Hoch Funeral Home | Obituaries

Michael Irving Kelley

Michael Irving Kelley

Jan 3, 2026

Word has been received of the death of Michael Irving Kelley age 77 of Ainsworth, NE. Michael Kelley passed away Saturday (Jan. 3, 2026) at his home in Ainsworth.

Per his wishes, no services will be held.

SURVIVORS INCLUDE:

Wife: Connie Kelley of Ainsworth

2 children: Michael Kelley Jr. of Sacramento, CA

& Michelle (Martin) Arellano of Council Bluffs, IA

11 GC & 6 GGC

Stepchildren: Levi...

Thomas R. Newtson

Thomas R. Newtson

Dec 31, 2025

A Memorial Service for Thomas R. Newtson age 68 of Springview, NE will be held on Friday (Jan. 9, 2026) at 10:30 AM at the New Hope Community Church in Springview. Tom Newtson passed away December 31, 2025 at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth, NE.

SURVIVORS INCLUDE:

Wife: Aleta Newtson of Springview

3 Children: Ray (Amanda) Newtson of Ashby, NE

Dana (Matt) Dolch...

Maxine A. (Harris) Schoettger

Maxine A. (Harris) Schoettger

Dec 29, 2025

Maxine A. (Harris) Schoettger, 89, of Springview, NE and later, Ainsworth NE, passed away Monday, December 29, 2025 at the Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth. Maxine, daughter of Cecil J. and Katherine M. (Legband) Harris, was born in her home on December 8, 1936 near Dodge, NE in Colfax County. The Harris family moved to Keya Paha County in 1947....

Velma Louise (Hartgrave) Sherman

Velma Louise (Hartgrave) Sherman

Dec 23, 2025

A Graveside Memorial Service will be held at a later date for Velma Louise Sherman age 87 of Ainsworth, NE. Louise Sherman passed away Tuesday (Dec. 23, 2025) at the Rock County Hospital in Bassett, NE.

SURIVORS INCLUDE:

Sister: Betty Sherman of Brule, NE

Cousins and other family members

Memorials may be made to the family in Louise’s name.

Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth is...

Darrel W. Steele Sr.

Darrel W. Steele Sr.

Dec 18, 2025



Memorial Services will be held at a later date for Darrel W. Steele Sr. age 96 of Ainsworth, NE. Darrel Steele Sr. passed away Thursday, December 18, 2025 at the Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth.

Survivors include:

Wife: Ruth Ann Steele of Ainsworth

Son: Darrel Steele Jr. of Ainsworth

Daughter: Ann Pfeiffer and significant other, Daryl Sulzbach of Alliance, NE

2 GC & 2 GGC

Brother:...

Ila Mae (Sybrant) Blake

Ila Mae (Sybrant) Blake

Dec 15, 2025

Ila Mae Blake was born May 30, 1943 at Ainsworth, NE and passed away December 15, 2025 at her home in Rock County, NE at the age of 82 years, six months and 15 days. She and her brother, Arlo, spent their childhood in southern Rock County with their parents, Austin and Naomi (Sokol) Sybrant. She thought the world of...

Donna D. (Diehl) McGuire

Donna D. (Diehl) McGuire

Dec 7, 2025

Donna Dee McGuire was born on March 19, 1930 in Bassett, NE to Wilbur and Pearl (Cameron) Diehl and passed away December 7, 2025 at the Rock County Hospital Long Term Care in Bassett. She had two older sisters, Neva Belle and Twila Mae. Donna attended first grade in Long Pine, NE until March of 1936, when the family moved...

Larry Dean Svenson

Larry Dean Svenson

Dec 5, 2025

Larry Dean Svenson, 74, of Long Pine, NE passed away on December 5, 2025 in his home after a two-year battle with cancer.

Larry was born January 7, 1951 the fourth child to Edward and Juanita (Spencer) Svenson in Norfolk, NE. He graduated from Norfolk High School in 1969. He then attended basic training in Lackland, TX in 1970 and subsequently...

James Leslie Strong

James Leslie Strong

Dec 2, 2025

Word has been received of the death of James L. Strong age 87 of Ainsworth, NE. Jim Strong passed away Tuesday (Dec. 2, 2025) in the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth.

Per his wishes, no services will be held.

SURVIVORS INCLUDE:

Wife: Leota Strong of Ainsworth

Daughter: Angela (Mike) Niere of Gilbert, AZ

Son: Bill (Jill) Strong of Batavia, IL

Son-in-law: John Hockenbary of Wood Lake,...

Ardith A. (Soles) Vobr

Ardith A. (Soles) Vobr

Dec 1, 2025

Ardith Ann (Soles) Vobr, age 90, went home to be with the Lord on December 1, 2025, at Sandhills Care Center in Ainsworth, NE. She was born on May 28, 1935, at the Ainsworth Hospital to Fred and Bertha (Ford) Soles.

