Marcia Lee Gauchat, one of two children of Oscar Weldon and Caroline (Richardson) Wangeman, was born July 6, 1940, at Kingman, Arizona. As a young girl, Marcia and her family moved to Louisiana, where Marcia would grow up and attend school in New Orleans.
Harold T. Hitch, Jr. passed away peacefully on March 23rd, 2021 in Bowling Green, Kentucky at the age of 86 after contending with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s for several years.
Randy L. Speckmann was born to Edward and Wilma (Rippe) on August 14, 1955 in Tecumseh, Nebraska. He was baptized and confirmed at Martin Luther Church, rural Johnson, Nebraska. Randy grew up near rural Elk Creek. The youngest of five, he was an avid farmer and dog lover from a young age. Like many young boys he spent his summers putting up hay and getting into shenanigans while riding bikes with the neighbor boys. Some of Randy’s fondest memories were of times spent with the numerous Speckmann and Rippe cousins over monthly birthday get-togethers and Christmas gatherings. Many of his teachers identified his strengths and weaknesses early telling Randy that they would take care of his school art projects and he should “just focus on math.”
Ralph Leland Simpson was one of four children born to Leland and Mable (Klepper) Simpson on February 27, 1935 in Auburn, Nebraska. He attended rural school and graduated from Auburn High School. He moved to Denver, Colorado in the early sixties and worked for Tempte Trailer for over 20 years.
Carolyn Louise (Behrends) Eltiste of rural Tecumseh, Nebraska was born to Maynard and Donna (Hartell) Behrends on August 24, 1950 in Humboldt, Nebraska. She was baptized September 24, 1950 and confirmed March 22, 1964 and began playing organ at age 14, at St John’s Lutheran (Stone) Church of rural Johnson, Nebraska. She graduated from Johnson High School in 1968. While walking the streets of Johnson, she was whistled down by the soon to be love of her life, Russ Eltiste. The couple dated, and were united in marriage on August 15, 1969, also at the (Stone) Church. To this union two children were born, Russ Jr. and Nicole. The couple first lived in Vesta, then purchased a farm south of Vesta on which they have resided until present day.
PO Box 250
Auburn, NE 68305
PH: (402) 274-3185
FAX: (402) 274-3273