Gayleen Lou Fries, 69, died on Thursday, November 29th, 2012, at her home near Culbertson, Nebraska, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Gayleen was born at Kearney, Nebraska, on March 22nd, 1943, to Alfred V. and Irene D. (Helzer) Woodburn. She attended the Gothenburg Public Schools K-12 and was graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1961. She continued her education at Kearney State College, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1965 and her Master of Science degree in 1967. Both degrees were in education with specialization areas in English, vocal music, speech and drama.
Gayleen taught one year (1965-66) at Sidney, Nebraska. On August 6th, 1966, she married Stephen Flood. The couple moved to Kearney where Gayleen accepted a graduate assistantship at Kearney State College while pursuing her master's degree. She then taught two years in the Kearney Public Schools and instructed night classes in speech at Kearney State before the couple moved to Monroe, Iowa (1969-73). As a teacher of English, speech and drama, Gayleen directed many theatre productions at Monroe and chartered the school's Thespian Society.
In 1972, the couple was blessed with the birth of their son, Michael Sean.
Wanting to be closer to their families, Steve took a teaching position at Trenton, Nebraska and Gayleen taught speech at McCook Community College (1973-77). When the opportunity arose to live in her hometown, Gayleen accepted a contract to teach at Lexington Senior High and Steve at Gothenburg. During her 18-year tenure at Lexington, she was well-known for her success in teaching literature, composition and Advance Placement English classes, as well as for her extraordinary gift of bringing out the best in her students. She earned many honors for her speech and drama teams, including a state championship in Class A Play Production and Southwest Conference and district championships in both speech and play production.
She was a charter member and president of the Central Nebraska Forensics League.
On July 28th, 1995, Gayleen married Steven R. Fries and moved to the farm northwest of Culbertson. She accepted a position to teach English at McCook High School, where she developed and taught advanced composition and Advanced Placement courses until her retirement in 2002.
During her teaching career, Gayleen was a member of the National Education Association and its state and local affiliates, Alpha Delta Kappa Teacher Honorary, Nebraska Council of Teachers of English, Nebraska Speech Communication and Theatre Association, and Central Nebraska Forensics League. After retirement, she continued to be a certified speech and play production judge for the Nebraska School Activities Association.
She was also active in her church and the communities in which she lived. As a 56-year member of the United Methodist Church, she served as director of the adult church choir while in Gothenburg. In McCook, she completed five years of Discipleship studies under Pastors Jeff Thurman and Lance Clay. She and Steve completed the Alpha course and participated in Walk to Emmaus.
Gayleen served as an Agape in 2010 and was scheduled to be a leader at Chadron in August before her health limited her activities.
She was a past E.M.T. and rescue squad member and community choir soloist. A 33-year P.E.O. member, Gayleen served three terms as president of FA Chapter in McCook.
Her long-time hobby was one shared with her mother making porcelain dolls. She created over 65, each named and dated and dressed in beautiful clothes fashioned by her mother. In later years, Gayleen's artistry was inspired by her sister, Kathy, as they designed special scrapbooks of family photos and keepsakes. She will also be remembered for her specially painted Halloween pumpkins, which she shared with family and friends.
Gayleen loved the beauty and serenity of the farm, as she watched the deer, pheasants and wild turkeys playing in the pasture north of the house or the birds nesting in the eaves of the back porch. Her abundant flowers and plants were her passion and a joy for visitors to see. She spent many hours working along side her husband, doing office work, taking meals to the field and all the supporting jobs that go along with life on the farm.
Gayleen and Steve enjoyed traveling to South Africa to visit Steve's daughter, Steffenie and to Hawaii. They also loved camping and taking trips together pulling their fifth wheel. They were in two camping clubs: Excel Club, for which Gayleen and Steve served as co-presidents and the Sandpipers Club. They were able to spend time in Arizona in the winter and had the opportunity to go to the Rose Parade, but the highlight of the camping experience was the people they met who became loving friends.
Nothing pleased Gayleen more than being with family. She cherished birthdays and holidays for special gatherings to be together and to wrap her arms around her grandchildren.
Survivors include her loving husband Steve of Culbertson, son and daughter-in-law Mike and LaRae Flood, Kearney, step-daughter Steffenie Fries and her fiance Noel Gurwick, Washington D.C., step-son and daughter-in-law Travis and Suzanne Fries, McCook, Nebraska and six beloved grandchildren: Olivia, Leah, Josslyn and Ambrie Flood, Kearney, and Emma and Benjamin Fries of McCook. Gayleen is also survived by three siblings: Kathleen Turnquist and her husband Donald, Hutchison, Kansas, Dr. Donald Woodburn and his wife Vicki, Lincoln, Nebraska and Phyl Wooodburn, Wahoo, Nebraska; brothers-in-law Tyrone and his wife Donna Fries, Plattsmouth, Nebraska, Wayne Fries, Leander, Texas, Harvey Fries, Kansas City, Missouri, Russell Fries and his wife Ruth, Smithville, Missouri and several nieces and nephews.
Gayleen leaves behind many beloved students and colleagues, including her close friend and judging partner Linda Crandall.
She was preceded in death by her father in 1976 and her mother in 2002.
Memorials may be specified to the Gayleen Fries Scholarship Fund at the University of Nebraska-Kearney Foundation or to the donor's choice.
Memorial Service were held at the United Methodist Church in McCook on December 4th, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Lance Clay officiating. Inurnment was in the Gothenburg Cemetery. Herrmann-Jones Funeral Chapel of McCook in Charge of services.

