May 24, 2013
Births
Tipton – A daughter, Mercy Jean, was born to Chris and Anne (Soper) Tipton of Omaha, NE on September 25, 2012.
Knight – A son, Luke Thomas, was born to Jim and Jenny (Ryschon) Knight of Lawrence, KS on October 2, 2012.
Amidon – A son, Jeremiah Allen, was born to Jason and Jessica (Powell) Amidon of Coudersport, PA on March 24, 2013.
Pradetto – A daughter, Elena Sofia, was born to Joe and Aubrey (Appel) Pradetto of Palm Desert, CA on April 26, 2013.
Burns – A daughter, Kaylee Ruth, was born to David and Jackie (Cruzan) Burns of Redondo Beach, CA on May 6, 2013.
Palermo – A daughter, Noelani Allison, was born to Nick and Amy (Goodrich) Palermo of Omaha, NE on May 7, 2013.
New Members
Battle Creek, MI
Kory Geske, pastor
Joined after testimony
LaVaune Artis
Linda Shimmel
Janet Tavernier
Joined by letter
Harold D. King
Kathi King
Obituaries
Severance.—Bonnie (Babcock) Keown Severance, 81, of North Loup, Neb., passed away peacefully on June 4, 2012 surrounded by her family at the Valley County Health System Hospital in Ord, Neb.
She was the youngest of 10 children born to Martha and Clarence Babcock. Her given name was Benita Beryl, but she was “Bonnie” to all who knew her. She was born in North Loup on May 2, 1931. She married Bernard W. Keown in 1948, and graduated from Scotia High School in 1949. They were married for 10 years and had four children: Bernard, Colleen, Terry and Thomas.
Following Bernard’s death in 1959, Bonnie moved the family back to North Loup from Oklahoma and worked in the North Loup-Scotia Public School System for the next 42 years. In addition to her work at school, she wrote the local news for both the Scotia-Register and the Ord Quiz, owned B&C Ceramics, and managed the North Loup Drive-In Theater.
In 1968, she married Cecil F. Severance. Their son, Christopher, was born the following year and became number 11 in their blended family. Cecil had also been widowed and had six children before marrying Bonnie. They were married for 35 years until Cecil’s death in 2004.
Bonnie’s family and faith in God were the two most important things in her life and she was an active member of the North Loup Seventh Day Baptist Church for 68 years. She served on numerous church committees including the Popcorn Days Stand, Christian Education, Camp, and Turkey Supper. She was a member of the Dr. Grace Missionary Society, taught Sabbath School for all ages (turning over her adult class just a month before she passed). Bonnie was church historian and communicated with many who sought information about family or church history. She also served as North Loup’s mayor and was a member of the Harmony Club.
Survivors include sons Dr. Bernie Keown of Ord, Terry Keown of Lincoln, Tom Keown of Omaha, and Christopher Severance of Frederick, Colo.; daughter Colleen Reichert of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; stepsons Brice Severance of Norfolk, Cletus Severance of Brighton, Colo., Keith Severance of Frederick, Colo., and Galen Severance of Glendale, Ariz.; stepdaughters Katherine Dutcher of North Loup, Shirley Cargill of Scotia; 25 grandchildren and even more great-grandchildren; and one brother, Gilbert Babcock of Ord.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Bernard and Cecil; five brothers, Chester, Merwin, Carroll, Donald, and Iradell; and three sisters, Lillian, Ida and Marguerite.
Services were held at the North Loup SDB Church on June 8, 2012 with Pastor Scott Hausrath officiating. Burial was in the Hillside Cemetery at North Loup.
Simpson.—Doris Elinor Simpson, 93, entered into rest on February 10, 2013 at St. James Hospital in Hornell, N.Y., after a brief stay.
Doris was born on October 23, 1919 in Bath, N.Y., the daughter of Olin Huffman and Carrie Maude (Young) Simpson. She lived in various Western New York communities during grade school and then lived in Alfred, N.Y., all but for the last few years of her life when she resided in Hornell at Updyke’s Assisted Living Facility.
