Nancy Jean Jaeger (72) was born on December 22,1947 to Donna Dennis and Jimmie Dennis in Ruth, Nevada. She passed away in her Las Vegas home on March 19th, 2020. Nancy is survived by her 2 children James Brown and Lisa Hegman; her long-time spouse Kenny Logan, 9 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren and many other loving relatives. Services will be in Ely Nevada at an undetermined date. She will be forever missed; we love you until the end of time.

Her journey’s just begun

“Don’t think of her as gone away her journey has just begun, life holds so many facets, this earth is only one. Just think of her as resting from the sorrow and the tears in a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days and no years. Think how she must be wishing that we could know today, how nothing but our sadness can really pass away and think of her as living in the hearts of those she touched. For nothing loved is ever lost and she was loved so much.”

It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Hugh
Collett.

Dr. Collett was one of the founders of Great Basin College and a staunch supporter from Day 1. He was a member of the Institutional Advisory Council for more than 50 years and has personally advised every one of our Presidents. Not only was he regularly on campus for meetings, he wrote volumes of his Muses on a number of topics, with at least two collections specifically on higher education in Nevada, particularly rural Nevada and Great Basin College.

UNR awarded him Emeritus Clinical Professor of Surgery and in 2015 the Board of Regents conveyed onto him the
Distinguished Nevadan Award.

Having turned 99 just two months ago, Dr. Collett greatly contributed to his community and his country. He served in the Navy during World War II and was also commissioned as a Captain in the Air Force. He continued the legacy of his father, Dr. George Collett, in providing medical service to northeastern Nevada through the Elko Clinic, where Dr. Hugh Collett practiced for 30 years. Dr. Collett also served on the Elko County School Board, Elko Area Chamber of Commerce Board and Northeastern Nevada Museum Board as well as being a founding member of the Elko Navy League and serving in Rotary International.

On behalf of Great Basin College, the Great Basin College Institutional Advisory Board and the Great Basin College Foundation, we send our condolences to his family and may his legacy always be remembered.

Douglas Neil Hall passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2020 after a long and hard fought illness.

He was born on May 26th, 1952 to Darrel Hall and Madge Bunderson Hall. Doug joined his older brothers DeWayne and Dennis, then welcomed younger brother Dean a couple years later.

Doug attended White Pine High School and graduated in 1970. He was a gifted musician, singer, and athlete. Known for playing the sousaphone and drums, Doug was apart of the WPHS Marching Band who travelled to and marched in the Rose Bowl Parade. Basketball was his greatest passion.

After high school, Doug went to college in Cedar City, Utah on a basketball scholarship and later joined the Nevada National Guard. He went to work for Kennecott where he became a journeyman electrician, then worked for several mining companies in the area. Doug was a gifted truck driver and drove truck for many years for J&M Trucking.

In 1973, he married Melody VanCamp and
in 1976 they welcomed daughter, Raeghan.

Doug was an avid jokester, story teller, and his QuickDraw McGraw impression was spot on. He was a master carpenter and a longtime member of the Ely Volunteer Fire Department. Besides his love for basketball, Doug was a lifetime member of the NHRA, and enjoyed NASCAR, and World Of Outlaw.

Survivors include his daughter, Raeghan (Dax) Tucker; grandchildren Tieler Tucker, Kolby (Chase) Stanton, Trystin Tucker, Maci Cooper, and Diesyl Tucker. Great grandchildren; Halstyn and Cohle Stanton. Brothers Dennis Hall, and Dean (Susan) Hall; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to the survivors, Doug leaves behind his greatest friends, Tony and Jeanine Locke, Scott Brown and Ron Meyers; his neighbors Andy and Maggie; his outlaws Jack and Freddy VanCamp, and his sister-in-laws Janet VanCamp and Nancy Ball.

Per Doug’s request, no services will be held.

‘I’m not counting on winning a race soon, but I don’t want to be too old before I win.’ – Roger Staubach

M. Elaine Young, 71, of Aztec, NM was called home to join those that went before her in the heavenly worlds on March 4, 2020. She was born on November 30, 1948 in Richfield, UT to John Reed Jackson (1922-2000) and Rhea Jane Huntsman Jackson Nelson (1925-2018). Elaine graduated from White Pine High School in Ely, NV in 1966.

