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Prairie Hills Funeral Home

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Ogallala, NE
Prairie Hills Funeral Home

Our services are meaningfully tailored to honor the unique lives we live. Discover what makes us leaders in our profession.

Introducing a new name in funeral service, Prairie Hills Funeral Home. While we have a different name, our commitment to excellent funeral service remains unchanged. Since the early 1980s, Gubser Funeral Home has served Ogallala and the surrounding area with excellence and professionalism. Our family is proud to continue this tradition of serving families with the utmost compassion and respect in their time of need.

06/08/2026

Linda Sheldon

Linda Kay Sheldon of Ogallala, Nebraska, passed away June 8, 2026, at Perkins County Health Services in Grant, Nebraska, at the age of 79.

Linda was born September 28, 1946, in Denver, Colorado, to Rex Loraine Peterson and Lois Jean (Elder) Peterson. She graduated from Ogallala High School.

On October 29, 1966, Linda married David Paul Sheldon in Ogallala, Nebraska, and the two were blessed with two children.

Linda spent her working years close to home. In her younger days, she was the soda fountain girl at Buenz Drug, a job she held for years. She later worked for Hubert Lezotte before joining the Ogallala Medical Group, where she handled billing services for the hospital. Away from work, Linda's flower beds were her pride and joy, aside from her family, who she fiercely loved.

Linda was preceded in death by her husband, David, in 2024, and by her parents.

Linda is survived by her daughter, Monica Lynne (Marlow) Cherrington of Ogallala; her son, David Douglas (Nickole) Sheldon of Scottsbluff; grandchildren Shelby (Josh Covel) and Justin Cherrington, Izabella (Sheldon) Sykes, and David, Hunter, Carlie, and Liam Sheldon; great-granddaughter Laikelynn Elizabeth Sykes; her sister, Karla Lawler; and her brother, Lonnie (Sharlyn) Peterson.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 13, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ogallala, with Pastor Timothy Steele II officiating. Inurnment will be at the Ogallala Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in Linda's memory for later designation. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the service will be streamed live.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.

View Linda Sheldon's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/08/2026

Keith Alan Larsen

KEITH ALAN LARSEN, 34 of Julesburg, CO, passed away Friday, June 5, 2026 at Chappell, NE.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 12, 2026 at 10:30 am at the Sedgwick County Community Center in Julesburg. Interment will follow at the Hillside Cemetery.

Condolences may be shared at prairiehilljulesburg.com.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Julesburg is in charge of arrangements

View Keith Alan Larsen's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/06/2026

Brad Van Matre

Donald Bradford "Brad" Van Matre, 87, of Elkhorn, Nebraska, passed away June 3, 2026, at his home. Arrangements are pending at the Bullock-Long Funeral Home of Grant.

View Donald Bradford Van Matre's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/05/2026

Joseph Maroney

Joseph Carl Maroney Jr., 78, of Ogallala, passed away June 4, 2026, at Ogallala Community Hospital with his daughters and brother by his side.

Joseph was born June 10, 1947, in Grants Pass, Oregon, to Joseph Carl Maroney Sr. and Joyce Jean (Cotton) Maroney. He spent part of his childhood in Lewellen and later lived in Ogallala, where he played on Boot Hill as a boy. He married Carol Ann Holland, and their union was blessed with two daughters. The family made their home in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, and Joseph also lived in Phoenix for a time. He later married Guyla Bowthorpe, and the couple eventually made their home back in Ogallala, returning in 1992.

Joseph was a veteran of the United States Navy. Known as a "jack of all trades" and a working man, he was certified to operate heavy equipment, including dragline machinery. Joseph worked for the railroad in Pine Bluffs for over a decade and then in the mines in Hanna, Wyoming, for the next twenty years. His family will always remember him as a man with a heart of gold, always willing to help when asked, and a father figure to his brothers.

Joseph was preceded in death by his wife, Guyla; his parents, Joseph Carl Maroney Sr. and Joyce Jean (Cotton) Maroney; and his brothers, Patrick, Jerry, and Larry Maroney.

He is survived by his two daughters, Angela Swan of Elk Grove, California, and Lisa Maroney of Chugiak, Alaska; four grandchildren; one great-grandchild; his brother, Gary Maroney of Ogallala, Nebraska; and his sister, Mary Munoz of Williston, North Dakota.

