This Week's Obituaries
1:05 a.m. MT Mar 26, 2008
Bettie Lee McKeehan
Bettie Lee McKeehan, 80, passed away March 19 in Fort Collins. Bettie Lee was born April 1, 1927, in Sedalia, Mo., to Lloyd Smith and Ruth Busick Smith.
She married Charles Tyer in 1945, until his passing in 1960. She then married Eugene "Big Mac" McKeehan in 1961. Bettie and Mac moved to Fort Collins in 1974.
Bettie grew up cooking. She was on a step-stool when she was 3 making pie crusts and biscuits. She continued cooking her whole life.
She owned her own restaurant in Kansas City from 1951-1957. She was famous for her large St. Patrick's Day meals, chicken and dumplings and her homemade pies. Bettie and Mac owned a laundry and liquor store from 1961 to 1965, and Bettie was president of the La Sertoma club during those years.
Bettie was an avid crossword puzzler. She was an incredible hostess, bell collector, friend to so many, and a great mom.
Bettie is survived by her daughter, Kellie McKeehan of Grand Junction; her niece, Betty Louise Leach and family of Kansas; her step-daughter, Junene King and family of Tennessee; and her niece, Sandy Day and family of Denver.
Services were held previously.
Edith Juanita Holzmeister
Edith Juanita Holzmeister, a loving mother and grandmother, passed away, at age 87, on March 11 after a short bout with cancer. She is survived by three daughters, Sharron Shaw and Vickie Spivey of Duncan, Okla., and Pat Roberts of Royse City, Texas; son, Ed Roberts of Pocatello, Ind.; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Juanita was born in Hope, Ark., on April 6, 1920. She and her husband, Gene Roberts, lived all over the south, settling in Colorado around 1950. Juanita owned and operated New Method Cleaners in Longmont for many years and later owned a furniture store in St. John, Kan. She enjoyed traveling with her husband Virgil, visiting Hawaii, Greece, Turkey, Egypt and many other locations.
For the past five years, Juanita lived at the Reflections apartment complex in Fort Collins. She spent many wonderful hours with her good friends playing dice, going to monthly lunches with the "Wild Bunch," playing dominoes and visiting with her close friends Saturday mornings at the clubhouse over coffee and doughnuts.
Juanita was always a lively, cheery person to everyone she met and will be missed by all who knew her. Juanita passed away at home amid her family in Royse City, Texas.
For more information, please visit www.resthavenfuneral.com.
Forest R. Martin
Forest R. Martin of Fort Collins passed away at the VA Medical Center in Cheyenne, Wyo. on March 17.
He was born on Dec. 31, 1919 in Bloomington, Iowa to Emery E. and Nora (Fish) Martin. On Dec. 1, 1944 he married Marie Peterson in Los Angeles, Calif. She preceded him in death in 2007. He joined the United States Marine Corps and served during World War II at Guadalcanal as the head cook. Forest enjoyed fishing and when time allowed, he and Marie loved to travel.
Survivors include his sons; Forest R. Martin Jr. (Jane Marie) of Washougal, Wash. and Dennis Dean Martin (Pam) of Fort Collins; and a daughter, Mary Marie McKillip (Mac) of Silverton, Ore. He is also survived by brothers, Robert Martin (Irene) of Garden Grove, Calif.: Raymond Martin of Lamoni, Iowa; Jay Martin (Kay) of Phoenix, Ariz; a sister, Alberta Asher of Fernley, Nev.; and grandchildren, Paula Schlotterbeck, Tabetha Nunez, Jeanette Martines, Doug Martin, Christina Martin, Carrie Martin and seven great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marie; a grandson, Sean McKillip; and a brother, Garland Martin.
Services were held previously.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veteran’s in care of Resthaven Funeral Home, 8426 S Hwy. 287, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Friends who wish may view the online obituary, sign the guestbook, and send their condolences at www.resthavencolorado.com.
Geneva Yates Strunk
Geneva Yates Strunk was born Nov. 27, 1911 at Dawson, Neb., and passed away March 20 at the Fort Collins Health Care Center.
Parents were Ernest Prise Yates and Mary Katheran Bodkin. Sisters were Lucille Leach, Alyce Cole and Dorothy Yarger. Brothers were Dean, Paul and Everett Yates.
GeNev.a was united in marriage to Charlie George Strunk who preceded her in death. She is survived by their two children, son Melvin Strunk and daughter Mrs. Jerry (Mary) Dunn; grandchildren, Kevin Dunn, Rhonda Dunn, Christy, Randy, Ricky, Terry and Tommy Strunk; 10 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. GeNev.a loved music and played the piano. Her favorite song was "When They Ring the Golden Bells for You and Me."
Services were held previously.
Friends may send condolences to the family at www.bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.
John F. Scott
John F. Scott III, 58 died at his home, on March 16 in Fort Collins surrounded by his family and friends.
John was born and raised in Wakefield, Mass. In the summer of 1967 John received an academic appointment to the United States Military Academy.
In 1974 John married Jennifer Phillips of Fort Collins and moved to Germany for the remainder of his military career. After receiving his honorable discharge as a Vietnam veteran, John began studying for his doctorate in civil engineering at Colorado State University. His daughter Lindsey Melissa was born in 1980.