After high school, Elaine attended Brigham Young University for two years, where she met her husband, Dale. They married on August 28, 1970 in the St. George, UT LDS Temple. After their marriage, Elaine and Dale lived in Pleasant Grove, UT then Cedar City, UT. The family moved to Farmington, NM in 1981 and finally to the County (officially Aztec, NM) in 1988. Elaine was an Emergency Fire and Police Dispatcher from 1981-2006 and was also one of the owners of the Heart-to-Heart Scrapbooking store in Farmington from 2000-2012, following another of her passions.

Elaine’s career as a dispatcher started with the Farmington Fire Department, which later merged dispatch with the Farmington Police Department. When San Juan County decided to centralize all emergency dispatch for the entire county and begin 9-1-1 services, Elaine was instrumental in obtaining information from each separate dispatch center and worked with her team to ensure each agency’s information was entered into the centralized database for the San Juan County Communications Authority’s opening in January of 1994, where she became a dispatch supervisor and trainer to incoming dispatchers.

Elaine was also deeply passionate about ensuring necessary services were available to first responders to help them deal with the challenging things they encountered on the job. She worked tirelessly to help build and promote the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) team to provide first responders with those services. It was her involvement with CISD that took her to Oklahoma City to help the first responders after the Oklahoma City bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in 1995. She also loved teaching and training and taught at Police and Fire Academies as well as was involved in training with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO International).

After Elaine and Rose Coerber decided to close the scrapbooking store, they continued to hold private scrapbooking classes and annual retreats for her customers, friends and family. Elaine was also active in her LDS local ward where she shared her talents as a great cook, scrapbooker and enjoyed genealogy, something she was excitedly learning more about immediately prior to her untimely passing.

She is survived by her husband, Warren “Dale” Young, children: Warren Young II (Aztec, NM), Katie Probert (Nathan and grandson Spencer; Sandy, UT), Wendy Olivas (Oscar; Rio Rancho, NM), and Brianna Young (Farmington, NM), as well as her brothers Therral Jackson (Judy; Logandale, NV), Tom Jackson (Mari; Boise, ID), Kevin Jackson (Patti; Lund, NV) and Lynn Jackson (Pam; Caliente, NV) and sisters Jane MacPherson (Doug; Temple, TX) and Verla Jackson (Sparks, NV). Services honoring Elaine’s incredible life were held on Monday, March 9, 2020 at the Farmington LDS Stake Center and she was buried in the Kirkland Cemetery immediately following.

Her precious soul was called home much too soon and she will be sorely missed by her family and friends.

Dawn (Ashby) Whipple, age 84, returned to the loving arms of her Heavenly Father the morning of May 1, 2020, after a nine-month battle with lung cancer. Dawn was born September 30, 1935. Her parents were Bryant Garr Ashby and May “Mazie” L. Reid. She had three sisters, Audrey, Kathleen, and Margaret “Peggy.”

On May 25, 1953, Dawn married John LaVerne “J.L.” Whipple in the Salt Lake Temple for time and all eternity. They made their home in Lund, Nevada; she was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The wife of a rancher, Dawn kept busy as homemaker and mother, and served her community in many ways. She volunteered her time and energy on various church, school, and community projects, always portraying a beautiful example of Christ’s love for her family, neighbors, and friends. Dawn gave her very best in all that she did in this life. When asked about her illness, she shared that it was important to her “to keep loving and laughing” through it all. Since her passing, the family found and has been transcribing her hand-written journals going back over 25 years. Seldom was she not focused upon serving others on a daily basis — whether by taking them something that was needed, or by providing comfort, or just friendship and support.

Dawn is survived by her husband, J.L.; five children, Julie Laiwakete, Jerry (Jeannette) Whipple, Connie (Lorin) Peacock, Corey (Billy) Whipple, Vickie (Brian) Larsen; 15 grandchildren; 36 great grandchildren, 4 great great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, one grandchild, and one great grandchild.

A viewing will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lund on May 9th, 2020. We ask that Lund residents attend between 10:00-11:30. Visitors from out of town attend between 11:30-12:30. Viewing will be limited to 8 people at a time so there may be some wait time in the parking lot. Interment will be at the Lund Cemetery following the viewing, approximately 1:00 p.m. Condolences may be sent to the family at P.O. Box 164, Lund, Nevada 89317. In lieu of flowers, a contribution may be made to Latter-day Saint Charities (www.latterdaycharities.org).