Ardith was raised on the Soles ranch east of Springview, NE, where she attended District 4 School, grades 1-8, and...

Richard C. Strand

Richard C. Strand

Nov 13, 2025



Richard Charles Strand was born on June 30, 1949, to Parker and Barbara J. (Rice) Strand and passed away on November 13, 2025, in Bassett, NE.

Richard grew up on Goose Creek on his family's ranch near Koshopah, NE. He attended Cottonwood through 1st grade, Progressive Valley District 16 school through 8th grade, and then attended Ainsworth High School until a...

Vernon E. Van Epps

Vernon E. Van Epps

Nov 13, 2025

Vernon Van Epps was born to Frank and Tina (Lattimore) Van Epps on February 24, 1939 in Winner, SD. He grew up with older brother, Eugene and younger sisters, Madalyn and Sharon in Todd County, SD. Frank passed away when Vernon was a sophomore in high school. At that point the family moved to Winner, SD where he completed high...

Norman J. Peterson

Norman J. Peterson

Nov 11, 2025

Norman John Peterson was born April 14, 1944, to John and Hazel (Frauen) Peterson at Ainsworth, NE. Four years later, brother Wayne joined the family. Norm grew up at Sparks, NE on the family ranch, he loved to ranch and farm and was on a tractor every chance he got. He attended grade school at a rural country school and...

Christina Lynne (Arent) Cook

Christina Lynne (Arent) Cook

Nov 10, 2025

Christina Lynne Arent was born on September 30, 1975, to Keevin and Dottie (Pojar) Arent at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth, NE. Christy attended District #65 her kindergarten through 6th grade and Ainsworth Public Schools for 7th through 12th grade. She graduated from high school in May of 1993. She graduated from South Dakota State University at Brookings, SD...

Bobbi J. (Lutz) Coleman

Bobbi J. (Lutz) Coleman

Nov 10, 2025

OBITUARY OF BOBBI J (LUTZ) COLEMAN

Bobbi Jean (Lutz) Coleman, 65, of Bassett, NE, passed away Monday, November 10, 2025, at Bryan Medical Center East in Lincoln, NE. Bobbi was born on June 17, 1960, in Mitchell, SD, to Thomas and Ruth (Beutner) Lutz. The family lived in White Lake, SD, before moving and settling in Long Pine, NE. Bobbi attended...

Judy Anne (Neufeld) Anthony

Judy Anne (Neufeld) Anthony

Oct 31, 2025

Judy Anne Anthony, fondly known as “Punky” to her many grandchildren, was born November 23, 1947, in Didsbury, Alberta, Canada, and passed away October 31, 2025, in Bassett, Nebraska, at the age of 77. The heartbreaking loss of this wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother means that the bright light at the center of our family has left...

Donna Lee (Schlueter) Marlatt

Donna Lee (Schlueter) Marlatt

Sep 29, 2025

Donna Lee (Schlueter) Marlatt was born in Ainsworth, NE on December 7, 1935 to Lee Schlueter and Madonna (Saxton) Schlueter. She attended a rural elementary school south of Wood Lake, NE, graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1953, and attended one year at Doane College before attaining her cosmetology license in 1954.

On May 29, 1955 Donna Lee married Kenneth Marlatt...

Christopher G. Martin

Christopher G. Martin

Aug 28, 2025

Christopher G. Martin was born on September 29, 1956, in Imogene, IA, to Edward and Esther (Anderson) Martin. He was the fifth of six children.

On May 29, 1976, Chris married his high school sweetheart, Mary Kimmel. The two shared 49 years of love, laughter and partnership raising their three children together, Heather, Jeremy and Cory. Chris was a devoted husband,...

Carleton Harold Johnson

Carleton Harold Johnson

Aug 11, 2025

Word has been received of the death of Carleton H. Johnson age 47 of Omaha, NE. Carl Johnson died Monday (August 11, 2025) at UNMC-Buffett Cancer Center in Omaha. Per his wishes no formal services will be held. A Private Family Burial occurred Thursday, August 14, 2025 in the Ainsworth Cemetery.

SURVIVORS INCLUDE:

Daughters: Echo Johnson of Chicago, IL

& Nora Johnson of...

Ray E. Herrington

Ray E. Herrington

Aug 8, 2025

Ray Edgar Herrington, 96, entered his eternal heavenly home on Friday, August 8, 2025, at the Rock County Hospital Long Term Care in Bassett, NE. Ray was born on April 12, 1929, in Atkinson, NE to Edgar E. and Lela O. (Davis) Herrington. He lived his entire life in the Sandhills of Rock County. As a young boy, he helped...

Subscribe

Subscribe to get alerts on new obituaries

Bassett & Ainsworth NE