Larry Burkey

Larry G. Burkey, age 77, of Broken Bow, died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2016 at the Jennie Melham Memorial in Broken Bow.

Funeral services will be held Friday Dec. 2, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. in Govier Brothers Chapel in Broken Bow with Father Jim Hunt officiating including military rites. Burial will be at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery at Eddyville. Visitation will be Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Govier Brothers Mortuary with family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m.

Larry Burkey was born Dec. 25, 1938 in Elm Creek to Lyle F. and Elaine (Sweny) Burkey.  Larry attended school and graduated from Lexington High School in 1957.

Following his graduation, Larry enlisted in the United States Marine Corp, where he served honorably and faithfully for three years.

On January 18, 1988 Larry married Eileen O’Meara  in Lincoln. Larry worked as a salesman in Broken Bow.

He enjoyed golfing and shooting pool with the company of his friends at the Prairie Pioneer Center. Larry also enjoyed fishing with his wife, Lee, as well as the occasional trips to the casinos they would make together.

Larry is survived by his wife, Eileen Burkey of Broken Bow; one son Lance (Sherri) Burkey of Warren, Pa.; two daughters Lisa (Randy) Roti of Auburn and Monica (Mark) Sleicher of Sumner ; eight grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews; one sister Deannah (Rod) Fetters of Bertrand.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, and grandparents.

Bonnie Carter

Bonnie Lou Carter passed away on March 16, 2026, at Brookstone Gardens in Kearney, Nebraska. She was 86 years old, just 5 1/2 weeks shy of her 87th birthday.

Bonnie was born on April 23, 1939, to Robert G. and Norma I. (Walston) Woodside in Lexington, Nebraska. She was raised around the Lexington and Darr area. Her favorite memory of that time was the bottle-fed calf she raised and ultimately rode to school daily from their rural home. However, at the demise of the calf, she would never eat red meat again.

She married Neal W. Carter on May 4, 1957, in Lexington, Nebraska. The couple divorced after 25 years together and remarried on December 4, 1999, in Ragan, Nebraska, spending the next almost 13 years together until his death in October of 2012. They spent their married life in small towns in and around Nebraska, except for the time spent in California during Neal's military time, and some time they lived in Denver, Colorado, when he returned from the military. During their marriage, four children were added to the union: Larry Gene, Crystal Diane, Vonda Marie, and Katherine Lynn.

Bonnie spent many years working at Becton-Dickinson in Holdrege, Nebraska, and was oftentimes found working part-time at various restaurants, in addition to her full-time work. Her favorites were the Hotel Dale in Holdrege, Nebraska, where the bosses there and many of the regular patrons became her friends, and the Cornland Hotel in Lexington, Nebraska, where she worked during her high school years. She retired after many years with BD when her health forced her to retire. Her hobbies included woodworking, when she was able, and reading.

Bonnie was a stubborn gal- likely the stubbornest of the entire Woodside clan. In her end-of-life days, as she was getting worse, the nurses worked diligently to find a solution to her constant agitation, since she was beginning to refuse water, food, and all medication. They called the family to discuss getting a cream rubbed on her neck and wrists to calm the agitation, and the family reported that it was okay, but not to tell her it was a medication-only lotion. So they told her that they had some lotion and would give her a massage that made her perfectly content. Another time, a nurse went in to check on her and tried to initiate a conversation, but Bonnie incoherently mumbled something. The nurse asked something else when she heard, "Get out!" ever so plainly.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Neal W. Carter; parents, Robert and Norma Woodside; brother and sister-in-law, Darrel E. & Marcella (Rudder) Woodside; in-laws, Robert and Alta Carter; great-granddaughter, Sara Amandae Johnsen; brothers and sisters-in-law, Clark and Beth Carter, Paul and Ruth Carter; sister and brother-in-law, Roberta and Don Doudney; great nephew, Lathan Daniel Smith; as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Survivors include their four children, Larry Carter of Ragan, Nebraska, Crystal (Merle) Johnsen of Bertrand, Nebraska, Vonda (Bill) Roades of Windsor, Missouri, and Katherine McFarlane of Georgia; her sister and brother-in-law, Denise and Martin "Marty" Smith of Lexington; as well as grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Per Bonnie's very explicit instructions, she was to be cremated with no services, no other publication, and notifications were to be "only after her burial". She was inurned at the Fort McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell, Nebraska.