Doris Jean Mangum Hansen joined her lifelong partner on April 30, 2020. Doris passed away in Saint George, Utah where she resided for five years.

She was born in Ely, Nevada on July 23, 1929 to Leroy and Lydia Mangum, the oldest of seven children. She was married to the love of her life, DeMont Hansen, on December 24, 1946. They were later sealed with the family, September 25, 1965 in the St.
George Temple.

Doris was raised and educated in the Ely area, graduating from White Pine High School in 1947. A lifelong devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, she held many positions in her ward including Relief Society President and Primary President.

She was an accomplished chef and baker. She was a seamstress and made many of the families clothes for special occasions. Many relied of her baking skills when it came to making the cakes for family and friends weddings. Doris devoted her life to her husband, her children, and grandchildren. She was always doing for everyone else.

Doris never missed a ball game, rodeo, dance recital or anything else that her family was involved in. This quiet, soft spoken tiny lady had a reputation for getting on the nerves of umpires and one time got thrown out of the ball park for offering the umpire her glasses. She loved to quilt and many of the lucky ones in the family have one of those quilts to remember her by.

In 1955 Demont and Doris bought the Texaco station on the west side of town and named it Hansen’s 50 & 6 Service. Doris took care of all of the bookkeeping, ran for parts, and often fed the crew that was on shift at the time. All while taking care of everything at home. They worked side by side for over 40 years in this business making many lifelong friends along the way. Eventually they turned the business over to
their son and retired.

Doris is survived by her children Holly (Jim) Guard of St. George, Utah; Ferrel (Jacki) Hansen of Ely, Nevada; Heidi (Dennis) Reid of Fallon, Nevada; and Monte (Christine) Hansen of St. George, Utah. Her 15 grandchildren include: Ken Guard, Troy Guard, Sean Hansen, Nicole Quilici, Brent Johnson, Jessica Uhalde, Darren Reid, Echo Reid, Garrett Reid, Kyra Reardon, Gage Hansen, Jamin Hansen, Kurtis Hansen, Baylee Montgomery and Cody Crowther. She also leaves 18 great-grandkids and 2 great-great grand
kids.

She is also survived by her brothers and sisters: Jerry Mangum, Ted Mangum, Norma Harris, Ken Mangum and Luana Crane. Doris had numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom she adored.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband DeMont and one brother Eddy Mangum.

Due to the state requirements concerning COVID-19, a funeral service will be held at a later date.Interment will be at the Ely City Cemetery, per the requirements of the State of Nevada, not allowing more than 10 people to attend. This service will be under the direction of Mountain Vista Mortuary, Ely, Nevada.

JOHN MERRILL OXBORROW
John Merrill Oxborrow passed on April 14, 2020 at his home after a long battle with
Multiple System Atrophy.

He was born May 4, 1966 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

John leaves behind his wife Amanda and son Alex who are celebrating his life, along
with his friends and large extended family.

John proudly served in the Navy and received an honorable discharge. He then
returned to Ely and worked various jobs and retired as a senior officer at the Ely
State Prison.

John enjoyed being outdoors, reading and playing video games. He had a great
sense of humor.

John has requested no service. Any condolences can be sent to Mrs. Amanda
Oxborrow at P.O. Box 150591, Ely, Nevada 89315.

Georgia Gene Perkins Havenstrite passed away on April 13, 2020 in Sandy, UT at age 87, surrounded by her loving children and just 23 ½ hours after the passing of her beloved husband of 68 years, Stuart.

Georgia will be remembered as a loving wife and mother and is survived by her five children, Wendy (m. Ira Kitmacher), Cindy (John Caviglia), Robin (m. Paul Hansen), Richard (Rick) (m. Marianne Dalbey), and Betsy (preceded in death by husband Jim Young).

