Falls City Journal

Susan Kruse, age 74, of Auburn, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 29, 2026, at the Good Samaritan Society-Auburn. To know Susan was to know someone who made everything around her more beautiful. Susan was born November 20, 1951, in Sidney, Nebraska, to Charlyn (Hagemeister) and Bennie Herboldsheimer.

Tokeya Waci U (Comes Dancing First) will be the June artist at the Schoolhouse Art Gallery. His show is a modern look into what has always been. Tokeya Waci U describes his work as a reflection of modern style Native American Ledger art and he traditionally uses its main purpose of having a visual reference to reflect the teachings that one would hear from their elders. He is a member of the Oglala Lakota and Haliwa-Saponi tribes.

The Falls City Journal is excited to announce the newspaper has been selected to participate in a prestigious national initiative focused on the future of community journalism in rural America. Over the coming weeks, Falls City Journal staff, readers, advertisers and community members will work together as part of an important national effort examining how local newspapers can remain strong, sustainable and community focused for generations to come.

Gilbert Thompson, 83, of Falls City, NE, passed away May 30, 2026 at Falls City. He was born February 8, 1943 at Farago, NE to Everett and Lucille (Scholl) Thompson. He married Carol Ramsey on January 28, 1965 at Hiawatha, KS. She passed away September 16, 1998. Gilbert was raised in the Rulo area and following his schooling he worked as a farm hand and then did commercial fishing on the Missouri River.

Iris C. Vice, 92, of Stella, NE, passed away May 27, 2026 in Lincoln, NE. She was born July 24, 1933 at Lincoln to Harold and Opal (Welch) Neff She met her soul mate, Rolland E. Vice, at the age of seventeen. They were married three years later on April 5, 1953 at Stella. The couple established their home in Ft. Dodge, IA for three years where she learned to cook from her sister-in-law Wilda Halligan. Growing up, she spent more time outside, riding horses, showing calves and being a tomboy.

Maxine Marie Kuker, age 96, peacefully slipped the bonds of this earthly life to be with Jesus on May 26, 2026. While we grieve her passing, we find comfort in knowing she is finally reunited with her loving husband, Norman. Maxine Marie Berg was born on May 14, 1930, to Arthur and Viola (Nichols) Berg. She met the love of her life, Norman, at a country school dance. On April 14, 1948, they were united in marriage at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church near Verdon, Nebraska.

Norman Verl “Norm” Elliott passed away Monday, May 25, 2026, in Springfield, Missouri. He was the oldest child of E.V. “Pete” and Mildred L. (Paxton) Elliott and was raised on a farm northwest of Falls City, Nebraska. He was 86 years old. He married his sweetheart, Joyce Elizabeth Schneidewind, in 1957, and together they had a daughter, Donna Sue (Balke), and a son, Brent Lee Elliott. On August 25 of this year, they would have celebrated 69 years of marriage.

Dennis Reed Crawford, lovingly known as “Denny,” passed away surrounded by the love of family and the many memories he created throughout his life. Born November 15, 1942, in La Harpe, Illinois, to Donald and Nellie (Fogle/Reed) Crawford, Denny spent his early childhood in Illinois before moving with his family to Pawnee City, Nebraska.

The American Red Cross has an urgent need for donors and is counting on people to act now and book a time to give lifesaving blood. Donors of all blood types are essential in keeping the blood supply strong enough to withstand summer challenges. Scheduled donations, which account for 90% of all blood donations, have dropped sharply in recent weeks.

Dorothy Irene Last, 93, of Lincoln passed away on May 22, 2026 in Lincoln. She was born at home on October 2, 1932 in Falls City, NE to Alfred A.and Alma L. (Karsten) Schmidt.On December 25, 1951 she was united in marriage to Norman Last.During their 64 years of marriage they lived in numerous states and Dorothy held various jobs.Upon retirement, they settled in Lincoln to be close to family. Dorothy was active in her church and enjoyed baking, cooking, traveling and crocheting.