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Obituaries
Montrose - Mary Jane Porter, most recently of Montrose, Colo., passed away at her home at the age of 87 on Sunday morning, March 20, 2005.
Born in Oskaloosa, Kan. on May 23, 1917, she was the daughter of Vera (Dede) Prater and John William Trusdale.
After graduation from Topeka, Kan. High School in 1935, Jane attended Kansas State University and graduated from the University of Missouri in 1939.
She taught art at Neosho, Mo. public schools where she met Herbert Duis who was stationed at nearby Camp Krauter. Herb and Jane were married March 2, 1941 and made their home in Gothenburg, Neb. She was one of the earliest patients to have open heart surgery at the Mayo Clinic in 1947.
In 1950 she made national news by campaigning door to door with her young children and friends for her husband's run for the Legislature. His election brought him home from the Army instead of being deployed to Korea. During Herb's 16 years in the Legislature and subsequent tenure as chair of the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, Jane helped manage their insurance and real estate business and raise their children. Shortly before their 50th anniversary, Herb died at age 76.
On June 15, 1996 she married Victor Lofgreen and moved to Hastings, Neb. where they lived until his death. She remained there until her marriage to Clarence Porter on July 2, 2002 brought her to his home in Montrose, Colo.
Mary Jane played golf and participated in dance club, various P.E.O. groups and many bridge clubs. She also enjoyed attending Herb's state functions. Favorite activities included the First Presbyterian Church, Legislative Ladies League and San Juan Coloradans for Nebraska. She was active in all three communities and made and enjoyed friends wherever she went. Love of travel, in the United States and abroad, led to her representing Nebraska in an international travel show in Sweden in her late 70's, where she was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Gothenburg, Sweden at a champagne reception. She was vibrant and always on the go. She was preceded in death by her parents, her three husbands, her brother William P. Trusdale, and a special aunt, Helen Prater. She is survived by her sister, Virginia Eicholtz, and brother, Robert Trusdale, both of Topeka, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the Duis,Porter and Lofgreen families.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2005 at 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Montrose.
A graveside service will follow this service on Thursday, March 24, 2005 at 2:30 p.m. at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, Neb.
Memorial contributions can be made to: First Presbyterian Church, in memory of Mary Jane Porter, 1840 E. Niagara Rd., Montrose, CO 81401; or San Juan Coloradans for Nebraska scholarship committee, 1035- A Margo Ct., Montrose, CO 81401.
Arrangements were handled under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home and Crematory, (970) 249-2121.
Note: Obituary for Clarence W. Porter may be found Mesa and Montrose counties, Colorado.
Transcribed and Submitted by: D. Lofgreen
Services here on Friday for Dr. Victor Lofgreen
Dr. Victor Eugene Lofgreen, D.D.S., Hastings Nebr, former Norton (KS) community resident, died July 26 at his home at the age of 79. Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 30, at Enfield Funeral Home in Norton with Jeff Nielsen officiating. Volney Lofgreen will give the Eulogy. Interment will be in the Norton Cemetery. A memorial has been established to the Mary Lanning Hospice, Hastings, Neb. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Victor was born November 7, 1919 in Norton, the son of Burdge and Ada Blanch Porter Lofgreen. He grew to manhood in the Norton community, attended Dry Creek Rural grade school and graduated from Norton High School. He served as a pilot during World War II, flying the Burma Hump in the Air Transport Command. Following the war he graduated from the University of Nebraska with his doctorate degree in Dentistry. He married Phyllis Ann Miler and to this union six children were born. He made is home in Lincoln, Neb. Where he practiced dentistry for 20 years, and then moved to Hastings where he practiced for 21 years. On June 15, 1996 Victor and Mary Jane Trusdale Duis were married in Lincoln, and made their home in Hastings. He was a member of the American Dental Association, the Association of Institutional Dentistry, the American Legion and the V.F.W. He taught Periodontal Dentistry at the University of Nebraska and Dental Hygiene at the Central Community College in Hastings. He also greatly enjoyed flying and was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and the Young Eagles Flight Group. Survivors include: his wife, Mary Jane Lofgreen of the home in Hastings; six children and their families; two step children and families; two brothers, Volney and wife Mary Lofgreen of Grand Island, Neb and Denzel and wife Ruth Lofgreen of Norton.; eight grandchildren, four step grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.---
Notes: names of living children have been deleted. After the war he graduated from Kearney State Teacher’s College - now University of Nebraska at Kearney - with a degree in Science Education, before attending the University of Nebraska School of Dentistry.
Norton Daily Telegraph, July 28, 1999 Transcribed and Submitted by: D. Lofgreen
Mr. Bradford Cotner Dies On The Train Bedford Cotner of Dunkirk, Ohio, Was En Route Home to Die Special Dispatch to the World Herald
Hastings, Nebraska, August 21. -- A very sad occurrence took place on Burlington & Missouri train number 6, just before it arrived in this city from Denver at 2:30 this morning.
This event was the sudden death of Mr. Bradford Cotner of Dunkirk, Ohio. About three weeks ago Mr. Cotner, in company with his wife, went from his home to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in the hope of benefiting his health. He had not been there very long until he began to experience heart trouble and his physician advised him to immediately return home .
They were journeying homeward on the train when he was taken suddenly ill and died while sitting in a chair car. The body was taken off here, and after being prepared for shipment by Mr. M. Reed, was sent east at 10:35 a.m., accompanied by the bereaved and sorrowing wife. Omaha World Herald - August 22, 1901
John
A. Casto
One of the oldest lawyers in
For a number of years he was conspicuous in local and state republican politics.
Afro-American
Sentinel – Transcribed and contributed by: Dan Zwakman
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