Dora Elizabeth Dye Danehey Oct ober 6, 1921 April 15, 2021

 Dora Elizabeth (Dye) Danehey, was born Oct. 6, 1921 to Millard Roy Dye and Sarah Jane “Sannie” (Hayes) Dye in Alban Township, Nuckolls County. She departed this life on Thursday, April 15, 2021 at the Heritage Care Center in Red Cloud.

Dora grew up on her parents farm outside of Mt. Clare. She spent her childhood helping on the farm, playing baseball with the local children, and riding horses. Dora attended country school at District 51, Antelope School until the eighth grade. She graduated in 1940 from Superior High School. During her high school years Dora stayed with her grandmother Dora Hayes and aunts Annabelle Tavenner and Edna Hayes at their home in Superior.

After teaching country school for several years at Bostwick, Dora went to work at the Broadstone Hospital in Superior. While working at the hospital Dora met her future husband Eugene “Gene” Danehey.

Dora and Gene married on Oct. 4, 1949. After their honeymoon to the Pacific Coast the couple made their home on their farm east of Cowles. The couple raised their family of six children on the farm. The Danehey family was very involved with the local 4-H club and always showed a variety of exceptional livestock at the Webster County Fair. Dora gardened extensively with large patches of potatoes and strawberries that she generously provided to neighbors and acquaintances. She also tended an orchard on the farm and canned various jams and preserves. Her strawberry shortcakes and pies are remembered fondly.

Dora was a caretaker her entire life. She cared for her father, Millard Dye, during his last years. Dora’s Aunt Annabelle lived with the Danehey family after a stroke severely debilitated her. Dora believed in caring for those in need, and her nurse training helped her with these tasks.

When Gene’s health failed, Dora moved to Westgate Manor in Blue Hill. While in Blue Hill Dora enjoyed volunteering at the Nursing Home and working at the Blue Hill School Cafeteria. Dora devoted much of her time to her growing number of grandchildren, caring and sewing for them. Her large collection of handmade quilts are cherished family heirlooms. Dora brought many flowers from the farm and replanted around her house at Westgate. She loved tending the beautiful, growing blooms.

While at Westgate Dora was elected to the Board of Commissioners for the Housing Authority. She also was on the Resident Council at Westgate. During her later years Dora traveled extensively to see her many family members. She traveled within the Midwest, along the Eastern Seaboard, through the Southwest, and made it out to Hawaii.

Dora was known for her common sense, dry sense of humor, and commitment to family. A friend or neighbor knew they could always count on Dora for help or just common sense advice. She lived her life honestly and with very little fuss. Her creativity is evident in all the beautiful quilts and other gifts she made for friends and family throughout the years. Dora valued hard work and family above all. She will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.

Dora was preceded in death by her parents, Millard and Sannie Dye; spouse, Gene Danehey; brothers, Millard Roy Jr., Isaac “Ike”, Faye “Fuzz”, and Ralph “Bud”; and two great-grandchildren.

Left to cherish her memory are sons, Tom (Kellee) of Tucson, AZ, Pat (Dianne) of Bladen, Bob of Kansas, Mike of Red Cloud; daughters, Jane (John) Brooks of Willmington, DE, and Nancy (Mikal) Claar of Sioux Falls, SD; 16 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren who will remember her with love and carry her legacy into the future.

Funeral services will be held Friday, 10:30 am., April 23, at the Williams Funeral Home in Red Cloud. Internment will be at the Red Cloud Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the funeral home, and Friday, 8 a.m. to service time.

Wanda Lee Wright April 4, 1936 to April 6, 2021

 Wanda Lee Wright, 85, died on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

Wanda was born on April 4, 1936, to Lester and Margaret (Andersen) Burge in Cowles. She attended school at Hastings High School through the 11th grade. She, later in her adult life, after her children were grown, achieved her GED through Hastings Community College.

Wanda worked in Hastings for several years at the box factory when she met the love of her life, Leland Wright. Lee and Wanda were married on Nov. 22, 1955 and moved to Lincoln. While in Lincoln, Wanda was a housewife and mother.