Richard "Dick" Hardin Young, 90, of Lincoln, was born to Herbert and Lela (Larkin) Young at Alliance, Nebraska on November 28, 1926, and passed away January 8, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. He graduated from Alliance High School in 1944, attending Chadron State College that summer, and entering Nebraska Wesleyan in the fall. Drafted into the Army in January of 1945, Dick spent two and a half years as a musician in the Army band. Returning to Nebraska Wesleyan, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, he graduated with a degree in Music Education in May 1950.

On December 19, 1948, Dick was united in marriage to Evelyn Elaine Cunningham, daughter of Clarence and Pearle Cunningham at the Methodist church in Arnold, Nebraska. To this union five daughters were born.

Dick earned his Masters of Music Education Degree in 1963 from Colorado State College, now the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. He taught vocal and instrumental music in the public schools in Lincoln, Nebraska, Greeley, Ft. Lupton and Longmont, Colorado, and Lexington, Nebraska, where he spent summers as an announcer for KRVN radio.

In 1969 Dick and Evelyn moved to Lincoln and became members of Saint Paul Methodist Church and choir. Dick joined the University of Nebraska as a Media Specialist with a federal program for the deaf. In this capacity he traveled from coast to coast presenting and instructing teachers on multi-media productions. He retired from the Barkley Center in 1989. He also taught photo journalism at the University, sharing his knowledge and experience learned as both a professional and press photographer for the Lincoln Journal and Star, and KFOR/KOLN Television in the early 1950's. Following his retirement, he and Evelyn enjoyed traveling the United States and Ireland to do genealogical research, and were active in LLCGS/Lincoln Lancaster County Genealogical Society, and co-founders of NISIA/Nebraskans of Irish and Scotch-Irish Ancestry.

Dick played bass with symphonies in Omaha, Cheyenne, Casper, and Greeley, playing with the Lincoln Symphony for 25 years. He has played in dance bands from the time he was in High School until his final New Year's Eve dance with the Greg Spevac Orchestra in 2013. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and continued to play with the Shrine band in Lincoln until 2015.

He is survived by his daughters Kendra (Ken) Hartwig of Lincoln, Cynthia (Bruce) Fagot, of York, Janet (Tim) Sorensen, of Elmwood, Tara (Jeff) Gottula, and Paula (Steve) Kovar, both of Lincoln, sixteen grandchildren (Brendelyn Beck, Meghan Frickle, Erin Sandquist, Andrew Hartwig, Jeremy Fago, Rebecca Huls, Benjamin Fago, Rachel Chavanu, Scott Sorensen, Eric Sorensen, Kristin Matulka, Sara Vielhaber, Christian Gates, Kelly Day, Aubrey Young, and Ashley Martin) and thirty-four (+ two expected) great grandchildren. His sister Marjorie (Darrel) Schindler of Wilmington, Delaware, brother Ray Young of Estes Park, Colorado, brother-in-law Wayne (Marilyn) Cunningham of Longmont, Colorado, step-sister Nola Raymond of Chattsworth, California, Aunt, Thelma Armitage, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Lela, wife Evelyn on March 20, 2008, grandson Cory Mohler and great-grandson Jaxon Matulka.