No services are planned at this time.

Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com . Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.

View Joseph Maroney's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/03/2026

Rex Wilson

KENNETH REX "REX" WILSON, 91, of Grant, Nebraska, passed away June 2, 2026, at Western Sky Community Care Center in Grant.

Rex was born July 3, 1934, in Chase County, Nebraska, the second son of Samuel Verne Wilson and Mabel Tima (Short) Wilson. In 1940, his family moved to a farm in Perkins County, six miles from Grant. He attended Perkins Pride Grade School and graduated from Perkins County High School in 1952. Wilson served in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1957 to 1963. On December 27, 1959, Rex married Patricia Ann Forell at Lodgepole, Nebraska.

Rex spent his life as a farmer, rancher, and cattle feeder. His interest in livestock began in 4-H and continued through FFA in high school and across every chapter of his life. As a young man, he sheared sheep around the area and did custom wind rowing and baling to supplement the farm income. At the age of 40, he earned his private pilot's license. Rex worked part-time at Ogallala Livestock, drove a route bus and the high school activity bus, and later sold replacement windows, meeting many people along the way. Rex was deeply knowledgeable about cattle and could look at an animal and remember its history. His passion was feeding cattle and watching them grow. When his son built the cattle feed yard, Rex liked to help in any way he could.

Rex was a member of the Grant Fire Department, the Jaycees, the Elk's Club, the Grant Lions Club, and the Grant United Methodist Church, and he served on the Grant Suburban Fire Board for forty years. He never knew a stranger, loved telling stories, had a great sense of humor, and enjoyed reading and visiting with friends and family. His family was his pride and joy.

Rex was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, James Clyde Wilson and Robert Dean Wilson; his nephew, David Dean Wilson; his sister-in-law, Patricia Sue Wilson; and other family members.

Rex is survived by his loving wife, Pat, of Grant; his children, Melanie Susanne Collins (Kurt), Timothy John Wilson (Beth), and Derek Paul Wilson (Melissa); grandchildren, Alexander Robert Collins (Laura), Joshua David Collins (Hannah), Claire Nicole (Wilson) Baasch (Riley), Jake Ryan Wilson (Azia), Trevor John Wilson, Sydney Marie Wilson, Emily Annmarie Wilson, Ashley Kay (Brott) Steele, and Tyler Ray Brott (Brittany); and great-grandchildren, Mayla Jade Laura Collins, Ottolia Laura Collins, Theodore Mario Collins, June Eden Laura Collins, Baley Nicole Brott, Harley Rae Brott, Ryker Brayden Steele, Randy Joel Beau Steele, Rachel Evangeline Baasch, Bennett John Baasch, and Emerson Lilly Collins; along with many other relatives and dear friends.

A memorial has been established in Rex's memory with the intent to support these valued community resources: Hastings Memorial Library, Grant Volunteer Fire Department, and Western Sky Community Care Center. Condolences may be shared at bullocklongfuneralhome.com , where the services will be streamed live.

Funeral services will be on Tuesday, June 9th, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the Grant United Methodist Church with Pastor Spenser Johnson officiating. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Bullock-Long Funeral Home in Grant.

Bullock-Long Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

View Rex Wilson's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/01/2026

Jan Spurgin

Janice A. Spurgin, 79, of Paxton, passed away May 30, 2026, at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.

Jan was born December 4, 1946, in Hastings, Nebraska, to Joseph Mazour and Blanche (Nejezchleb) Mazour. She graduated from Lawrence High School with the class of 1963 and went on to the University of Nebraska, where she lived with Marge Holm and Connie Francis in Love Memorial Hall and earned her Bachelor's degree in education. Jan taught school for a couple of years following college.

On June 16, 1973, she married Gerald Spurgin at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lawrence, Nebraska. The couple settled in Paxton, where they farmed and raised their family.