In addition to her children and their spouses, Georgia (GG) is survived by loving grandchildren Haley (m. Daniel (Danny) Demsky) and Jeremy (m. Stephanie Powers) McIntosh, Robin’s children; Dr. Karen (m. Brian Menzel) Havenstrite, Danielle (Dani) Havenstrite, and Melinda (Linde) Havenstrite, Rick’s children; Chelsea Imdieke and Jessalyn (Jessy) Imdieke, Cindy’s children; David Kitmacher and Gabriella (Gabi) Kitmacher, Wendy’s children; and four great-grandchildren: Sawyer and Carson Demsky (Haley and Danny); Mason Menzel (Karen and Brian); and Blake McIntosh (Jeremy and Stephanie), all of whom she adored.  She is survived by her brother Stephen Russell (“Bud”) Perkins of Southern California.

Georgia was born on October 7, 1932 to Russell Stephen and Helga Alice Virginia (Swenumson) Perkins in Los Angeles, CA. After graduating from University High School in Los Angeles in 1950, she attended the University of Redlands in CA.

In 1945, Georgia met her future husband, Stuart (Stu) Havenstrite and her “civilized” life growing up in Beverly Hills was never the same! Stu and Georgiabegan dating in 1948 and married in 1952; they were married for 68 years. Georgia was a faithful and loving wife to a peripatetic geologist who moved her to every “remote little mining town” he could find… where she always thrived.

Georgia was a highly gifted, trained, and accomplished artist in a variety of mediums: pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, watercolor, casein, and oils. Her home and her children’s homes are galleries for her beautiful work and her home’s interior design and carefully staged décor vignettes were a testament to her artistic vision. She was also an accomplished bridge player (American Contract Bridge League, “Duplicate Bridge”), and played regularly into her 80s with close friends in Salt Lake City, UT. Georgia was an avid gardener, but her real passion as she would describe it, was “junking.” She and close girlfriends scoured yard and estate sales for decades, looking for and acquiring many beautiful (and otherwise) furniture and décor items—
and restoring those in the “otherwise” category. Georgia maintained close ties with childhood friends and made and kept friends from every town in which she and Stu lived. Georgia was welcomed into the “Hi Newcomer” group upon her first move to Salt Lake City in 1963, and again upon her move to Ely, NV in 1968. She made and retained friends from both groups and made more upon her return to Salt Lake City in 1979.

A private family interment took place in the Ely City Cemetery in Ely, NV. Georgia is accompanied in burial by her loving husband Stu, who passed away 23 ½ hours before her. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any remembrances or donations be made to the White Pine Boys and Girls Club – PO Box 151152, Ely, NV 89315, and Ely Renaissance Society – PO Box 150028, Ely, NV 89315, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

A Celebration of Life will take place in Ely, NV at a future date.

He died like he lived: happy, funny, kind, loving, and loved

Minnis Amelia Alderman, 91, passed away Sunday, April 26, 2020 in Ely, NV.  Memorial services will be scheduled at a later time.  Memorial contributions may be made to the White Pine Community Choir Association [501(c)(3)] , P. O. Box 150996, Ely, NV 89315-0996.
Minnis was born on October 14, 1928, in Douglas, GA to the late Louis C. Alderman, Sr. and the late Minnis Wooten Alderman, and she graduated from Douglas High School, where she was labeled by her classmates as “Little Friend of All the World.”  She received a BA degree from Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, GA in Music, Speech, and Drama.

• 
  Her first position was Band Director in an Atlanta, GA high school.  Minnis came to Wells, NV, in 1954 to teach Band, Chorus, Speech, Drama, and English.  In 1959, after completing an MA degree in Psychology and Supervision, she came to Ely, NV, as the counselor at White Pine High School. She later accepted positions as Psychologist for State Mental Hygiene and the Director of Aging Services, while also working toward a PhD in Psychology.  She received Fellowships at the University of Utah in Gerontology and in Substance Abuse. From 1982 to 1999, she was Band Director at Sacred Heart School.

