Jenine Christine Whaley Wilhelms May 22, 1953 to March 11, 2018

Amazing artist and loving wife, mom, “mee-maw”, sister, and friend.
Jenine Christine (Whaley) Wilhelms was born in Casper, Wyoming to Doyle and Clara (Cummings) Whaley on May 22, 1953. Her sister, Cherlyne, arrived shortly after. From there they moved to Ray, Arizona. She loved to tell stories from her time there – a few memorable ones included a tarantula that they kept under the house to kill off scorpions and that she accidentally squatted too close to a cactus. From Arizona they moved to Grand Island, Nebraska, then to Iowa, then on to a few places in Kansas before settling in Blue Hill, Nebraska. It was there that she met the love of her life, Gary Wilhelms, in high school. They were married on May 4, 1974 at St Paul Lutheran Church in Blue Hill and she wore a dress that was created and sewn by her mother. They settled into Gary’s childhood home located in the country outside of Blue Hill and were blessed with three children – Christina, Chelsy, and Chance.

At a very young age Jenine knew she wanted to be an artist. She spent hours honing her craft and the farm gave her plenty of inspiration. Throughout the years she sold paintings of commissioned pet portraits, abstracts, horses, dogs, cows, the country, etc. and she had her artwork displayed in galleries throughout Nebraska. Jenine won several awards, the most recent being the ‘Plainsman Peoples Choice Award’ at the Great Plains Art Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. To supplement her income she raised two breeds of dogs for several years: Jack Russells and Shiba Inus. She did everything really well so it was no surprise that she became a prominent, respected breeder throughout the United States. In addition to the above, she thoroughly enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom and she did it well – so much so that other kids thought of her as their second mom.

Throughout her life she found great joy in riding horses, attending artist workshops/retreats, painting (cows were her favorite muse), taking walks out in the pasture, feeding and watching birds, making amazing meals, and loving on her family. She enjoyed vacationing in the mountains – one of her most memorable trips was in Montana when she traveled to the top of Pryor Mountain to visit Penn’s cabin, which was built by one of her ancestors. Her favorite place to vacation was Estes Park, Colorado. Jenine also had a great interest in health. She loved to frequent health food stores, juice fruits and vegetables, and make all her (innovative and healthy) meals from scratch. She was a woman of strong faith and her laugh, smile, and overall presence lit up a room. Jenine was definitely one of a kind and said the funniest things – such as, “Don’t sit on my parade”. She thought she was saying the right phrase, which made it even funnier. Jenine always selflessly gave her time, energy, and love to those around her and she made everything special because she did everything with so much love in her heart. She was loved by many and will be missed tremendously.

Jenine was cremated and the family will be holding a celebration of life service at the Red Cloud Opera House Art Gallery on June 30th from 2-4pm. All of her artwork will be on display. Should friends desire, cards and memorial contributions may be sent to Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home and may be made to the Jenine Wilhelms memorial fund.

Jenine was preceded in death by her parents, Doyle and Clara Whaley and her father-in-law, Roy Wilhelms.

Survivors
Husband:
    Gary Wilhelms
Children & Spouses:
    Christina Wilhelms
    Chelsy & Tony Harman
    Chance Wilhelms & Ashley Furrow
Grandchildren:
    Sophie Harman
    Dean Harman
Mother-in-law:
    Luella Wilhelms
Sister & Spouse:
    Cherlyne and Dale Buehler
Nieces/Nephews & their spouses:
    Heather & Jeremy Christopherson
    Justin & Nikki Galloway
Many other family members and friends

Betty J. Bruntz Gillaspie Kort June 15, 1926 to March 9, 2018

Hastings resident Betty J. Bruntz Gillaspie Kort, 91, passed away Friday, March 9, 2018, at her home.  Betty J. was born June 15, 1926, to Alexander and Elizabeth (Reiber) Bruntz on a farm just west of Hastings. She was the fourth of five children. She attended District #24 Grade School,  and graduated from Hastings High School in 1943.While working as a secretary for Tooley Bros. Insurance & Realty in Hastings she met William Gillaspie. She and William married Feb. 20, 1949 and the next year they moved to Montana, Daughters Vicki Lee and Nancy Jo were born in Havre, MT before the family moved to Cut Bank, MT. Betty worked for Blomstrom Insurance & Realty in Cut Bank. Bill and Betty moved to Ft. Shaw, MT in 1972 where Betty was active in the Fairfield Home Extension Club. William Gillaspie passed away in February 1979.

