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Plains Edition Obituaries 5-5-12

Mary L. Tobiasson, 86, of North Platte, Neb., passed away May 2, 2012, at Premier Estates.

She was born January 22, 1926, to Clarence and Sylvia (Knox) McHarness in Clarinda, Iowa, and moved as a child to Hayes County.

Mary married Danny Tobiasson on July 15, 1945, in North Platte, Neb. To this union four children were born: David (Jean) Tobiasson, Vicki (Clarence) Ogier, Janie (Lee) Sedlacek and Tom (Lori) Tobiasson.



Mary spent her life raising their children, helping out on the family farm and cooking terrific meals. Mary devoted her life to her family and some time was spent playing bingo. In her later years she enjoyed the neighborhood card club, she also enjoyed her trips to the casinos with her daughters. She had a full and eventful life and loved cooking for brandings and always has a sweet (fattening) treat for anyone who stopped by. She was known to spoil everyone with her fantastic fried chicken.

She is survived by her children and their spouses; six grandchildren; a sister, Lois Cohn, of Hays, Kan.; a brother, Frank (Marge) McHarness, of North Platte, Neb.; and a brother-in-law, Don Tobiasson, of North Platte, Neb.



She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Danny; and two brothers, William and Charles McHarness.

Memorial services were held May 4, at Carpenter Memorial Chapel. Burial was at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Great Plains Regional Medical Center Hospice Program.

Henry Homer Johnson, 76, of North Platte, Neb., passed away March 6, 2012, at St. Luke’s Presbyterian Hospital in Denver, Colo., where he was flown following an auto accident in North Platte, Neb., on January 6, 2012.

“Hank” was born near Herndon, Kan., on May 24, 1935, a half hour following the birth of his twin sister. He attended school in western Kansas where he was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Eventually his family moved to California where he graduated from high school.

He served in the Army, was married and had two daughters. After living in Alaska, California and Wyoming, he returned to the Midwest, and settled down in North Platte, Neb., working in the outdoors he loved so much, herding cattle, fixing fences, harvesting corn, birthing calves, sneaking away as often as he could to go fishing and making himself useful to the Orr Farm where he was employed for many years. His last months were spent at the Pawnee Hotel where he made many friends, including staff Donnita, Sandy and Kathy Jo.

He is survived by daughters, Laura Lynne Holman of Cameron, N.C., and Rebecca Elaine Rand of Port Townsend, Wash.; his sisters Ellie Miller (Bill) of Fairview, Ore., and Evanna Olivera (Alex) of Fremont, Calif.; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren, and close family friends Jeff (Peggy) Orr, David (Ruth) Orr and Paul Orr, of North Platte, Neb.

Memorial services were held April 27, at the Pawnee Hotel.

A private burial has taken place at Fort McPherson National Cemetery.

Berdeen Elizabeth Olson, 97, of North Platte, Neb., formerly of Hershey, Neb., passed away April 28, 2012, at Linden Court in North Platte, Neb.

She was born on April 11, 1915, to Bertram Leonard and Bessie Irene Moore Overmier at Belvidere, Neb. A few months later the family moved to Hershey, Neb., and her father passed away in 1927. Her mother married Jacob “Jack” Haugland and he adopted Berdeen and her sister, Nellie, and Bessie became mother to his five children. The family continued living in Hershey, Neb., where Berdeen graduated from Hershey High School.

On June 4, 1932, Berdeen married George W. Olson in Lexington, Neb. They moved to Sutherland, Neb., in 1934 and ran a service station for two years. They returned to Hershey, Neb., where they raised three children, Janelle, Andrew and Georgena. Berdeen worked at the Ogallala Fertilizer Co. for three years as a secretary.

Berdeen was a member of the Nebraska Cattlewomen and Maria Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday School for 18 years. She was a charter member of Platte Painters of North Platte, Neb., and took a three-year correspondence course in commercial art.

During the 1970s, Berdeen and George enjoyed traveling to Europe, the Orient, Australia, New Zealand, South America and the Middle East. George passed away in 1998. Berdeen lived with Janelle and Glen in Laurel, Neb., and Broken Bow, Neb., before moving to Linden Court in North Platte, Neb.