Jan was the family cheerleader and the glue who held everyone together. She was in her element when the kids and grandkids were all under one roof, and she loved gathering people in. Travel was one of her great joys, and among her highlights were the Holy Land, Greece, Jordan, Hungary, Mexico, Maine, and Machu Picchu, where she and her daughter spent time at a children's learning center. She continued to sponsor children from that area for years to come, as they remained in her heart. A trip to the Czech Republic helped bridge a decades-old divide in her lineage brought about by communism and deepened her passion for family, genealogy, and learning.

Jan was a woman of steadfast faith. She attended the March for Life nearly every year and ran Faith Formation at her parish for almost 40 years. After Gerald's death, she was determined to keep his farming legacy alive and set about learning the business with the same steady resolve she brought to everything. Jan also had an artistic flair and once entered and won the contest to design the Keith County Flag.

Jan was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald; siblings, Roger (Lynn) Mazour, and Len Mazour; sister-in-law Corrine Mazour; and two unborn children.

She is survived by her three sons, Jeremy (Caroline) Spurgin of Ogallala, Jon Spurgin of Golden, Colorado, and Jacob (Krista) Spurgin of Golden, Colorado; her daughter, Jocelyn (Lane) Fattig of Paxton; six grandchildren, Alexis, Kepler, Andromeda and Tycho Spurgin; Oliver, and Jovee Fattig; her brother, David Mazour of Westminster, Colorado; sister-in-law Jo Mazour of Lawrence, Nebraska; and many other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Paxton, with the Rosary recited at 6 p.m. that evening at the church. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 8, 2026 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Paxton, with Father Suresh Bandha and Father Bryan Ernest Concelebrating. Burial will follow at Paxton Cemetery.

A memorial has been established in Jan's memory for later designation. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the Mass will be streamed live.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.

View Jan Spurgin's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/27/2026

Beverly A Skinner

Beverly Ann Skinner, 92, of Julesburg, Colorado, passed away May 24, 2026, at the Sedgwick County Nursing Home.

Bev was born Aug. 11, 1933, to Art and Ruby Elmquist. She married C. Wayne Skinner on Jan. 26, 1951, and together they shared 74 years of marriage. They were blessed with two children, Julie and Janet.

Bev enjoyed her life working at Prince Variety Store, spending time with friends and family, reading, and serving in church. She also enjoyed bowling and participated in league play for nearly 40 years.

A longtime member of the Julesburg United Methodist Church, Bev served as an usher and UMW member until only recently, when her health no longer allowed.

Bev was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne; her parents; and her brother, Wayne Elmquist.

Survivors include her daughters, Julie Gonzales of Cortez, Colorado, and Janet (Craig) Kingsbury of Julesburg; 5 grandchildren, Chris Donnelly of Cortez, Tina Kibel of Cortez, Nathan (Nina) of Greeley, Colorado, Lindy (Brett) Foley of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Melissa (Josh) Yoakum of Cortez; six great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter; her sister-in-law, Marlene Yates of Longmont; her brother-in-law, George Skinner of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Funeral services for Beverly Ann Skinner will be held Friday, May 29, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Julesburg United Methodist Church, with Pastor Aaron McClellan officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Julesburg.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Julesburg is in charge of arrangements.

View Beverly A Skinner's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/25/2026

Will Martin Jr.

William "Will" Wintle Martin, Jr., 79, of Ogallala, passed away May 24, 2026, at his home.

Will was born March 10, 1947, in the Panama Canal Zone, to William W. Martin Sr. and Jacqueline (West) Martin. After faithfully serving his country in the U.S. Air Force, he earned his engineering degree at the University of Colorado.

On April 18, 1971, Will married Connie Lee Foster in Denver, Colorado, and their union was blessed with three daughters. He adored his wife, Connie and was wholeheartedly devoted to her. Will found joy spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Will spent much of his career as a mechanical engineer, and he took genuine satisfaction in mentoring younger engineers over the years. In later years, Will worked as a consultant. In time, he and Connie turned their attention to the antique business, running it together until her passing. Whether he was working on a project, tracking down an antique, or planning the next trip, Will was most himself when he had something to do and someone to do it with. He had a gift for fixing things and a steady willingness to work that never seemed to leave him.

Will was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Connie, his parents, his sister Lyn Martin, and his parents-in-law, Max and Alice Foster.