She was Professor of Guidance, Counselor Education, and Psychology at Murray State University in Kentucky during summers and at University of Nevada, Reno Extension during the year.  Minnis served as Counselor at Nevada Job Service as well as Director of the Ely Shoshone Tribal Child and Family Center and Social Services.  While there, she and the youth formed the first Youth Council in Nevada and attended three National Youth Conventions. From 1999 to 2014, Minnis was Professor of Administration, Fundamentals of Music, Music Appreciation, Human Resource Management, and Psychology at Great Basin College. She established entrepreneurial careers with the Knit Knook, Gift Gamut, and providing private music lessons.  Through all of her teaching, Minnis had over 4,000 students!  She also served as Choir Director for the Methodist Church from 1960 to 1984, organist for Sacred Heart Church since 1984, and Choir Director of White Pine Community Choir since 1962.  She served the White Pine County community by writing over 30 grants for the Community Training Center, RSVP, Senior Citizens Center, Nutrition Program for Seniors (Meals on Wheels), Home Repairs for Senior Citizens, Senior Citizens Home Association, Victims of Crime, Saving America’s Treasures, the Shoshone Tribe, Centennial Fine Arts Center, and the White Pine Community Choir Association.

Minnis served in many local, state, and national offices in several organizations, and delivered several keynote speeches in state and national organization conventions.  She received a recent honor being named Parliamentarian Emeritus from Alpha Chi State Delta Kappa Gamma.  Delta Kappa Gamma is an honorary society of women educators who are committed to excellence in education.  Her most precious honor was being named Grand Marshall of Ely’s 4th of July Parade!
Minnis was preceded in death by her brother, Louis C. Alderman, Jr. of Cochran, GA, and her niece, Dr. Amelia Anne Alderman of Macon, GA.  She is survived by her lifelong best friend, Virginia “Kitty” Hays of Ely, NV, and many wonderful friends in Ely who have provided such loving care. Minnis is also survived by her three nephews, Louis C. Alderman III (Trish) of Big Canoe, GA, Fielding D. Alderman, Sr. (Sheryl) of Lilburn, GA, and Jonathan A. Alderman(Amy) of Macon, GA, in addition to numerous grandnieces, grandnephews, great-grandnieces, and cousins.

IN MEMORY OF OUR DAD

Donald Lani was born April 13, 1929 to Albert and Lida Lani in Ely, NV.  Dad passed at home Wednesday May 6, 2020. He spent his early childhood in Hamilton, NV.  As a child he was known by Donnie and either Don or Donnie as an adult.  Don is survived by his son, Donald F. Lani (Donna), (D-DebbieWhipple) of Lund, NV, Rue D. Lani (D-Tom Peacock) of Parker, CO, and Tanya K. Atkin (Rick) of Preston, NV and hisgrandchildren Cole, Court, Chase, Brooke, Lowry, KayLynn, Jason:   his sisters, Delores Steward of Ely, NV, Eileen Boyce and Virginia Tobiasson of Logandale, Nevada: “His friends and cousins in Duckwater and Railroad Valley”.  Numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, dad never met a stranger.  Dad and mom did not want funerals or memorials, just wanted to be remembered as they lived by the ones they loved. Mom’s ashes are scattered in the places they loved and dad’s ashes are soon to join her.

Dad adored his grandparents; Luigi and Angela Lani and loved to tell of the time he spent with them. One of his earliest memories was standing on the bottom rung of grandpa’s crutch as he swung it along walking; and how both of his grandparents were like doctors to their family and employees, curing and preventing spread of various sicknesses throughout their people.  As the very rambunctious middle child he was often allowed to spend time with his grandparents and an Indian friend of the family that took him hunting around Hamilton at a very early age.  His early childhood was spent in Ely, Ruth, Spring Valley and Currant Creek. Dad was close to his big sister “Tootsie”; from the stories he told, she was his guardian angel for sure.  Dad loved all his brothers and sisters and shared stories of all the good times as well as the wild and rambunctious times had by all throughout their childhood. Danny Halstead, his first cousin and best friend throughout their lifetimes throughtroubled and successful times.  In adolescence they raced a buck board across the country by Bull Creek and when the horsed jumped a wash the buckboard was left in the wash, the horsesran home, and they went flying into the brush, they checked for injuries then dusted themselves off and walked home to their comeuppance! When dad was nine years old he tagged along with Danny who was taking some candy to a girl he was wooing that lived at the Rutherford place; while there, playing in the creek bank he saw and met for the first time the Fisher kids, Bobby, Patsy and DONA.  Dad said he had never seen anyone with such a mass of beautiful bright red hair and when Bobby and Patsy were ready to leave mama would not go with them, “she just kept staring at me”.  Dad knew from that moment she was the one for him.  While life went on for both of them; when mama came back from school in Denver and told him she was ready to get married…he was too. Mom knew the wild ride she was in for and true to form after the ceremony he pulled her onto his homemade chariot of an axle led by a team and raced down the Main street in Ely. During 68 years of marriage and raising three rambunctious children of their own, they shared every moment, through the fights and the good times they loved being together.