She is survived by her daughter, Georgena (Alan) Arnett of Loveland, Colo.; her son, Andy (Marcia) Olson of Hershey, Neb.; eight grandchildren, Kevin (MaryAnn) Miller, Kent (Glenda) Miller, Karma (Ronnie) Reed, Kirk (Tracy) Olson, Kim (Keith) Luttrell, Kendra (Paul) Strommen, Chris (Katey) Arnett and Casey (Lindsay) Arnett; 18 great-grandchildren; 17 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Sigrid Wimberly and Alice Odean, both of North Platte, Neb.; numerous nieces, nephews and other family.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, George; her daughter, Janelle Miller Emert; her parents, Bertram Overmier and Bessie Overmier Haugland Geiken Jackson; stepfather, Jack Haugland; three sisters, Nellie Rickett, Agnes VanPelt and Olga Moorhead; and a brother, Ted Haugland.

Memorial services were held May 1, at Maria Lutheran Church in Hershey, Neb.

A private family burial will be at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens in North Platte, Neb.

Memorial contributions may be made to Maria Lutheran Church.

Wayne Edward Catlett, 86, passed away April 25, 2012.

He was born at Ansley, Neb., on July 31, 1925. He was the youngest child of William and Esther (Hanson) Catlett. He attended school at Broken Bow and Tappan Valley.

His mother passed away when he was 11-years-old. He and his sister Wanda went to live with their aunt and uncle Elva and Marsh Casteel at Westerville, Neb., where he attended elementary and high school.

He enlisted in the Navy in February 1945, serving in Japan and Okinawa with the Seabees and was honorably discharged in June 1946, remaining in the Navy Reserves until 1954. He farmed with his uncle Marsh for several years. When Marsh retired, Wayne and Evelyn purchased the farm.

Wayne married Evelyn Trew on November 14, 1951, at Grand Island, Neb. To this union three children were born, Joan, Tim and Lori. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary November 14, 2011.

He served on the Westerville School Board for six years and was a member of the American Legion Post No. 153. Wayne was a hard worker, farming, raising cattle, farrowing hogs, selling feeder and fat hogs for many years.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Evelyn; daughter, Joan (Bill) Watson of Westerville, Neb.; son, Tim, of Westerville, Neb.; daughter, Lori (Dave) Webster of North Platte, Neb.; four grandchildren, Sean (Judi) Case of Brandon, Fla., Brooke Meston and special friend Brent Karre, and Jared and Shelby Webster, all of North Platte, Neb.; four great-grandchildren, Simon, Sarah and Braden Case and Nevaeh Meston.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Clyde Catlett; sisters, Pauline Keller and Wanda Foster; and grandson, Ross Catlett.

Memorial services were held April 29, 2012 at Govier Brothers Chapel in Broken Bow, Neb.

Interment was at the Westerville Cemetery at Westerville, Neb., with military honors.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Westerville Cemetery or the donor’s choice.

Blanche Anne Murdock, 93, of North Platte, Neb., passed away May 2, 2012, at Linden Court.

She was born on August 24, 1918, in Crawford, Neb., to Henry A. and Elizabeth (Leetch) Siekert.

Blanche grew up on a farm near Crawford, Neb., graduating in 1935 from Crawford High School.

On June 24, 1937, she married Paul Murdock in Hot Springs, S.D. The couple lived on a ranch outside of Chadron, Neb., where they raised five children, retiring to North Platte, Neb., in 1974.

She is survived by her children, Paul Duane “Whitey” (Cyrilla) Murdock of Lincoln, Neb., Richard Murdock and Steven (Deb) Murdock both of North Platte, Neb., and Colleen (Elvin) Staman of Crawford, Neb.; 18 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and sisters, DeLila (Don) Reynoldson of Lincoln, Neb., and Clara Sterling of Hot Springs, S.D.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Paul Murdock; daughter and son-in-law, Carol Jean and Ben Grenevitch; daughter-in-law, Connie Murdock; and siblings, Florence Thomas, Myrtle Smith and Helen Franey.

Cremation was chosen. Inurnment will be at Greenwood Cemetery at Chadron at a later date.


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