
- Date Posted: 2020-01-09
Keith L. Willets of Elwood passed away Thursday, January 9, 2020 at Kearney Regional Hospital at the age of 99. Keith was born Dec 11, 1920 on the Levine Farm on turkey creek south of Smithfield, Ne.
Keith was the oldest of the four children of Carl and Eleanora (Nora Fastenau Willets). He graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1938.
He worked as a farm hand for the Bossungs near Johnson Lake. It was at this time he met Ruth Kirwan. Keith boarded at Bossung’s and Ruth was teaching at the Antelope School and got room and board from Bossung’s as part of her pay. They were married on July 2, 1944 at the home of her mother, Flossie Kirwan, in Elwood.
Keith was Baptized earlier that morning at the Methodist Church in Elwood. On July 3 they boarded the train in Lexington and moved to Clarksville, TN. Keith was stationed at Camp Campbell, KY. At the end of his basic training Ruth moved back to Nebraska to resume teaching and Keith (as Ruth often joked) went to Europe for the Honeymoon. (He would reply to this “it wasn’t much of a honeymoon” during WWII).
To this union were born 5 children Sandra (David Nienkamp) of Edgar, NE, Patricia Luck of Lexington, NE, John (Connie Hall) of Cozad, Kenneth Willets, and William Willets of Elwood.
Keith was preceded in death by His Parents Carl and Nora, his 3 sisters Juanita Bourbon, Lexington, Maxine (Roger) Pegelow of Two Harbors, MN and Naomi (Donald) Teetor of San Antonio, TX. His son Kenneth of Cozad, grandchildren Sherry & Edward Willets, 3 brothers in law, 3 sisters in law and Ruth’s parents.
He is survived by his daughters Sandra and Patricia, his sons John and William and their families. And numerous Nieces and nephews as well as many friends.
Memorials are suggested to the family in his name for later designation. Online condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com.
Services will be held Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at Parkview Baptist Church in Lexington with Pastor John Shields officiating. Burial will follow at Elwood Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. with family present from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Berryman Funeral Home.

- Date Posted: 2015-10-20
- Maiden Name: Linn
Doris Marjorie Linn, 94, of Lexington died Tuesday, October 20, 2015, at Plum Creek Healthcare Community in Lexington.
Funeral Services will be held Monday, Oct. 26, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at the Reynolds-Love Chapel in Lexington with the Rev. Chuck Olson officiating.
Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington.
Visitation will be held Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015, from 2-4 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Chapel in Lexington.
Doris was born Nov. 4, 1920, near Cozad, to John Franklin and Stella Cora (Watkins) Linn. She spent her entire life in the Lexington area. Doris was a 1938 graduate of Lexington High School.
She was united in marriage to Vernon Jolliffe on Nov. 16, 1938. Three children were born to this marriage, Kathleen, Kenneth, and Stanley. She was then married to Alvie Johnson on April 7, 1964. She welcomed his children, Barbara, Darrell, Shirley, and Dale to the family. She would later develop a special friendship with Dutch Anthony. This relationship lasted until Dutch’s death.
Doris, through her lifetime, was a member of the Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church, and New Life Assembly Church in Kearney. She ran the Sale Barn Café for years, volunteered to deliver Meals-on-Wheels, and was instrumental in starting the clothing operation in Elm Creek. Near and dear to her heart was belonging to the Lung support group and always was an advocate for organ donation.
She loved animals, gardening, and visiting with family and friends. She had a wit like no other, and a sense of humor and smile that could make anybody feel comfortable. She was one of a kind. Rest in peace dear Doris.
Survivors include two sons, Ken (Gladys) Jolliffe of Malcolm, and Stan (Anna) Jolliffe of Cozad; stepchildren; Barb (Arnie) Goracke of Sterling, Shirley Watkins of Castle Rock, Wash., and, Dale (Cindy) Johnson of Sisters, Oregon; one step-daughter-in-law, Pat Johnson of Oregon; eight grandchildren, many step-grandchildren, as well as many great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and two great-great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Kathleen Jacobson; grandson, Jody Harwood; three brothers, Virgil, Laverne and Dean Linn; and one sister, Edith Blackman; step-son, Darrell Johnson; and, step-granddaughter, Amy McCracken.
Memorials are suggested to the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is assisting the family with arrangements.
Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.

- Date Posted: 2016-03-01
- Maiden Name: Rickertsen
Frida Henrietta (Rickertsen) Cline, 95, of Newton, Kan., formerly of Gothenburg, died March 1, 2016, at Asbury Park in Newton, Kan.
She was a 1938 graduate of Lexington High School.
Visitation will be held at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Gothenburg, Sunday, March 6, 2016, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm. with the family present from 2:00-4:00. Services will be held at Banner United Methodist Church, March 7, 2016, at 10:00 am with Rev. Janie Freeman officiating. Interment will follow in the Peckham Cemetery, Gothenburg.
Memorials may be given to the Banner United Methodist Church Banner Road, Gothenburg, NE 69138. To sign the online guest book, go to www.blasestrauser.com.

