Obituaries

April 6, 1949 ~ June 23, 2023

Melvin Earl Smith Jr., 74, of Harvard, passed away Friday June 23, 2023, at Bryan Medical Center East Campus in Lincoln, with his family by his side.

Melvin was born April 6, 1949, to Melvin Earl Sr. and Ava (Woodward) Smith in Aurora. Melvin went to Harvard Public Schools in 1969. He was drafted to the United States Marines in 1969. Before leaving to serve his country he married Anna Jean Rollins on Sept. 12, 1969. To this marriage, three children were born: Christy, Marilyn, and Bruce. Melvin was employed with George Brother’s of Sutton for 50 years. While employed there he worked as a truck driver and his last several years there he was a mechanic working on their trucks. George Brother’s was considered his home away from home. Memorial services were at 2 p.m., Thursday, June 29, at the Harvard United Methodist Church in Harvard, with Pastor Dorothy Aspegren officiating.

July 21, 1952 ~ June 24, 2023

Hastings resident Connie L. Haseloh, 70, passed away Saturday, June 24, 2023, at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings after a brief illness.

Private family memorial services will be held at Butler Volland Chapel in Hastings. No burial will be held at this time. Memorials may be given to Start Over Rover. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.

Connie was born July 21, 1952, in Hastings to Don and Marlene (Esterling) Haseloh. After graduating from Harvard High School in 1970, she went to Lincoln General School of Nursing and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

July 1, 1932 ~ June 13, 2023

August 14, 1942 ~ June 22, 2023

Sutton resident Donald Warren Hoffman, 80, passed away Thursday, June 22, 2023, at Legacy Square in Henderson.

March 29, 1955 ~ June 17, 2023

Oct. 23, 1944 ~ June 6, 2023

Eugene E. Liska, Jr., 78, passed away Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Legacy Square in Henderson.

March 24, 1949 ~ June 10, 2023

Sutton resident Grady Neil Dennis, 74, passed away June 10, 2023, at his home in Sutton.

Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Friday, June 16, 2023, at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton. Inurnment will follow at the Ong Cemetery in Ong, NE. No visitation or viewing–cremation.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later. Condolences may be left at www. suttonmemorial.com Grady Neil Dennis was born March 24, 1949, in Geneva to John and Carrie (Hansen) Dennis. He attended school at Edgar Elementary and Davenport High School. Grady was united in marriage to Sharon Speers on April 28, 1979, in Steinauer. This union was blessed with two children. Grady and Sharon divorced in 1997. Grady was a farmer for several years before later going to work at Hoffman Construction in Sutton, where he was employed until he retired.

July 3, 1935 ~ June 11, 2023

Beloved mother LaVon Joyce (Barnes) VonSpreckelsen, 87, formerly of Clay Center, passed away June 11, 2023, at The Heritage at College View in Hastings, NE. She resided there for five years following a stroke.

Jan. 9, 1936 ~ June 10, 2023

Clay Center resident Janene E. (Ockinga) Lovgren, 87, passed away Saturday, June 10, 2023, at her home in Clay Center.

May 20, 1947 ~ June 1, 2023

Shirly Jean ’Joni’ Johnson Knoell, 76, of Sutton, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Henderson Health Care with her loving family by her side. There will be a Celebration of Life Friday, June 9, at 5 p.m. at the Fox Hollow Golf Course in Sutton. Shirley’s wishes were to be cremated and her ashes to be spread so there will be no visitation. Memorials may be made to the family to designate at a later date.

Higby-McQuiston Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.