• Maiden Name: Woodside

Clifford Cox

Clifford Lee Cox, 70, of Lexington and Overton, died Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at Tri-County Hospital in Lexington, surrounded by his loving family.     

He was born August 26, 1938, at Wichita, Kansas, to Martin Lee and Irma Genevieve (Higgins) Cox. Cliff moved to Lexington as a young man and graduated from Lexington High School with the class of 1957. He then entered the United States Army in 1958, serving until he was Honorably Discharged in 1964. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Elaine E. Ringenberg on June 3, 1962, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington. Two children were blessed to this union; Karmajo and David.    

After his marriage Clifford worked as a meat cutter at 6th Street Locker & Grocery, which was later purchased by Dwight Trautman. He also worked for the State of Nebraska Road Department, Nash-Finch, Coors of Mid-Nebraska, and owned and operated Cliff's Market in Overton from 1980-1989, but perhaps his favorite job was his last, he worked as a feedlot cowboy for M&M Feeders until he retired in 2007.     

Clifford was a faithful member of Grace Lutheran Church in Lexington, past member of the Jaycees, Overton Fire Department, Civil Defense Director in Overton and also rode with the Pony Express.    

He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to tease. His loves were his family and when you asked about his grandchildren, he got such a twinkle in his eye. He loved to fish, ride horses, work and always enjoyed every holiday with his family.     

Survivors include his wife of 47 years: Elaine Cox of Lexington, Nebraska, Son: David Lee and wife Darla Cox of Overton, Nebraska Daughter: Karmajo and husband Eric Hill of Lexington, Nebraska, Two brothers: Gene and wife Mary Esther Cox of Stover, Missouri Jerry Cox of Livingston, Louisiana, Two sisters: Marsha Meyers of Wichita, Kansas Michelle and husband, Alan Conine of Wichita, Kansas, Seven grandchildren: Dallas Rae and husband Matt Zimbelman of Lexington, Nebraska; Aryka Leigh Hill and fiancé Alex VanHorn and his two children, Ethan & Evan of Memphis, Tennessee; Skylar Duane Hill and special friend Tanner Richards of Hayes Center, Nebraska; Ryan Lee Cox, Brady Alan Cox, Austin Samuel Cox and Sarah Ann Cox all of Overton, Nebraska.     

Clifford was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, Marv Belcher and sister-in-law, Nelda Cox.     

Funeral Services will be Monday, June 29, 2009, at 11:00 a. m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Lexington, Nebraska with Pastor Megan Morrow officiating. The casket will be closed at the church.   

Visitation will be held Sunday, June 28, 2009, from 6-8 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Chapel in Lexington. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Robb Cemetery south of Lexington. Memorials to Tri-County Hospital Hospice, Grace Lutheran Church or Grace Lutheran Caring Cooks. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements. Please share your expressions of sympathy to: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com.

Russell Dean Edeal

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for Russell Edeal will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 12:00 p.m. (Noon) at the Edeal family farm, 44301 Drive 759, Overton, Nebraska, 68863, with Pastor Bill Pavuk officiating. A lunch for all will follow the service. 

A private inurnment will be held prior to the Celebration of Life at the Overton Cemetery, east of Overton, Nebraska.

Russell Dean Edeal, a longtime resident of Loomis, Nebraska, passed away peacefully with his family’s comforting presence, on September 19, 2024, in Lenexa, Kansas at the age of 85. A man deeply committed to his community and family, Russell leaves behind a legacy of service, leadership, and dedication.

Russell was born on August 20, 1939, the eldest of five children born to Dean and Arlene (Pullen) Edeal. Russell attended Rural School District #21 through eighth grade and graduated from Lexington High School in 1957. During his youth he was active in 4-H, FFA, sports and worked on the family farm. He attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln where he was a letterman on the football team, a member of FarmHouse Fraternity, tackled into the Innocents Society, and graduated with a B.S. in Technical Science and Animal Husbandry in 1961. While at UNL, Russell met the love of his life, Kathryn “Kay” Stute, and they were united in marriage on June 16, 1962, in Haigler, Nebraska. Russ and Kay built their home and raised their family north of Loomis, NE where they lived for 60 years. As parents, they were blessed with four children: Alan, David, Mary, and Stuart. 