She graduated from Attica High School and later from Alfred University in 1941. She taught in the Warsaw Public School District for three years and then returned to Alfred to work until her retirement in the office of Counseling and Career Services at Alfred University. Along with her brother William Simpson, Doris also owned and managed several rental properties in the village of Alfred.
Doris, who never married, enjoyed her work and also enjoyed traveling and photography. Some of her fondest memories were related to her associations through the Seventh Day Baptist denomination and her adventures and time spent with local Alfred friends. She was a member of the Kanakadea/McArthur Order of the Eastern Star, the Alfred/Hornell Association of University Women, and the Alfred First Seventh Day Baptist Church.
She amazed her neighbors and friends by climbing the 23 steps to her home on High Street into her 88th year until it burned in 2007. Doris continued to have a sharp mind and wit, and excellent recall of her family, past friends and adventures.
Doris is survived by a sister-in-law, Janette; three nephews, Larry of Oklahoma, and James and Michael of Colorado; and several great-nephews and nieces. She is also survived by good friends Thomas Ripple, formerly of Hornell, and Sandra McGraw of Alfred.
In addition to her parents, Doris was pre-deceased by a sister, Bernice, and a brother William.
A memorial service was held on March 23, 2013 at the Alfred First SDB Church with Rev. Patricia Bancroft officiating. Burial was in the Alfred Rural Cemetery.
Fletcher.—Lois K. Fletcher, 80, of New Enterprise, Pa., died on April 1, 2013 at the Rheems (Pa.) Nursing and Rehab Center.
Lois was born March 18, 1933 to John W. and Francis (Blough) Kagarise in New Enterprise. She married John R. Fletcher on December 11, 1952 in Cumberland, Md. He died on July 29, 1995.
She was a member of the Bell Seventh Day Baptist Church in Salemville, and an active member of their Women’s Society. Lois served on the Camp JOY (W.Va.) Board and was a cook for the camp for several years. She also directed and taught at the Salemville Vacation Bible School. She enjoyed making detailed cakes for any occasion and always supported any project going on in her home church. She will be sadly missed.
Lois is survived by a daughter, Karen Davis of Lancaster, Pa., and two sons, Raymond Fletcher of Roaring Spring, Pa., and Rory Fletcher of Charleston, S.C.; two sisters, Eileen Claycomb of New Enterprise and Ruthanna Roberts of Everett, Pa.; one brother, Dwight Kagarise; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Jocelyn Fletcher Ernst; a son, Jarred; and a brother, Orlo W. Kagarise.
A funeral service was held April 5, 2013 at the Bell SDB Church, with Pastor Ed Sutton officiating. Interment was in the Salemville Cemetery.
Thompson.—Kathryn S. Thompson, 88, of Coudersport, Pa., died April 9, 2013 at Sweden Valley Manor in Coudersport.
Born January 9, 1925 in Coudersport, she was the daughter of Albert A. and Dorothy (Davey) Schaub. On February 28, 1943, at the First United Presbyterian Church in Coudersport, she married William W. Thompson, who survives.
Mrs. Thompson was a 1942 graduate of Coudersport High School. She worked at the JC Penney store during World War II. She later worked in various offices in the Potter County Courthouse.
Kathryn was a former member of the First Seventh Day Baptist Church of Hebron, where she held various offices. She was a member of the First United Presbyterian Church at the time of her passing. She was a member of Eulalia Chapter No. 148 Order of Eastern Star and was a member of the former Hebron Grange. For most of her life she was a homemaker, and a loving wife and mother.
Surviving in addition to her husband of 70 years are two sons, George Thompson of Marietta, Ga., and William Thompson of Ontario, N.Y.; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; one brother, Lewis Schaub of Coudersport; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Rebecca Thompson, and a sister, Dorothy Staiger.
Funeral services were held on April 13, 2013 at the First United Presbyterian Church in Coudersport with the Rev. Evon Lloyd officiating. Committal services and burial were at the Hebron Cemetery, with Pastor Carl Greene officiating.