Betty moved back to Hastings in October 1982. She met Eugene Kort and they were married on May 28, 1983. They lived on a farm in Ayr before moving into Hastings during their retirement years. She was active in Christian Women’s Club, Original Betty Club, LeRoy Cheerful Works Extension Club.  She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, William Gillaspie; and brothers, Edward Bruntz, Robert Bruntz, and Donald Bruntz.

She is survived by her husband, Eugene Kort of Hastings; daughters and spouses, Vicki and Roger Janssen of Moorpark, CA, Nancy and Jerry Knauff of Great Falls, MT; step-children and spouses, Pamela and Tom Johnson of Blue Hill, Daniel and JoAnn Kort of El Centro, CA, Gary and the late Paula Kort of Lincoln, Randal and Barsha Kort of Ayr; sister, Shirley and the late Bernie Chrapkowski of Grand Island; 20 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren.

Services were Wednesday, March 14, at Faith Lutheran Church in Hastings with Pastor Paul Dunbar officiating. Burial was in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings.

Roy E. Wibben April 21, 1943 to March 2, 2018

Roy E. Wibben, 74, died Friday, March 2, 2018 at Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney. 

Roy was born on April 21, 1943 to Edy B. and Adelene B. (Schmidt) Wibben in Webster County. 

Roy attended Blue Hill Schools and lived in Blue Hill for most of his life.

 Roy spent two years in the United States Army and was stationed in Fort Hood, TX, and Germany. After returning from the military, he worked in Englewood, CO. 

He then came back to Blue Hill and went to work for Ingersoll Rand Company, working there until he retired. Roy spent his time fishing, camping and hunting. Roy will be missed by a large number of friends. Roy was a member of A.L. Shirley Post #176, Blue Hill.

Roy is survived by his daughter, Brenda (Mike) Hall of Blue Hill; sister, Alyce Murray of Hastings; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Riley (Lindsey) Myers, (Ryan, Adyen, Carter and Landon) of Kearney, Derek (Mariah) Myers, (Jaxon and Emie), Lexie Myers of Blue Hill; niece, Stephanie Painter-Chavez of Hastings; nephew, Michael (Melissa) Murray of Hastings; great nieces and nephews.

Roy was preceded in death by his mother and father.

Services were Wednesday, March 7, 2018, 10 a.m. at Merten-Butler Mortuary Chapel, Blue Hill, with Pastor Ken Zimmerman officiating. Burial with Military Rites by A.L. Shirley Post #176, Blue Hill, was in the Blue Hill Cemetery, Blue Hill.

Kenneth R. Berns March 15, 1934 to February 25, 2018

Kenneth R. Berns was born March 15, 1934 at the “Craig Place” south of Bladen, to Henry PF and Blanche (Kaufman) Berns. He departed this life on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018 at the Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital in Hastings at the age of 83 years, 11 months and 10 days.

A lifelong resident of the area, Ken was raised in rural Bladen and received his formal education attending the Five Star and Catherton rural schools. He graduated from Bladen High School with the class of 1952. He continued his studies at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. After a year in Lincoln, Ken delayed his college to serve his country with the United States Army. He was inducted on March 3, 1954 and was stationed in Germany with the 6th Armored Division as a Small Arms Repairman. Following his discharge on Jan. 28, 1956, Ken returned to the University of Nebraska where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in 1959, with Highest Distinction.

He was united in marriage with LaVeda Mae Karr on June 8, 1958 at the United Methodist Church in Bladen.

Ken was employed as a high school teacher for 24 years, but spent his life teaching. He loved to engage people in teaching moments, be it about his beloved John Deeres or any of a myriad of other subjects. In addition to his teaching career, Ken also embarked on his farming career at the same time. He was a member of the Blue Hill American Legion Post and the Bladen United Methodist Church.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Henry PF and Blanche Berns; mother and father-in-law, Mathilda and William Karr; and a granddaughter, Sidney Lynn Berns.

Left to treasure his memory are his wife, LaVeda of Blue Hill; children, Vickie Nolan and husband, David, of Red Cloud, Karl Berns and wife, Lorie, of Blue Hill, Mark Berns and wife, Rhonda, of Blue Hill, Dale Berns and wife, Deborah, of Red Cloud, and Kris Simmerman and husband, Brian, of Clay Center; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; his sister, Geneva Lewis of Bladen; brothers, David Berns and wife, Sharon of Bladen, Richard Berns and wife, Sherry of Othello, WA, and Henry D. Berns and wife, Marilyn of Andover, IL; other relatives and his many friends.
Funeral services were held Thursday, March 1, 2018, at the United Methodist Church in Bladen, with Chaplin John Mueller officiating. Interment with military honors was held at the Plainview Cemetery.