Susan Elizabeth Stephens Porter, born in Seward county, Nebr., Sept. 18, 1875, and departed this life August 9, 1915, at her childhood home in K Precinct, at the age of 39 years, 11 months and 21 days.
In the year 1901 she was united in marriage to George W. Porter of Beaver Crossing. To them were born two children, Ralph E. and Mabel E., the latter having preceded her to the spirit land several years ago.
Mrs. Porter lived in the vicinity of Seward until March 15, 1915, when the family moved to Polson, Mont., but she could not stand the high altitude there and returned to her father's home May 15, where all medical aid and loving hands could do was done. She was of more than ordinary intelligence, loving, kind and patient in her long suffering.
She leaves to mourn her early death her husband, one son, father, mother, three brothers and three sisters, namely: Mrs. Lottie Stream, Waco, Neb.; George W. Stephens, Willet, Neb.; Mrs. Nellie Miller, Frank M. Walter E., and Myrtle of Seward, besides many friends who kindly showed their appreciation by many favors and their presence.
Funeral services were held from the family home at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning, conducted by Rev. George Bancroft of Lincoln, interment being made in the North cemetery, Seward. Those attending the funeral from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. Mahlon Stream, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Berry, Mrs. C. Stream, of Waco; Mrs. M. W. Warner and Mr. and Mrs. Obermeier, of Beaver Crossing.
The pallbearers were: Carl and G. F. Eberspaecher, Sam Dierberger, Joel Stahley, M. B. Stream and Walter Berry.
Earl Wesley Stephens was born November 23, 1916 in Seward, Nebraska to Frank Martin and Anna Berdine (Armstrong) Stephens and passed away on Friday, July 15, 2011 in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 94 years, 7 months, 22 days.
Earl attended country school as a child. On December 3, 1941, Earl was united in marriage to Marjorie F. Westerhoff and their marriage was blessed with two children, Wesley E. and Barbara Ann. Following Marjorie's death in 1962, Earl was united in marriage to Eleanor Wood on November 23, 1963 in Sioux City, Iowa.
Earl was a lifelong farmer and they lived on a farm near Goehner until April of 1973 when they moved to Seward. He continued to enjoy gardening, fishing, and playing cards with his friends after retirement. Earl was a member of the Seward United Methodist Church, Order of Eastern Star and Oliver Lodge No. 38 A.F. & A.M., where he was a 63 year member. Earl was the proud recipient of the Jordan Medal in 2006.
Earl is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Berdine Stephens; his wife, Marjorie Stephens; brother, Leland Stephens; great-granddaughter, Grace Benedict. Earl is survived by his wife, Eleanor Stephens of Seward; son, Wesley E. Stephens, Seward; daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Tom Ruhnke of Lincoln; seven grandchildren and spouses, Noel and Matthew Pycior, Erin and Shaun Benedict, Jason and Jamie Stephens, Jessica and Brian Crogg, Andrew and Dana Matzner, David and Jody Novak, Dale and Sandra Novak; 17 great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Hulbert, of Torrington, Connecticut; and a host of friends.
To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Earl.
Dorothy Lorraine (Stephens) Hulbert, 95, of Torrington, CT, passed away on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, at Litchfield Woods Nursing Home. She was the former wife of the late Merle C. Hulbert.
Mrs. Hulbert was born on January 8, 1918, on the family farm outside Goehner, Nebraska, daughter of the late Frank M. and Berdine A. (Armstrong) Stephens. Prior to moving to Torrington 20 years ago, she and her family resided in Chula Vista, California. In addition to being a homemaker, she was a former member of the Eastern Star, Seward, Nebraska Chapter. Having grown up on a farm, she had a great love of animals and raised goats while living in California.
She is survived by four children, Carolyn Sander of Mira Loma, California, Frankie Phillips (Robert) of Rotan, Texas, Dwight Hulbert (Barbara) of Torrington, Connecticut, and Stephen Hulbert of Mira Loma California; seven grandchildren, Laura Rutledge (Darryl), Wanda Sander (Cindy Bustillos), David Sander (Elaine), Paul Sander (Elena), Brinda Martin (Lance), Scott Phillips (Brenda) and Moselle Hulbert; nine great grandchildren, Samantha and Matthew Rutledge, Melanie Sander, Jenna and Bridget Sander, Stephen and Holly Martin, and Carson and Caden Phillips; two sisters-in-law, Eleanor Stephens of Seward, Nebraska and Glennis Stephens of Omaha, Nebraska; as well as several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Earl W. Stephens and Leland Stephens, one son-in-law, Alvin Sander, and a granddaughter, Linda.
Graveside services will be held in the spring, May 17, 2013 at Seward Cemetery in Seward, Nebraska. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Cook Funeral Home and Zabka Funeral Home, Seward, NE Condolences may be sent to the Hulbert family by visiting www.cookfuneralhomect.com or www.zabkafuneralhome.com.
