockford on Dec. 26, 1922, at Pierce. They lived in Pierce and then farmed at Brunswick before moving to Stuart and O'Neill. She moved to Grand Island in 1953. She worked as a baby sitter and as a cook in a restaurant. She was also a seamstress and made quilts. She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. She enjoyed bingo, dancing and canning foods. Survivors include seven sons, Dale of Livingston, Texas, Alfred of Michigan, Warren of Medesto, Calif., Merwin of El Cajon, Calif., Jim of Arizona and Robert and Chester, both of Grand Island; three daughters, Elsie Walton of O'Neill, Margie (Mrs. Ed) Gamel of Corning, Calif., and Alice "Sue" Middagh of Norfolk; 36 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and one brother, Frank Gilman of Fremont. She was preceded in death by her husband; two sons, William and Benny; three brothers, John, Jim and Bob; and four sisters, Pearl, Mable, Rosie and Lottie.

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Genevieve I. "Jeannie" Ritchie

Submitter: Volunteer Source: Grand Island Independent March 11, 1998

Genevieve I. "Jeannie" Ritchie, 83, of Grand Island died Monday, March 9, 1998, at St. Francis Memorial Health Center. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the First Christian Church. The Revs. Volney Lofgreen and Richard Bacon will officiate. Burial will be in the Grand Island City Cemetery. Private family visitation will be at Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church Scholarship Fund. Mrs. Ritchie was born on June 16, 1914, at Berwyn to Bert and Mabel (House) Kimball. She attended Spencer Park Grade School and graduated from Berwyn High School in 1931. She was an outstanding athlete in high school, winning numerous competitions in high jump, broad jump and running. She held state records for many years. She married Forrest A. Ritchie on Feb. 14, 1932, in Merna. The couple lived in Nebraska through most of their marriage and settled in Grand Island in 1945. Mr. Ritchie died in April 1975. Mrs. Ritchie was active in the First Christian Church. She taught Sunday school for many years and was active in CWF. Survivors include two daughters, Donna Jo Strever of Portland, Ore., and Sharon Kay Mullin of Los Angeles; four grandsons; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Claude Kimball of North Platte; and one sister, Dorothy Dobesh of Ogallala. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by three brothers.

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Mildred S. Robinson

Submitter: Volunteer Source: Grand Island Independent Thursday, December 4, 1997

COLUMBUS -- Mildred S. Robinson, 83, of Columbus, formerly of Belgrade, died Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1997, at Columbus Community Hospital. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Peace Lutheran Church near Belgrade. The Rev. Robert Reimer will officiate. Burial will be in Belgrade Main Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Palmer Funeral Home in Fullerton. Memorials are suggested to the family. Mrs. Robinson was born on Dec. 12, 1913, on a farm northwest of Belgrade in Boone County to Marshall and Mable Oakley. She graduated from Wolbach High School in 1932. She married Arnold W. Robinson on Jan. 29, 1935. They farmed in the Belgrade area for many years. She worked on the Nance County Election Board for many years. Mr. Robinson died on June 30, 1980. Mrs. Robinson moved to Columbus in January 1989. She was a member of Peace Lutheran Church and the Sunshine Club in Belgrade. Survivors include two sons, Harold of Columbus and Ronnie of Sheldon, Iowa; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one son, Eugene; five brothers and two sisters.

