Kim Andrea (Shedeed) Ford, 58, of Omaha, Neb. passed away on Friday, March 22, 2024 following a long battle with Pancreatic cancer. Kim was born on May 16, 1965 to Fred and Lois (Connell) Shedeed in Gordon, Nebraska. She attended Gordon Elementary School then Gordon High School. Kim spent many years in the insurance industry and was a great asset to each of the agencies she worked with throughout their many moves in the military. Kim graduated from St. Martin’s University in Lacey, WA with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

Jack Gottier passed away peacefully on April 6, 2024 in Rapid City, S.D. with his daughters by his side. He was born on January 30, 1950 in Rushville, Nebraska to Marie and Ernest Gottier. He was a lifelong resident of Rushville and a graduate of Rushville High School. After graduating he entered the Navy and was stationed in Naples, Italy from 1969-1972. He was married to Eileen (Loosvelt) Gottier for many years. He is survived by his daughters Natosha Gottier and Niki Lee, granddaughters Soryn and Bryar Lee, sister Judy (Ron) Bruns, Kathy (Jack) Fisher, and brother Bill (Jean) Gottier as well as many nieces and nephews.

On March 16, 2024, William Fred Paul transitioned from living legend to leaving a legacy of truth, justice, compassion, and love to every life he touched. His heart ultimately failed him after 78 vibrant years of never failing anyone else. There was simply no one else like Bill. He commanded respect without ever demanding it. He gave his all to his every pursuit, never holding anything back. He was competitive without ever taking any victory seriously or loss personally. His gruff, stoic demeanor and physically imposing presence belied the wry smile and mischievous glimmer in his eyes that reflected his boyish, gleeful, lion cub of a heart. He was equally content by himself, with his beloved Bev, or amongst the many groups he was always a welcome member of. Nobody bridged socioeconomic and political divides like Bill did, a testament to the fusion of his smalltime hard knocks farm upbringing and the unquenchable intellectual passion he brought to the study of his far-ranging interests. He had a well-earned and well-known reputation for treating rules as merely suggestions. That said, he had no patience when it came to unfairness, injustice, cruelty, laziness, nonsense, or voluntary stupidity. He couldn’t tolerate intolerance.

Linda Joyce Ford left this earthly world on March 20, 2024 surrounded by her family in Cody, Nebraska. Two spine surgeries, a heart attack and triple bypass surgery, uterine, colon, nor breast cancer could knock her down, but two tumors in her pancreas won the hard fought battle. Linda was the eldest of 8 children born to James and Mildred Weisbeck of rural Bennett County on November 30, 1942. Her first 4 years were spent being spoiled by her beloved grandpa Fay...then came along Jim, then Jerry, John, Robert, Mary, Frank and Roxanne and life was never the same. Ha Linda attended school in Martin until she left in her junior year after a heated debate with a “less than knowledgeable idiot teacher.” It was the principle of the matter she said and never regretted it. She enjoyed meeting many inspiring people including Robert Kennedy, Joe Lewis and Meadowlark Lemon.

Justin Young, MD Chris LaRose, PA-C Krystal Rodgers NP-C Forrest Lee Eberly, 80, of Cody Nebraska went home to Jesus on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Forrest (Woody) was born July 15,1943 in Mullen to Forrest Fremont Eberly and Leona (Sieck) Eberly.

June DeVere Leider, 94, of Mitchell, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at the Mitchell Care Center. Her funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Methodist Church in Mitchell, Nebraska, with Pastor Craig Collins officiating. Interment will follow at the Mitchell City Cemetery. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. at the Mitchell Methodist Church. It is respectfully requested that in lieu of any flowers, memorials in June’s honor be made in care of the Mitchell Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made by viewing June’s memorial page at www.jones-mortuary.com. Jones Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements.

Edwin (Mister Ed) Lee Darnell, 80, of Lakin, Kansas passed away Saturday March 23, 2024, at his home in Lakin, Kansas. Ed was born April 19, 1943, to Walter Earl Sr. and Lyda Mae (McClaskey) Darnell in La Animas, Colorado. Ed grew up and attended school in Las Animas. Ed was 2 days shy of his 21st birthday when he married the love of his life Thelma Louise Miller on April 21, 1963. He had his older brother sign for him to marry. They made their home in Holly, Colorado and eventually made their home in Kansas.

Sharon K. (Trucano) Sabala, age 83 of Kearney, passed away on Saturday, March 23, 2024 at the Kearney Regional Medical Center. Funeral services will be on Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney. Pastor Ryan Findley will officiate and burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Axtell, Neb. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to services on Thursday.

James Tom O’Rourke, 81, died unexpectedly in Chadron, Neb., March 5, 2024. Jim was born to Joseph and Jean (Moeller) O’Rourke on November 16, 1942, in Alameda, California. From California the family moved to Fort Collins, Colorado where his father Joe finished his forestry degree and was employed as a District Ranger, U.S. Forest Service, residing at Stub Creek Ranger Station. At age nine, Jim and family moved to Bayfield, Colorado, residing there for four years. At the beginning of eight grade, the family moved to Buffalo, Wyoming where Jim graduated from high school in 1961. During the time in Buffalo, the family resided at Hunter Ranger Station from where Jim explored the Bighorn Mountains in depth, accompanying his father on his forest and range work, developing his interest and love of range work, and emulating his father’s work.

Sam Meller, 74, of Gordon, Nebraska, died Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at Gordon Memorial Hospital. Sam was born September 7, 1949, in Perryton, Texas. His parents, sister Bev and brother Andy moved to Nebraska when Sam was a young boy.