Birth: Jun. 28, 1917 Joplin Newton County Missouri, USA
Death: Mar. 8, 2014 Yakima Yakima County Washington, USA
Paul's second marriage was to Marie Sophie Post on 11/8/1952. Paul and Marie had two children: Paula (Dalke)of Mount Vernon, Washington), and Charles (Chuck) Martin of Yakima, Washington. Paul had one child from his previous marriage....his name is Vernon Martin from Lynchfield Park, Ariz. At the time of Paul's death he had nine grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Obituary:
Paul LeRoy Martin, 96, of Yakima died Saturday. Mr. Martin was born in Joplin, Mo. He lived in the Yakima Valley since 1940. He was a supervisor for Del Monte Foods for more than 40 years.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Martin of Yakima; two sons, Chuck Martin of Yakima and Vern Martin of Lynchfield Park, Ariz.; a daughter, Paula Dalke of Mount Vernon; nine grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday and from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Valley Hills Funeral Home, Yakima.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with burial to follow in Terrace Heights Memorial Park in Yakima, Washington USA.
Obituary for Paul LeRoy Martin
Paul LeRoy Martin, 96, passed away quickly and peacefully on March 8, 2014 at his home in the loving arms of his children, Paula and Chuck, and with his beautiful bride of 61 years, Marie, by his side. Paul was born on June 28, 1917 in Joplin, MO, the fifth of six children born to Charles Edward Martin and Hattie McConnell (Geyer) Martin. Paul's family moved from Missouri when Paul was an infant to the Orofino, ID and Clarkston, WA areas. He kept true to his Missouri roots by keeping in touch with family in the Joplin area. Thank you Betty Pierson for always making Dad's day brighter when you called!
Paul graduated from Clarkston High School in 1935. Shortly after high school he lived in Walla Walla, WA and worked seasonally in the Libby McNeil and Libby cannery, as a farm laborer, a railroad worker, and had a paper route for the Spokesman-Review. His strong and motivated work ethic was legendary. He often said, "Times were tough and we worked long and hard for the family".
In 1942, Paul moved to the Yakima Valley and married Elsiemae Steiner (Ellsworth). Paul lovingly accepted her son, Vern, as his son. In the early 1950's, after a tragic car accident, Elsimae passed away. Also in 1942, Paul began working as a full time employee for the California Packing Corporation (Del Monte) in Yakima as a mechanic. He eventually became cook-room supervisor. He retired from Del Monte in 1978. He loved his career with Del Monte and was a true "company" man. His mechanical ability was a natural to him and he could fix or put together anything. He always had the greatest respect and trust for his crew that "worked with him" not for him. He loved the "romance" between the very busy fruit-packing season and the slower paced wintertime.
In 1952, a young woman traveling the country from Iowa was visiting her friend in Yakima. This young woman, Marie, got a seasonal job at the Del Monte plant in Yakima, making money for the next leg of her journey touring the USA. She was introduced to Paul and they went on a date. Her journey ended in Yakima, as Paul and Marie were soon married and were together and inseparable for 61 years. They had two children, Paula and Chuck. Paul and family, spent many wonderful days together camping, fishing, hunting, huckleberry picking, and extensively touring the Cascade mountains in his old '47 Willys Jeep. So many stories are told about that old Jeep and the many camping trips. It was not a weekend in the summer unless us kids were in the back seat of that old Jeep looking like raccoons with all the dust and mud on our faces. Along with hunting and fishing, Paul enjoyed raising cattle and hay on their small ranch in East Valley. In retirement years Paul and Marie enjoyed snow-birding in their motor home with close friends in California and Arizona. His gardens that he raised every year were the envy of the neighborhood. He also enjoyed working in his shop with wood and made many furniture pieces.
Paul was a member of Tree of Life Lutheran Church. His spiritual family was very important to him. He always said that he could not carry a tune in a five-gallon bucket, but he always sang the hymns in loving reverence to the Triune God.
The family would like to thank the members of Yakima's medical community in the care of Paul. Most of all to Doctors Robertson, Schefter, Gilmore, Williams, Greene, and Brady-Thomas. Your compassionate expertise allowed him to have a full and comfortable life at home.
Paul is survived by his wife, Marie Martin, his children: Vern Martin (Mary) of Litchfield Park, AZ; Paula Dalke (Jerry) of Mount Vernon, WA; and Chuck Martin (Daphne) of Yakima; nine grandchildren, eighteen great grand children, and two great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews across the USA who loved to visit with Uncle Paul. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers and sisters: Mary Martin, Charles Martin Jr., Leah Brown, John Martin, and Georgetta Kennard. They were his "rock foundation" and his devotion to his living relatives for so many years.
Visitation will be at Valley Hills Funeral Home Chapel located at 2600 Business Ln., Yakima, WA 98901 on Friday March 14 from 5-7 pm and Saturday from 9-11 am. A celebration of Paul's life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday March 15, 2014 at Valley Hills Chapel with burial to follow at Terrace Heights Memorial Park. A reception will follow the services at the Terrace Heights Civic Center. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution be made to the Union Gospel Mission in Yakima or to a charity of your choice. Share your memories of Paul online at www.valleyhillsfh.com.
Thank you Dad, Grandpa, and Uncle Paul for being our patriarch, mentor, advisor, and hero all these wonderful years. You are the definition of a "wonderful life". We are happy to celebrate it with you. And, thank you for always finding the time to take us fishing and hunting! Love to you forever, your family.