He is survived by his daughters Hillary Berg (Jason) of Spokane, Washington; Melissa "Mo" Gonda (Mike) of Roswell, Georgia; and Vanessa Yohe (Eric) of Denver, Colorado; his six grandchildren; Jack Berg, Matthew Gonda, Jackie Gonda, Kieran Gonda, Brett Gonda and Alexandra Gonda, siblings Camille Strong of Deatsville, AL and Vivian Martin of Friendswood, TX, and many dear friends.

Funeral services will be held Monday, June 1, 2026, at 11 a.m. at the Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Ogallala with Pastor Curt Magelky officiating. Interment with Military honors will follow at the Ogallala Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Program or to the Ogallala United Methodist Church in Memory of Will. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the service will be streamed live.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is assisting the family.

To contribute to the Ogallala UMC Memorial, use this link

View William Wintle Martin Jr's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/21/2026

Janice L. Peterson

JANICE L. PETERSON, 62 of Ogallala, NE, passed away Monday, May 18, 2026. Arrangements are pending at the Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala.

View Janice L. Peterson's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/15/2026

Shorty Kotch

Richard L. "Shorty" Kotch, 82, of Ovid, Colorado, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, Colorado.

Shorty was born on March 11, 1944, in Julesburg, Colorado, to Frank Kotch and Neva Kotch. He was a lifelong resident of Ovid. He graduated from Ovid High School in 1963, and proudly served his country in the United States Army National Guard.

On August 30, 1969, Shorty married the love of his life, Mary Phyllis Mollendor, at his aunt and uncle's home in Julesburg. Together, they built a life rooted in love, hard work, and family in Ovid, Colorado, sharing nearly 57 wonderful years of marriage. To this union, two children were born, a son, Troy, and a daughter, Tricia.

Shorty was a hardworking man who was never afraid of a long day's work. Over the years, he wore many hats and made countless friends along the way. He gave farming a try, but after six straight years of crops being hailed out, he decided that life had other plans for him. He continued to keep the small family farm that had once belonged to his father and eventually became his, caring for it up until his passing.

He worked at Thrasher Motors doing bodywork, worked as a mechanic, and dedicated nearly 20 years to the Great Western Sugar Factory. Following the closure of the sugar factory, Shorty worked for the co-op and later Ingram Electric before finishing his working years as a heavy equipment operator for the Julesburg Irrigation District, a job he truly loved and held until his retirement.

While Shorty worked hard throughout his life, nothing mattered more to him than his family. He loved deeply and took great pride in those he loved. Whether it was spending time with family, sharing stories, lending a helping hand, or simply visiting with friends and neighbors, Shorty made people feel welcome wherever he went.

He was known throughout the community for his warm smile, quick wit, and contagious laugh. Those who knew him often said they never saw him without a smile on his face. Even during his extended stay in Denver, his kindness and humor touched the hospital staff, who grew to love him and looked forward to seeing him each day.

Shorty was truly one of a kind - deeply patriotic, hardworking, compassionate, and genuine. He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and unwavering devotion to his family and community.

Shorty is survived by his loving wife, Mary Kotch of Ovid; his son, Troy Kotch of Ovid; his daughter, Tricia Lockhart (Tim Segelke) of Ovid; his granddaughters, Haley Lockhart (Dillon) and April Atkins (Jerome); grandsons Spencer Kotch and Dylan Kotch, great-grandchild Grady Warren who was the light of his grandpas life, Shorty is also survived by great-grandchildren, Atlas, Aella, Kyleigh, and Paige; along with many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren, and many other relatives and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Kotch and Neva Kotch, and his stepfather, Ted Kobayashi, and his father-in-law Phillip Mollendor and mother-in-law Mary Mollendor, along with nephews, Brandon Mollendor and Tanner Mollendor.

A Rosary will be recited on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Julesburg, Colorado. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Julesburg, Colorado.

A memorial will be established in Shorty's memory. Contributions may be mailed to Mary Kotch at P.O. Box 202, Ovid, CO. Condolences may be shared with the family at prairiehillsjulesburg.com, where the service will also be livestreamed.

Arrangements are entrusted to Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Julesburg.

View Richard Kotch's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

Address

602 N Spruce Street
Ogallala, NE
69153

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+13082844055

Website

http://prairiehillsfuneralhome.com/

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