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Alex Reinhardt

Submitter: Volunteer Source: Grand Island Independent December 17, 1997

CAIRO - Rlex Reinhardt, 81, of Cairo died Saturday, Dec. 6, 1997, at Si. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday al the Cairo United Methodist Church with the Rev. Alan Davis officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Island-Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Apfel Funeral Home in Cairo. Memorials are suggested to the church or the senior center in Cairo. Mr. Reinhardt was bom Oct. 27, !916, in Lincoln to George and Mollie (Chkirmar) Reinhardl. He was educated in Lexington. He married Viola Leirman on Sept. 30, 1939, in Norton, Kan. They farmed in the Wood River and Cairo area until retiring in 1978, when they moved to Cairo. Mrs. Reinhardt died in August 1997. He was a member of the Cairo United Methodist Church, a golden member of die Eagles and a Platt-Duetsche member. Survivors include two sons, Jim of Grand Island and Jerry of Cairo; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two step-brothers, Ed Reinhardt of McMinnville, Ore., and Al Weil of Grand Island; two sisters, Mary Allan of Cairo and Freida Schneider of Cozad. He was preceded in death by his wife; one brother. George; one sister, Molly

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Arnold Rassmussen

Submitter: Volunteer Source: Grand Island Independent March 2, 1999

Arnold Rasmussen. 90, of Grand Island died Monday. March 1, 1999. at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Services will be at l0 am. Thursday at St. Leo's Catholic Church with the Rev. Jack Rademacher officiating. Burial will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m., with a rosary at 7 pm, Wednesday at the church. Apfel-Butler-Geddes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the family. Mr. Rasmussen was born on Jan. 3. I909, in Cairo to Charlie and Marie (Anderson) Rasmussen. He began farming during the Depression and then began electrical work for Southern Nebraska Rural Public Power District first as a superintendent and then as an assistant manager. He entered the US. Navy in 1942 and served in the 63rd Navy Construction Battalion during World War ll. After his discharge in I945, he returned to work at the power company. He married Barbara Maiefski-Peters on March 29. 1948.Upon retiring in 1974. afler 34 years with the power company, he worked as a painter and drove the school bus to Stuhr Museum. He volunteered at the museum and in the classroom. He also worked as a guard at Fonner Park and worked part time for 15 years at W.F. Dodge. where he reported current commercial and residential construction in the Grand Island and Hall County area. Mr. Rasmussen was a charter member of St. Leo's Catholic Church, a 14-year member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 1 1, a past member of the sheriff‘s posse and a member and past board member of the LiederkranL He also was a member of Elks Lodge 604. the Plan-Duetsche. the American Legion and AARP. He enjoyed hunting. fishing. bowling and playing cards. Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Becky Rasmussen-Markwell of Salem Ore; one stepson. John "Jack" Peters of Grand Island; one stepdaughter, Bonnie-Lou Scott of Williamsburg, Va; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one sister. Ann Sena Siefert of Yuma. Colo. Mr. Rasmussen was preceded in death by two brothers, Peter and Ed.

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S. Grace Rombach

Submitter: Volunteer Source: Grand Island Independent December 22, 1997

S. Grace Rombach. 91, of Park Place Nursing Center in Grand Island died Saturday, Dec. 20, 1997, at the nursing center. Services will be at 10 am. Tuesday at St. Mary's Cathedral. Visitation will be from 4 to 9 pm. Monday at the Livingston-Sondennann Funeral Home with a 7:30 pm. rosary. The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 pm. at the funeral home Monday. Memorials are suggested to the St. Mary's Restoration Fund or the family's choice. Mrs. Rombach was born on May 6, 1906, at Rogers, Ark. to Robert G. and Minnie (Ashbranner) Martin. She moved with her family to a farm at Haskell. Okla, when she was a child. She was educated in mral schools at Haskell. She man'ied Louis R. Rombach on Oct. 30, 1928, at Haskell. In the spring of 1929, they moved to Grand Island. She assisted her husband in their trucking business until their retirement. Her husband died April 10, I985. In 1988, she moved to her daughter's home until June 1995, when she moved to Park Place Nursing Center. She was a member of the church. She enjoyed fishing. crocheting, knitting. crossword puules and watching television.Survivors include her daughter. Betty (Mrs. Dick) Iolkowski of Grand Island; her son, Paul of Ogallala; 18 grandchildren; 63 great-grandchildren; three step- grandchildren; nine great great-grandchildren; and a sister, Lorena McMahon of Tulsa, Okla.

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