Homer D. “Ike” Empfield, 77, of Stapleton, passed away March 30, 2017, at Great Plains Health with his wife and two children at his side.Ike was born on Dec. 16, 1939, in Stapleton to Homer G.

Gary Leon Kemp, age 68 of Maywood, passed away Wednesday March 29, 2017 at the Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, CO, surround by his children and Jean, his wife of 44 years. Gary was born on March 31, 1948 in Sutherland, NE to Emerson L. and Lucille (Fuller) Kemp.

Billye McGooden Johnson passed away on March 20, 2017, at Brookstone View in Broken Bow, Nebraska.  She was 93.She was born March 16, 1924, in Benkelman, Nebraska, to Boone and Etta Hester, the third of four daughters. She graduated from high school in Benkelman, Nebraska. She married M.G.

Francesmary “Mary” (Harmer) Portz,  age 94 of North Platte, passed away  Wednesday March 8, 2017 at her ranch  home.  Mary was born on July 15, 1922 in  North Platte to Norman J. “Doc” and  Josephine (Hood) Harmer.

Robert Franklin Kramer,  age 85 of Stapleton,  passed away Tuesday  March 7, 2017 in Lincoln.  Robert was born on September  21, 1931 in rural  Logan County near Stapleton,  to Franklin J. and  Ethel T.

Esther Marie Dobbins,  96 of Stapleton, passed  away February 25, 2017,  at her home.  Esther was born February  2, 1921 to Abraham  “Earl” and Maude (Arritt)  Gallington on the family  homestead north of  Arnold, NE.  Esther completed her elementary  education in a  country school north of  Arnold.