Harold H. Firme

Harold H. Firme, 84, of Haxtun, Colo., passed away July 12, 2009, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born July 8, 1925, to Herbert and Rena (Huxtable) Firme in Hastings, Neb. He attended school in Sutton, Neb., and went to Hastings Business College.

On March 18, 1945, Harold married Geraldine Ham in Saronville, Neb. The couple first made their home on a farm in Clay Center, Neb. In February 1947, they moved to a farm north of Paoli, Colo.

Harold and Gerry were blessed with three sons: Dennis, Steven and Randall, all of Haxtun.

Harold enjoyed a lifelong love of farming and feeding cattle in Nebraska and Colorado. He very much enjoyed being able to work with his sons. When he and Gerry moved to Haxtun in 1983, Harold remained active in the farming and cattle feeding businesses for many years.

Harold enjoyed camping, fishing and traveling with family and friends. He loved showing his 1936 Ford Tudor at Haxtun's Old Fashion Saturday Night.

Harold was an active member of the Haxtun United Methodist Church, as well as a charter member of the Haxtun Lion's Club. He and Gerry also were active Boosters of the Haxtun Bulldogs and the community; traveling to various sports events for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Geraldine; sons, Dennis and wife Elenna, Steven and wife Kristie, Randall and wife Lynda; all of Haxtun, Colo., Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren: Lindsey (Firme) Kirkwood and husband Adam, of Arlington, Va., Daniel Firme and wife Steffany and son Coleman, of Haxtun, Colo., Jared Firme, wife Sara and daughter Paige of Haxtun, Colo., Jeffery Firme and wife Kortney of Virginia Beach, Va., Matthew Firme and wife Melissa of Virginia Beach, Va., and Carly Firme of Fort Collins, Colo.

He is preceded in death by his parents and a grandson, Jeremy Firme.

Services were held July 16, 2009, at Haxtun United Methodist Church in Haxtun, Colo.

Interment followed in the Haxtun Cemetery, Haxtun, Colo.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Haxtun United Methodist Church, the Haxtun Lion's Club or the Haxtun Hospital Foundation.

Pauline Laber

Pauline Laber, 93, of Longmont, Colo., passed away July 13, 2009 at her home.

She was born June 28, 1916 in Berthoud, Colo., to George and Elizabeth Seader. Pauline grew up in Brighton, Colo. She graduated from Eighth grade at Tonville School.

Pauline moved to the Longmont area in 1939 from Brighton. She married Alex Laber on October 1, 1939 in Berthoud.

She was a homemaker and mother. Pauline was a member of Zion Congregational Church in Brighton and then Christ Congregational Church in Longmont, where she was active in the Women's Fellowship, church board and was a Sunday school teacher for many years. She loved her flower gardens and her grandchildren.

She is survived by her two children, Robert Laber (Sherry) of Longmont, Colo., and Dolores Jane Campbell (Joe) of Lyons, Colo.; three stepsons, Henry Laber (Annette) of Hebron, Neb., Clarence Laber (Dorothy) of Loveland, Colo., and Ed Laber of Middlebury, Ind.; two stepdaughters, Dorothy Dermody of Seattle, Wash., and Mary Louise Browder of Las Vegas, Nev.; three brothers; three sisters; 19 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Alex in 2003; her parents; one brother, two sisters and two grandchildren.

Services were held July 20 at the Christ Congregational Church.

Interment was in the Longmont Mountain View Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Congregational Church or to Hospice Care of Boulder and Broomfield Counties and sent to Ahlberg Funeral Chapel. Share condolences at www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com.

Louise F. Ramstetter

Louise F. Ramstetter, 84, of Golden, Colo., passed away April 13, 2009.

She was born June 22, 1924 to William H. Kirts Jr., and Florence M. Gulliksen in Black Hawk, Colo.

Louise “Lue” Ramstetter grew up in Black Hawk, Colo., and graduated from Gilpin County High School in 1941. She earned her cosmetology license in 1942 and was a beautician in Denver.

She married Karl O. Ramstetter August 9, 1942, and they farmed and ranched in Golden Gate Canyon for many years until ill health required them to move to Grand Junction, Colo., near their daughters in 2001. Lue was a 62 year Golden Sheaf Member of Golden Gate Grange and served as First Lady of the Colorado State Grange from 1997 to 2001 when Karl was Master. She was a Master of the Golden Gate Grange and served in many other Grange offices. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Golden and a member of the Eastern Star. She lead several youth groups in Golden Gate Canyon including 4-H and she served on the Guy Hill School Board.

She is survived by her daughters, Karol and Marie Ramstetter, Jeanne (Melvin) Hostetler all of Grand Junction, Colo.; five grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Florence Kirts, father, William Kirts Jr., her sister, Betty Marie Kirts, grandmother Veronica Frances (Krell) Kirts and husband Karl Ramstetter. Her brother William Kirts passed away shortly after Louise on May 24, 2009.

Services were held April 17, 2009 at the United Methodist Church, Golden, Colo.

Interment was in the Golden Cemetery, Golden, Colo.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Hospice of Grand Junction 3090 B North 12th St, Grand Junction, Colo., 81506, Loma Cat House c/o Marie Ramstetter, 929 Main St, Grand Junction, Colo. 81501, or the Golden Gate Grange c/o Gail Saltus 6571 Crawford Gulch Rd., Golden, Colo. 80403-8159.

Leona (Becker) Bernhardt

Leona (Becker) Bernhardt, 84, of Windsor, Colo., passed away July 13, 2009, at Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Colo.

Leona was born March 5, 1925, in Windsor to Henry and Anna (Kaiser) Becker.

She attended Windsor schools and Front Range Community College in Fort Collins. She married Victor Bernhardt on Feb. 22, 1943, in Cheyenne, Wyo.

Mrs. Bernhardt was a lifelong homemaker who loved to spend time cooking and baking. She always welcomed people into her home. She also helped Victor with farming, always proud that she was “Vic's Hired Hand.” She retired from Hewlett-Packard on Nov. 31, 1986, after working as a draftsman for 28 years.

Much of her time was spent volunteering for various organizations including Hospice, Retired Seniors Volunteer Program, Windsor-Severance Historical Society, Windsor Housing Authority, Windsor Association for Economic Recovery, 9Health Fair and the Windsor Vision 2025 Committee. She brightened the days of people dressing up as a clown, Santa Claus, pilgrim, the Easter Bunny and an elf for North Colorado Medical Center and the annual Windsor Police Department Halloween event.

She is survived by her son, Timothy Bernhardt of Windsor, Colo.; sisters, Esther Leicht of Denver, Colo., Evelyn Perry-Fox of Loveland, Colo. and Rosie Gronquist of Brighton, Colo.; a brother, Dale Henry Becker of El Paso, Texas; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Victor; daughter, Drucilla Ann Dye; two sisters, Minnie Hoffman and Betty Henry.

Services were held July 17, 2009 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Windsor, Colo.

Internment was in the Lakeview Cemetery in Windsor, Colo.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Bernhardt Bethel Memorial in care of Marks Funeral & Cremation Service, 9293 Eastman Park Drive, Windsor, Colo., 80550.