- Date Posted: 2016-11-13
- Maiden Name: McFarren
Marjorie M. Coufal, 95, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Sunday, November 13, 2016, at Lexington Regional Health Center.
Marge was born May 22, 1921, at Lexington, Nebraska, to Glenn T. and Frances (Parker) McFarren. She graduated from Lexington High School in 1938, and attended the University of Nebraska.
Prior to her marriage, she was employed at the Dawson County Herald newspaper, and the Northwestern Bell Telephone Company. On December 10, 1942, at Lexington, Nebraska, she married Irvin L. Coufal of Overton, a Sgt. in the Army Air Corps, at the United Methodist Church in Lexington.
Upon the couple’s return to Lexington following WWII, she was employed as a bookkeeper at the Rosenberg Company for 16 years and then at Farmer’s State Bank for 24 years until her retirement in 1986.
She was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church, a past of president of Chapter AN P.E.O., and a 70+ year member of the Dawson Chapter #33 O.E.S.
Marge is survived by nieces; Jo (Dale) Sherman of Lexington, Nebraska, Patty (Roger) Fenstermacher of Cozad, Nebraska; nephew, Glenn (Suzie) McFarren of San Jose, California; step-nieces, Kay (Jack) Lhotak of Lexington, Nebraska, Sally (Zafar) Israeli of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Sandra (Fred) Fisk of San Anselmo, California, Jennifer (Zig) Svalbe of Boronia, Vic. Australia, Candace (Gordon) McKill of Surrey, B.C. Canada, and, Christi (Mike) Ensch of Alexandria.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Irv, in 2006; her parents; brother, Richard McFarren; stepfather, James C. Smith; stepbrother, Wayne J. Smith; two stepsisters, Jean Wolfert and Joyce Hanway; and two step-nephews, Derek Hanway and Henry Wolfert; as well as, brother-in-law, Ivan Coufal.
Graveside Services will be held Wednesday, November 16, 2016, at 2:00 p.m. at Greenwood Cemetery in Lexington with Reverend Anne Gahn officiating.
There will be no visitation.
Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church, the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department, or the Donor’s Choice.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be in charge of arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.
- Date Posted: 2018-06-02
- Maiden Name: Edeal
Retha Mae Wycoff, 96, passed away June 2, 2018, at Linden Court in North Platte, Nebraska.
She was born March 31, 1922, to Alvin Silvester Edeal and Edna Mae (Cole) Edeal in the rural Fairhaven area northwest of Overton, Nebraska, and grew up on a family farm. She attended rural school at Fairhaven (Dawson County District #21) and after graduation from Lexington High School continued her education at the University of Nebraska College of Agriculture earning her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics in 1942. The following year, she taught Home Economics at Gothenburg, Nebraska.
On June 12, 1943, she married Keith Hamlin Wycoff in Seattle, Washington, where the newlyweds spent the summer before settling in Chicago. Retha was employed at Marshall Field’s in children’s wear sales before being promoted to the personnel office.
The next year, while her husband was at sea, she taught in Hay Springs, Nebraska. In 1945 Retha and Keith settled in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and started a family. They were active in the Northampton Methodist Church and made friendships which endured a lifetime.
From 1949 to 1963 the family lived near Overton, Nebraska. Retha was a homemaker and busy mother as her family eventually grew to three sons and two daughters. Retha designed her next house and personally did all the floorplan and elevation drawings. It was built in Lexington, Nebraska, and the family moved there in 1963 where she continued to live until age 89.
Retha loved dancing and was tap dancing by age 7 on the Fox Theater stage in North Platte. At her 80th birthday party she astonished her family by demonstrating the splits and straight-leg high kicks. She excelled academically in college with awards including a Danforth summer study scholarship for outstanding young women.
Her interests in later life included music, gardening and writing. She served many years as a Sunday School teacher and was a devoted member and past President of the Nebraska Conference of United Methodist Women. Retha had a keen interest in fostering international understanding and had many opportunities for travel. She sometimes accompanied her husband on international business trips. Together they visited mission or service organizations and former international exchange students. They served as delegates to international Methodist Conferences. She took pride in five children with adult careers in the arts or in medicine and in their families. She was an example to all of generosity and kindness.
Retha was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Edna Edeal, brother, Dean Edeal, her husband Keith H. Wycoff, sister-in-law, Ruby (Wycoff) Crandall, and niece Karen (Edeal) Kander.
Survivors include sons Delane (Dorothy) Wycoff, Kevin (Paige) Wycoff, Timothy Wycoff (Susan West) and daughters Janine Wycoff, Valerie Wycoff (James Lovell-Smith), exchange daughter, Naoko (Takemoto) Okamoto, grandchildren Jason Wycoff, Kathryn Wycoff Gross, K. Tyler Wycoff, Reid Wycoff, Cole Wycoff, Isaac Wycoff, Olivia Wycoff, Timothy Lovell-Smith and Jasmine Lovell-Smith, plus great grandchildren, step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Cremation was chosen. Retha’s life will be honored on August 15, 2018, with a 10:00 a.m. Memorial Service at the First United Methodist Church in Lexington with Pastor Anne Gahn, officiating.
Her committal service will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the church or The Dawson County Historical Society and Museum or donor’s choice.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com