In 1961, Lee and Wanda and their three children moved to Blue Hill, where they spent the next 55 years. For 20 of those years they owned Lee’s Conoco. Wanda continued as a housewife and mother and also drove school bus. She enjoyed spending time with family and friends and taking family trips.

After her husband retired, they spent several years enjoying trips to the casino and to visit children and grandchildren. Lee and Wanda moved to Waco to live with their oldest son, Mike and his wife, Angie in 2016. Wanda enjoyed her time there and it came to feel like home but due to some health issues, moved to the Kensington Assisted living facility in Hastings in September of 2020.

Wanda is proceeded in death by her parents, Lester and Margaret (Andersen) Burge; brothers, Calvin Burge and Ronald Burge and his wife, Sharon; sisters, Marcelyne (Burge) Coutts and her husband, Eugene, Donna (Burge) Goedert and her husband, Paul; brother-in-law, Vern Allen; and daughter, Rhonda (Wright) Cox.

She is survived by her sister, Shirley Allen of Hastings; sister-in-law, Ardyce Burge of Blue Hill; sons, Mike (Angie) Wright of Waco, and Rod (Bev) Wright of Chappell; son-in-law, Steve Cox of Omaha; 11 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

There will be a celebration of life funeral service at the United Methodist Church in Blue Hill, on Saturday April 17, at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Dan Albers officiating. Inurnment will be in Blue Hill Cemetery, Blue Hill, with a lunch after the service.

There will not be a visitation as it was Wanda’s wish to be cremated. It was also Wanda’s wish that memorials be sent to the Solid Rock Bible Church in Chappell or the Wounded Warrior program.

Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.mertenbutlermortuary.com. Merten-Butler Mortuary, Blue Hill, is in charge of arrangements.

James "Jim" Ralph Baird July 2 5, 1944 to March 28, 2021

 James “Jim” Ralph Baird, 76, died Sunday, March 28, at his home in Clay Center. He was born July 25, 1944 to Ralph F. and Fern M. (Jenny) Baird at Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings.

Jim grew up in Blue Hill, graduated from Blue Hill High School and thereafter obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Hastings College. While attending college, Jim continued to live at home and tended to a small dairy herd (“to pay for tuition,” he explained). He often shared this commute to college with another Blue Hill resident, Karen Toepfer, who was to become his wife for over 40 years.

Jim and Karen had two children, Molly and James. Jim and his family lived in Hastings before moving to Clay Center in 1976.

Jim was a tax professional preparing tax returns for many years in Clay Center and Blue Hill (with the forms always in triplicate). He also was a lifelong baseball fan who rooted for the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals. Whether his teams were winning or losing, he never lost his enthusiasm for the game nor relented in his opposition to the Designated Hitter.

Both Jim and Karen were avid birders and enthusiastic supporters of the Spring Wing Ding, Blue Birds Across Nebraska and the Raptor Recovery Center, among other conservation organizations. Jim was a gardener, devoted husband, father and grandfather and a generous and selfless friend to many, which he poorly hid behind a sometimes gruff manner.

Survivors include his son, James (Lisa) Baird (Fraser of Colorado; daughter, Molly (Ben) Dilsaver of Lincoln; sister, Ruth (Jerry) Koepke of Mesa, AZ; sisters-in-law, Janice Baird of Hastings, Tonna Gilbert of Blue Hill, Jeri Swanstrom of Duluth, MN, and Elberta Bruhn of Omaha; three grandchildren, Mat Baird, Dannie Dilsaver and Kate Dilsaver; other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Karen; and brother, Dan.

A private cemetery service will be held on Saturday, April 3 at the Blue Hill Cemetery with Pastor Leah Krotz officiating.

There will be no viewing or visitation as his wishes were to be cremated.

Memorials may be directed to either Central Community College Foundation in support of the Karen Baird Memorial Scholarship or Fontanelle Forest in support of the Raptor Program.

Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.mertenbutlermortuary.com. Merten-Butler Mortuary, Blue Hill, is in charge of arrangements.