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday (1-21-17) Saint Paul United Methodist Church, 1144 'M' Street with Rev. Dr. David Lux officiating.

Memorials to the family for future designation.

No Visitation/Cremation

• LHS
• Memorial
• Obituary
• Faculty

Date Posted: 2012-11-01

Archie Dean Chapman, 86 years, 8 months, and 21 days, died Oct. 31, 2012 in Lincoln.

Funeral services for Archie will be held Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. at the Geneva United Methodist Church. Pastor Ron Harris and Kim Dunker will officiate the services.

Interment will be in the Geneva Public Cemetery.

Pallbearers for the service will include Tony Chapman, Tyler Chapman, Nigel Chapman, Larry Bornschlegl, Dick Nelson, Jim Nichols and P.R. Farmer. Honorary bearers include all of Archie’s former student-athletes.

Folding of the United States Flag and presentation will be performed by the Geneva American Legion Sloan-Bolton Post 68.

Sondra Myers is to accompany Sue Rickert in the singing of “Because He Lives” and “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.” Sondra will also accompany the congregation in the singing of “Hymn Of Promise.”

Archie was born to Claude and Ella (Ondrak) Chapman on Feb. 10, 1926 in rural Fairmont.

Archie attended grade school in Fairmont and graduated from Exeter High School with the class of 1943. He joined the US Navy in 1944 and served with the Dive Bomber Squad 7. Following his discharge from the Navy, he attended Doane College at Crete. Archie received his bachelor’s degree in 1951 and later pursued his education with a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1964.

Archie met Dee at a dance in Geneva on June 10, 1946. From then on, all of their dates consisted of dances. He gave her a ring on Valentine’s Day 1948.

On June 16, 1948, he married Delight Joann Wright at Ohiowa and to this union four children were born: Frank, Randy, Nancy and Paul.

His first teaching and coaching position was in Stella followed by Sterling, Geneva and Lexington. He loved teaching history, as well as coaching basketball and football.

He retired from his teaching position in 1978 to become the business manager at Jones Plumbing in Lexington where he was employed until 1990.

Archie and Dee returned to Geneva in 1991 for their retirement. During this time, he became a Teammates mentor and passed this experience on to his son and grandson.

He was a life-long learner and enjoyed conversations about most any topic. His hobbies were a love of reading, crossword puzzles, woodworking, model trains and jigsaw puzzles. He enjoyed his grandchildren’s events, and in his later years especially enjoyed visits from his great-grandchildren.

He also looked forward to his former student’s class reunions and alumni banquet celebrations.

Archie was a member of the United Methodist Church, Geneva Rotary Club, Geneva Lions Club, the VFW and the American Legion. He was a past president of the Fillmore County Teacher’s Association, the MUDECAS Association and the Lexington Education Association.

Archie was also a member of the National Education Association, Nebraska State Education Association, NSEA Executive Committee District IV and the Nebraska Coaches Association.

He is survived by his wife Dee, his companion of 64 years; sons Frank (Gail) of York, Randy (Judy) of Lexington; daughter, Nancy (Steve) Heiser of Lincoln and son, Paul also of Lincoln; six grandchildren, Amy Chapman-Bader of Lexington, Tony (Kerry) of Grand Island, Sara Chapman-Gomez (Vic) of Kearney, Tyler (Latisha) of Wichita, Kan., Madeleine Heiser and Nigel Chapman of Lincoln; eight great-grandchildren, including Katie and Sam Gomez of Kearney, Addison, Olivia, and Ella Chapman of Grand Island, Londyn, Sydney and Liberty Chapman of Wichita; sisters-in-law, Gloria (Hal) Mullison of Flat Rock, N.C., Elnora (Ed Schulz) of Oxnard, Calif., and many nieces, nephews, cousins, colleagues and friends.

Archie was preceded in death by his parents, Claude and Ella Chapman in 1994 and grandson-in-law, Tom Bader.

Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church, Teammates Mentoring Program, York Dialysis Center or the Geneva Public Library.

Farmer and Son Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.