John’s second daughter, Julia Patricia, was born in 1984 after he began his professional career starting with Western Area Power Administration. Following this John worked with Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District and a few other firms before beginning his private business, Scott Water Engineers.
John loved to sail and spend much of his free time in the Caribbean. His dream was to one day leave the routine and spend all of his time sailing the open oceans.
John is survived by daughters Lindsey Melissa Scott and Julia Patricia Scott, from Hawaii. John’s sister Patricia Christie, her husband Bill, nephew Brian and niece Alicia from Ft. Walton Beach, Fla.
John was preceded in death by his parents, John F. Scott Jr. and Vivian Gene Miller Scott of Wakefield, Mass. There will be a memorial celebration of his life at 2 p.m. April 12 at the ponds by the archery range. For more information call Allnutt Funeral Service at 482-3208.
There is a memorial fund in John’s name at the 1st Bank. Contributions will go to Hospice of Larimer County and a bench in John’s honor.
Please visit www.allnutt.com to view John’s online obituary, sign the family guestbook and send condolences.
Hazel A. Stevens
Hazel A. Stevens, 73, of Fort Collins passed away March 18 in Loveland.
Hazel was born March 8, 1935, in Longmont to Robert and Lilly Nelson. She attended Prospect Valley School. She grew up in Johnstown and Prospect Valley where her family farmed and later she moved to Ault to raise her family. Hazel was a service representative for Mountain Bell for 35 years. She enjoyed her horses and dogs. Hazel loved to bargain shop and went to many garage sales on Saturdays.
Hazel is survived by her sons, Mike Stevens and wife Valarie of Las Vegas, Nev.. Craig Stevens of Ault, and Mitch Stevens of Fort Collins; daughter, Sherrill Lewis and husband Calven of Fort Collins; sister, Helen Amundson of Englewood; brothers, Eugene Nelson of Kirk, Paul Nelson and wife, Charlene, of Milliken; grandchildren, Tanya Stevens, Clisty Stevens, Beverly Lewis, Aileen Stevens, Kathy Jones, Jennifer Stevens, Michael Stevens; great-grandchildren, Tayvia Stevens, Hannah Stevens, Isiah Jones and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces.
Services were held previously.
Memorial contributions may be made to Weld County Humane Society in care of Stoddard Funeral Home 3205 W 28th St., Greeley, 80634.
Please visit an online memorial at www.mem.com.
Jay Edward Weisgerber
Jay Edward Weisgerber, 23, of Fort Collins, died March 20 in Fort Collins.
Jay was born July 25, 1984, in Aurora. He graduated from Fort Collins High School in 2002.
He wrote songs and poems about life, played guitar and loved to mix his own music. He had many friends that over the course of time played in a band with him. He enjoyed jamming with his best friends and bandmates, Grant Brodahl, Danny Gallagher, Brennan Howell and Garret Peters.
He will be remembered as a caring and compassionate friend who was always there for his friends. Jay had a great heart and was full of determination. He was an intelligent and fun person to be around.
He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Sue and Ron Bowen; father and stepmother, Ronald and Suzanne; brother, Ryan Weisgerber and fiancé, Larissa Hunhoff; stepsister, Rachelle and her husband Zach Smyth; and stepsister, Katie Bowen and several aunts and uncles; grandparents, Helen Weisgerber, Phyllis Fransen and Bill Myer and Don Bowen; great-grandparent, Fern Carroll.
He is preceded in death by George and Elizabeth Weisgerber, Harold Weisgerber, Halley Carroll, Swede Fransen, Byron and Dorothea Remington, Carrie and Alfred Fransen and Beverly Bowen.
Services were held previously.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Harmony Foundation in care of Mark's Funeral and Cremation Service, 9293 Eastman Park Dr., Windsor, CO 80550.
Ruth Marie Ferguson
Ruth Marie Ferguson passed away peacefully on March 18 after a 37-year battle with multiple sclerosis. Despite all, she always possessed a great sense of humor and an amazingly positive outlook on life.
Ruth is survived by her loving husband, Samuel T. Ferguson, and her four children, James Ferguson, Kathy Graves, Tom Ferguson, and Ruthanne Hammond. Ruth, known as ‘Nana’ to her family members, was extremely proud of her children and 11 grandchildren who will miss her warmth and loving smile.
Ruth was born on May 27, 1936 in Philadelphia, Penn. to Harry and Ruth Plank. She was preceded in death by her beloved brother, Bob, and is survived by sister and friend, Doris Kline, and brother, Harry Plank.
She married her husband, Sam, on June 22, 1957. The family moved to Colorado Springs where Ruth and Sam raised their four children. Ruth and Sam, or “Tootie” and “Buzz”, moved to Fort Collins six years ago. Ruth was surrounded by loved ones in June as she celebrated her 50th anniversary.
Ruth will be remembered as a very caring, compassionate, and loving mother, spouse, and grandmother. She was at her happiest when spending time with or hearing about the successes of her grandchildren.
She also enjoyed the arts, including all types of dance, and painting. Ruth actually appeared on American Bandstand several times in the 1950s.
Services were held previously.
Please visit www.allnutt.com to view Ruth’s online obituary, sign the family guestbook and send condolences.
