Plains Edition Obituaries for 10-24-09

Richard Lee Cecil

Richard Lee Cecil, 76, of Morrill, Neb., died Oct. 8, 2009, in Scottsbluff, Neb.

He was born Dec. 4, 1932, in Gill, Colo., to Otto and Clara (Todd) Cecil. He was raised in Weld County.

He married Loretta Bopp in 1953.

He farmed in Weld County for many years and was employed by Kodak for 10 years.

He moved to Wheatland, Wyo., in 1993 and then later to Morrill, Neb. He served in the United States Navy.

He enjoyed fishing and camping.

Survivors include his son, Rick Cecil of Morrill; sister, Ella Mae Root (Andy) of Orville, Calif.; brothers, Phillip Cecil (Margaret) and Bill Cecil (Penny) all of Greeley.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Claude Cecil.

Lewis James (Jim) Barnum Jr.

Lewis James (Jim) Barnum Jr., 94, of North Platte, died Oct. 12, 2009, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center.

He was born Jan. 6, 1915, to Lewis J. Sr.and Elizabeth (Neider) Barnum in Hayes County, Neb.

He married Nettie Hodges in North Platte on June 25, 1936, they were married 70 years. They made their first home north of Stapleton. He was a tough cowboy back in his younger years. He helped his father-in-law put up the winter hay and then spent the winter feeding cattle. A few years later, the couple purchased a few acres of land in McPherson County where they set up a farm operation.

He had a few hound dogs on the place that he used to hunt coyotes with, to help supplement their income. His hunting love was a family tradition that his father and elder brother had also enjoyed.

In 1944-1945 he closed his farm business and moved closer to the Stapleton area where he did ranch work and some carpentry. Throughout the years, his love for the sport of rodeo was enjoyed as he participated in all rodeo events especially calf roping.

They purchased a farm south east of Maxwell in 1955 where they ran a dairy operation until 1973 at which time they sold part of the farm to their son. In 1998 they moved to Curtis. Since August 2008 he lived in North Platte.

He was a member of the Maxwell Gun Club. He liked to shoot blue rocks. He also loved hunting and fishing, which he passed on to his kids and grandchildren. He loved to rodeo in his younger years.

Survivors include three daughters, Lois Konruff of Oshkosh, Dorine (Ray) Rasmussen of Walnut, Iowa, and Marsha (Jim) Gardner of Curtis; one son, Kenton (Dee) Barnum of Brady; grandchildren, Dan (Vicky) Konruff, Gerald (Paula) Konruff, Jim Konruff, Chris (Kristen) Konruff, Steve (Janice) Kraft, Dennis (Jeanie) Kraft, Randy (Jan) Kraft, Terrilyn Kraft, Lonnie (Skisha) Kraft, Sheri (Dave) Williams, Ron (Sue) Rasmussen, Carla Rasmussen, Marty (Jackie) Rasmussen, Matt (Mary) Barnum, Tammy (Tommy) Alves, Trever (Brooke) Nelson, Mandy Gardner, and Jason Gardner; 41 great-grandchildren; 24 great-great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Nettie; his parents; a daughter, Marilyn Kraft; a son-in-law, Pete Kraft; an infant great-grandson, Christopher Konruff; a great-granddaughter, Izabelle Rosado; three sisters; and three brothers.

Mildred G. (Baker) Law

Mildred G. (Baker) Law, 91, of Callaway died Oct. 12, 2009, at the Callaway Good Samaritan Care Center.

She was born July 6, 1918, in White, Neb., to James and Alice (Hijak) Fuller. She graduated from Hayes Center High School then she attended Kearney State College to receive her Teacher's certificate. She taught in a rural school by Tryon until after she was married.

She married Roy Baker of Wallace on Feb. 25, 1938, in Kansas. To this union two daughters were born – Joyce Lavonne and Jeanie Rae.

After her girls were in school she went back to teaching. She loved “her kids” teaching for 28 years in Lincoln County.

She was a volunteer for many years after teaching. She was a member of the Eagles.

In November of 1981 she married George “Kenny” Law and gained a step-daughter, Michelle.

