Ralph E. (Gene) Taylor, 83, of Sutherland died March 4, 2009, at his home.

He was born May 6, 1925, at his parent’s home near Callaway. His parents were L. Ralph and Inez (Fountain) Taylor. He graduated from Dunning High School in May, 1943. He worked on ranches in the Sandhills near Mullen and Hyannis.

He served in the Army from May, 1945 until August, 1946, receiving a medical discharge. He continued to work on ranches in Nebraska and Oregon, plus working for the forest service in Oregon.

He married Phyllis Marie Pettit on Sept. 26, 1953, in North Platte.

He held several jobs besides ranching, working in filling stations in Tryon and Sutherland, plus owning the White Motor Lodge in Sutherland. He also drove the school bus for Sutherland Public Schools. He worked for Nebraska Public Power District at GGS during construction, start-up, and operations before retiring in May, 1990.

He enjoyed hunting deer, golfing, bowling, playing and watching baseball and basketball, and enjoyed watching football games on TV, especially the Huskers. He belonged to the American Legion Post 208, the Oregon Trail Golf Course and Tuesday Night Mixed Bowling League.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis, of Sutherland; son, Ronald Dean (Cheryl) of Humble, Texas; daughter, Shirley Marie (Les) Kissinger of North Platte; grandkids, and great-grandkids, Adam (Tiffany) Johnston, Kayla Bouchard and Ethan of Geronimo, Okal., Aaron Taylor of Humble, Texas, Aimee (Ben) Hall and Gabriel of Wallingford, Conn., Macael Bond of Humble, Texas, Brady Russell of Humble, Texas, Michelle (Gary Lopez) Kissinger and Bryan and Kaylynn Kissinger all of North Platte, Michael (Nicole) Kissinger and Rylee of Hershey; mother-in-law, Helen Pettit-Mitchell of North Platte; sister-in-law, Roberta (Lester Ferguson) Pettit of New Brighton, Minn.; brothers-in-law, Merlin (Vera) Pettit of Lincoln, Stanley (Julie) Pettit of Stapleton, Dale (Colleen) Pettit of Tryon and Terry (Evelyn) Pettit of Culbertson; numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers and sisters, Charlene Saner, Leona Ullom, Roger, Donald, Dale, Lou and Dorothy Taylor; and his father-in-law, Donald Pettit.

Elizabeth Eloise Halligan, 5, of North Platte, died March 8, 2009, at her home.

She was our little angel. She had a special friend, her dog, Tinkerbell.

Survivors include her father, Bradley Halligan of North Platte; mother, Heather (Richards) Halligan of North Platte; two sisters, Jessica and Aubrey Halligan of North Platte; two brothers, Charley and Tyler Halligan of North Platte; grandfather, Kevin Richards of Massachuetts; grandparents, Marsha (Ron) Daly of Sutherland; aunts and uncles, Kerri and Lyle Fisher of North Platte, Connie and Rick Weitzel of North Platte, Heidi Richards of North Platte, Victoria Daly of Sutherland; special cousin, Olivia Myers of North Platte; and numerous other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Wesley and Eloise Halligan; and great-grandmother, Elsie Foster.

Eva Vernise Nielsen, 81, longtime Ogallala resident, died March 2, 2009, in the Ogallala Community Hospital.

She was born Nov. 21, 1927, in Wausa, Neb., the daughter of LaVerne and Alice (Bobenmoyer) Thomas. Vernise attended school in Hartington, Neb., and graduated from high school in 1945.

On Sept. 30, 1945, she married Ole Nielsen at the Hartington Congregational Church. The couple made their home northeast of Hartington on the Nielsen family farm.

In 1953 they moved to Lakewood, Colo., where they owned and operated a motel and then in 1970 they moved to Ogallala where they became managers of Front Street. In 1978 they then started Pioneer Trails Restaurant and Nielsen Construction.

Her hobbies included collecting antiques, painting, reading and gardening.

She enjoyed playing the organ, piano, and accordion.

Survivors include her husband Ole Nielsen of Ogallala; two sons: Randy Nielsen of Lakewood, Colo., and Rick Nielsen of Ogallala; two sisters, Marilyn (Glenn) Hahn and Zada Jensen, all of Ogallala; four grandchildren, Lee (Melinda) Nielsen, and Erin Nielsen, all of Ogallala, Trent Nielsen of Littleton, Colo., and Tyson Nielsen of Superior, Colo.; two great-grandsons, Nolan and Oliver Nielsen, both of Ogallala.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Verlyn Thomas; and brother-in-law, Carl Jensen.

Henry “Mike” Bebee, 84, of Cozad, died March 9, 2009, at the Golden Living Center in Cozad.

He was born Nov. 1, 1924, at Sparta, Wisc., to Walter and Lottie (Eagert) Bebee. He attended school at Sparta.

He worked for a mill in Wisconsin for several years before going to work for the Milwaukee Railroad.

On April 15, 1945, he married Bernice M. Garves at Sparta, Wisc. The couple made their home in Wisconsin until 1952, when they moved to Cozad. While living in Cozad, he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad until his retirement in 1986. Following his retirement, they enjoyed spending winters in Arizona.

He was a member of the Union Pacific Railroad Union and the Eagles Club. He enjoyed camping and listening to various ball games on the radio. He especially loved fishing and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Bernice Bebee of Cozad; five sons, Don Bebee of Grand Island, David (Karen) Bebee of Union City, Calif., Duane (Lori) Bebee, Sr. of Grand Island, Doug (Patricia) Bebee of Liberty, Mo., Michael (Debbie) Bebee of Glendale, Ariz.; three sisters, Buelah Normandim of Florida, Mary (Percy) Perry of Fremont, Violet (Wayne) Parker of Kentucky; two brothers, William Bebee of North Carolina, Kenneth Bebee of Wisconsin; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by four brothers, Cecil, Gene, Russell, and Zelahus; and two sisters, Margie Nehring and Alvera Robertson.