All Obituaries

Lynne Winona Bland, 77, formerly of Virginia passed away surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, April 16, 2026, in Table Rock, Nebraska. Arrangements are pending. Condolences can be shared online at www.wherrymortuary.com Services entrusted to Wherry Mortuary-207 Nemaha Street-Humboldt, Nebraska 68376 (402) 862-2915

Werner Koekemoer, 24, formerly of South Africa, passed away unexpectedly on April 15, 2026.  He was born February 14, 2002 in his family home to Sean and Alida Koekemoer. He was very grateful to grow up in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, and later moved into the city of Pretoria, South Africa with his family, before going overseas to work in Utah for 3 years, and most recently finding his way to Nebraska. His greatest school accomplishment was getting to represent his town, his country, ...

Anna Mae (Friedly) Davis of Pawnee City, Nebraska passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2026 at the age of 93 at Colonial Acres in Humboldt, Nebraska. Anna Mae was born in Pawnee City on January 1,1933 to Arthur and Hallye (Thiemann) Friedly. Anna Mae attended North Star country school until 8th grade and graduated from Pawnee City High School in 1950.  When we as kids would complain about walking to school in adverse weather she would look at us and say “we had to walk up hill and ...

Ronald August Rathe was the oldest of five sons born to Orvin and Frieda (Ehmen) Rathe on April 7, 1947 in Norfolk, Nebraska.  He lived with his family in Madison, NE before moving to Sterling in 1955.  He was baptized April 27, 1947 and began his Christian education at Madison Lutheran School through the fourth grade.  After moving to Sterling, Ron attended rural country school until it closed when he was in the 7th grade, and then went to Sterling Public Schools where he ...

Doris Oenbring, 63, passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2026 at the Pawnee City Assisted Living in Pawnee City, Nebraska. She was born in Pawnee City, Nebraska on December 15, 1962 to Vernuss and Gwendolyn (Burger) Oenbring. She was preceded in death by her parents, Vernuss and Gwendolyn Oenbring, sister Gayle and brother Roy Oenbring. She is survived by her son Franklyn Rist of Humboldt, Nebraska, grandchildren, Miranda Rist, Carsyn Rist, McKaley Rist, sisters, Betty Korber of Pawnee City, ...

Mildred “Millie” Altha (Ashman) Troxel Millie passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at her home with her family by her side. She was born on December 4, 1937 in Burwell, Nebraska to Archie Ashman and Gladyce Nightingale Ashman.  Millie is the eldest of seven children.  Millie spent her younger years living with her parents and grandparents, Roy and Emma Nightingale on a farm near Burwell.  For the first five years of her life, she enjoyed riding horses ...

Imogene Reid (Williamson) Gridley-Frank, 99, of Humboldt, Nebraska was born on August 9, 1926, in Humboldt Nebraska to Clement L. “Shorty” and Ona B. (Reid) Williamson. Imogene attended school in Humboldt through the 5th grade, then moved to Norfolk and various other towns for 4-5 years, then returned to Humboldt where she graduated in 1945. Imogene married Robert Gridley in January of 1946 and together they had 3 sons, Dennis, Scott, and Gary. Imogene and Bob attended ...

Sam Demosthenes Ellis Jr. was born November 10, 1954, to Sam Demosthenes Ellis and Alva Mae (Enfield) Ellis, in Denver, Colorado.  Sam’s parents ran multiple restaurants, and Sam grew up working in the culinary world. He attended George Washington High School in Denver and then joined the United States Marines in 1974. He served active duty from 1974 to 1979 and continued his commitment to our country in the U.S. Marine National Guard until 1981. Sam always said he joined the ...

Betty June (McKinsey) Spitser, 94, of Pawnee City, Nebraska, passed away peacefully in Anacortes, Washington on March 23, 2026.  She was born June 24, 1931, in Verdon NE and was the fifth of eight children born to G.W. and Hazel (Goolsby) McKinsey.  After graduating from high school at age 16, she attended Peru State College. Upon receiving her teaching certificate, Betty taught at a local rural school until her marriage to Clifford Spitser on May 20, 1951.  Betty and Cliff ...

Mary Anna Patricia (Kochis) Pella - July 23,1949-  March 20, 2026 Mary Anna Pella was born to Stephen J. and Mary Anna Kochis in Newark, New Jersey. In 1953 the family moved to Wilder, Idaho. She attended Roswell Elementary to sixth grade then Parma Junior High, High School where she graduated in 1967. She worked at Moscow University Experiment Station from July –December 1967. April 1968 she worked at Firth Corporation (Wood mill) as a grader and assembler. From here she ...