Survivors include her daughters, Joyce (Gilbert) Brown of Beaumont, Texas, and Jeanie (Jay) Peterson of Callaway; grandchildren, Scott (Susie) Brown of Vider, Texas, Brian Brown of Houston, Texas, Mark (Pam) Peterson of Gering, Neb., Jacinda (Noel) Wilkins of Arnold, and Michelle (Tyler) Stienike of Gothenburg; brothers and sisters, Mary Lou (Don) Fries of Omaha, and Beryle Burke of Huachuca City, Ariz., Richard (Lorraine) Fuller of North Platte and Sheldon (Sumi) Fuller of Las Vegas, Nev.; eight great grandchildren; two great-great grandsons; and many other family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Roy Baker and Kenneth Law; her parents, James and Alice Fuller; sisters, Neva Harris, Zona Wire, Bonnie Cook, and Merle Kay; brothers, Arden, Darrell and an infant son.

Sharon Kay Turnbull

Sharon Kay Turnbull, 63, of Maxwell, died Oct. 12, 2009, at her home.

She was born Dec. 30, 1945, to Francis Marion and Zola Terry Conrey in Knoxville, Iowa. She attended High School in Port Orange, Florida.

She married Jay Turnbull on Sept. 27, 1970, in Daytona Beach, Florida. In 1979 she went back to school at John A. Gupton Mortuary School.

She was a funeral director in Nashville, Tenn., for a couple of years, she served on the Board of Directors for the John A. Gupton School; and published numerous grief publications and consulted with various funeral industry businesses. She also pioneered development on pre- and parinatal death, and instructed and counseled individuals and groups on death and dying.

In 1992 the family moved to North Platte, where she oversaw the rebirth of the family farm house, and was on-call as a grief counselor.

She was a member of the Latter Day Saints Church. She loved to garden, collect rocks, read, and spent much of her spare time gathering and organizing her family history.

Survivors include her husband, Jay of Maxwell; six children, Traci Schmiett of North Platte, Rob Dunn of Daytona Beach, Florida, Bill Arnett of Boise, Idaho, Tiffany Henretty of Seattle, Wash., Britton Turnbull of Kansas City, Mo., and Chelsea Turnbull of North Platte; 13 grandchildren; siblings, three sisters and four brothers, Kay, Carol and Penny, Jim, Frank, Danny and Clifford; and many other family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers, Mike, Chet, Kenny, Tom and an infant brother.

Charles Eugene Rice

Charles Eugene Rice, 82, of Erie, Colo., died March 31, 2009.

He was born on Aug. 21, 1926, in Holbrook, Neb., to Walter A. and Bessie M. (Albrecht) Rice.

He graduated from Hayes Center High School in 1943. After his graduation, he entered the U.S. Army Air Corps on Jan. 20, 1946, and served during World War II. He was honorably discharged on Aug. 23, 1947.

He married Ilah M. Lawson on Nov. 27, 1947, at Yuma, Colo. To this union two children were born – Donald Walter and Judy Mae.

They made their home in the Hayes Center, Neb., community where he farmed. They moved to Golden, Colo., in 1953 where he was employed as a machinist for Coors Porcelain for 10 years and then was self-employed operating a service station. He later became an assembly superintendent for Mine & Smelter of Denver. They then moved to Longmont, Colo., and then to Salida, Colo.. working in the mining business. They then moved back to Golden and started a wallpapering business and ultimately back to Hayes Center, Neb., and to Wauneta, Neb., where he followed his passion for cars by auto detailing with Country Ford and then on is own until retirement.

Retirement years were spent at the lake in Ogallala, Neb., and finally, to be close to his family in Erie, Colo.

He was a member of The Elks 1434, The American Legion post 287, The Masonic Lodge of Palisade and the Eagles.

We will remember him as being a sociable man who knew no strangers, would go anywhere at anytime, loved parties, jokes and teasing, his love of working with wood, and restoring antiques. He enjoyed music, whistling, old movies and dancing on a slick floor. He was a patriot to the defense of America and extremely respectful to the United States Flag and the correct way to fly it. He loved deeply his family and so enjoyed his grandchildren's visits.

Survivors include his wife, Ilah Rice of Erie, Colo.; Donald (Merri) Rice of Watkins, Colo.; Judy (Barry) Sinkey of Boulder, Colo.; grandchildren and great grand children, Heidi and John Bath, Faye Ann and Zane of Denver, Colo.; David and Christy Sinkey, Georgia and unborn May baby of Lafayette, Colo.; Michael Sinkey of Boulder; and Jason Sinkey of Boulder; sister, Lillian Fielding of Hayes Center, Neb.; and brother Phil (Ruby) Rice of Ponca City, Okal.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Bessie Rice; brothers-in-law, Court Fielding and Dean Lawson all of Hayes Center, Neb.