Russell spent his life devoted to farming, natural resource conservation and community leadership. He was a successful grain producer since 1961, cultivating alfalfa, corn, and soybeans. Alongside his farming, Russell was an independent Amway business owner in partnership with his wife Kay, earning the prestigious title of Emerald Award status. His leadership impacted hundreds of farmers and business owners across the United States.

Russell's passion for community service was evident throughout his life. He provided leadership for numerous organizations, including serving on the Tri Basin Natural Resources District for over 34 years, President of the Nebraska Association of Resources Districts, Chairman of the Nebraska Water Conference Council, the Phelps County Community Foundation Board, the Farm Bureau Resource Committee, the Holdrege Area Chamber of Commerce and the Holdrege Tassel Coordination Council. His influence extended into healthcare as well, with his involvement in the Phelps Memorial Health Center Board of Trustees, where he held the role of Chairman, and serving on University of Nebraska Medical Center Board of Counselors.

In 2021, Russell was presented the Nebraska Master Conservationist of the Year Award for a life of excellence in the use of sound conservation practices to preserve Nebraska’s precious soil and water resources for generations to come. 

In addition to his professional and community work, Russell was a dedicated member of the ELCA Lutheran Church. He served on the Church Council and taught Sunday School classes for several years. His faith and values were integral to his life.

Russell was a devoted father and grandfather. He set an example of a strong work ethic, loyalty, acceptance, respect, and commitment for his family and was supportive in his children's activities. In addition to being a wonderful father, later in life his grandchildren became his pride and joy. Russ prioritized spending time attending his grandchildren’s sports, music, dance, and various activities.  

A protector and provider, Russ had a keen sense for finding areas needing improvement wherever he went. If something appeared to have a problem, he didn’t delay in finding a way to fix the situation. 

Outside of work, Russell loved gardening, playing cards, and traveling with Kay on numerous Amway award trips. He also enjoyed time with his family, friends, and attending sporting events. His passion for sports led him to a long career as a referee and umpire, officiating football, basketball, baseball, and softball games from 1965 to 1998.

Russ had a quiet, calm and patient personality. He fostered relationships by listening to what others wanted to share, encouraging them with thoughtful questions, and using humor to put them at ease. 

Russell was diagnosed with liver cancer in May of 2024. He bravely lived his final months amid the challenges presented. He will be remembered for his service to the community, his loyalty to conserving the earth’s resources, and his devotion to his family. Russ will be dearly missed by his family, friends and all who were blessed to know him.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Alan Dean Edeal; his parents: Dean and Arlene Edeal; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Alfred and Mary Stute; a sister, Karen Kander; a sister-in-law, Bonnie Hansen; and two brothers-in-law:  Royce Stute; and Dennis Schroeder.

Russell is survived by his wife of 62 years, Kay Edeal of Shawnee, Kansas; their children:  David Edeal and wife, Sarah of Lenexa, Kansas; Mary Reimers and husband, Jeremy of Timnath, Colorado; and Stuart Edeal and wife, Diane of Mendota Heights, Minnesota; eight grandchildren:  Julia, William, Lauren, and Nathan Edeal; Taylor Morgan and husband, Corey of Kearney, Nebraska, and Emily and Grace Reimers; and Frank Edeal; his brothers: Brian Edeal and wife, Teri of Overton; and Arlin Edeal and wife, Jean of Johnson Lake, Nebraska; a sister, Eldeana Boals and husband, Randy of Sutton, Nebraska; a brother-in-law, Robert Kander of Brainerd, Minnesota; sister-in-law Alfreda Schroeder of Aurora, Colorado; brother-in-law Tim Hansen of Cozad, Nebraska; and sister-in-law Marsha Stute of Littleton, Colorado; along with many extended relatives and friends. 

A Family Greeting and Memorial Book Signing time will be held on Friday, October 11, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska, with the family present.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family kindly requests donations to: Phelps County Community Foundation; to Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church in Holdrege; or to Loomis Volunteer Fire & Rescue.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.