In addition to Danny Halstead his best buddies were Frank Roberts and Stanley Sims, whether gathering pine nuts, hunting mustangs or searching for gold they had each other’s backs.  Through some of these endeavors they got to be known by the federal government and FBI.  In true form this turned into an asset and long relationship for dad.  Dad was a deputy sheriff for Nye County for 20 years and always had his badge and gun in the glove compartment of whatever vehicle he was driving.  Dad always answered the FBI call, whether it be an escaped felon or a lost plane crash, until in his late eighties he finally had to tell them no.

Dad was proud of his reputation of being a hard worker and knowing how to do anything that needed to be done. His parents and grandparents taught him by training, example and responsibility and he passed those traits on to his grateful children and grandchildren.   Dad believed in working hard and playing hard and had as much fun as he could at both!  Dad was always his own boss.  After running a silver mine in the mountains of Mexico with uncle John Bardmess he received the Rutherford Ranch as partial payment and lived there until theysold to Vern & Flossy Cyr that owned Currant Creek and managed both ranches until they bought the Angleworm Ranch where they lived until they retired and bought the midwife’s house from Barbara Dennis in Preston, NV where they lived for the rest of their lives.  He owned and worked mining property in Hamilton simultaneously with ranching. Throughout his life he was recruited by several employers to help them through rough patches and he always obliged when times permitted.  He drove a hard bargain if his livelihood was tested and was proud to say they would often leave and
then come back and agree to his terms to get his services. He loved ranching and mining and whether he was hauling all the hay in Duckwater for the ranchers at age 18, or doing the “tricky” blasting jobs for Isabelle Construction, sinking mine shafts for himself or locating ore for mining companies he was making friends and enjoying life.

Dad was a good man, husband and father who believed in the beauty and bounty of nature.  While he was not considered a wealthy man he was rich in family, friends and the joy of living and will be sorely missed by all that knew him.

Dad loved to tell stories and remembered the ones his parents told him and shared them also. We would love to have anyone that remembers dad’s stories or has one of their own to share them with us at lani8821@hotmail.com.

Jeremy A. Eldridge, 46 peacefully passed away on Sunday, May 24, 2020 at his home in Fallon, Nevada.

Jeremy was born on July 17, 1973 to Robert and Barbara Eldridge in Reno, Nevada.  He graduated from White Pine High School in Ely, Nevada in 1991 and then pursued a career in mining and construction as a Diesel Mechanic. He was currently employed at Coeur Rochester as their Mobile Maintenance General Foreman and had been with them for the past 4 years.

Jeremy enjoyed ranching, farming, trapping, hunting, fixinganything, and enjoyed helping others with their projects. His most precious time was spent with his family, especially his children, and was an all-around good guy.

He is survived by his 3 children, Wyatt, Tucker and Sydney, his Father Robert and Brother Justin, several grand pets that Sydney brought home, as well as numerous extended family membersand close friends.

He was preceded in death by his Mother Barbara and both maternal and paternal Grandparents.

Jeremy’s zest for life and sense of humor were unmatched. Words cannot express his wit, and he was always “coming in hot” to make anyone and everyone smile. He never failed to light up the room with a joke and turn frowns into laughs. Jeremy’s famous saying will be used to fill conversations for years to come.

A Celebration of Life will be announced later.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

In Remembrance

Norma J. Engberg Thoemmes was born in Omaha, Nebraska on February 22, 1940–the only child of Russell C. Engberg and Florence Irene Kern. A quiet child with extraordinaryintelligence, Norma said she always preferred the company of animals to that of “run-of-the-mill” people. Whenever she and her parents visited the homes of friends, Norma sought out the cat or the dog. If there happened to be a reptile in the home she was even more thrilled.

Because of her intellectual prowess, Norma often found herself a bit bored in elementary school. By the time she reached high school, she was thoroughly unchallenged—having read her own way through the high school curriculum. She never completed high school but went straight to university-level studies. As a young woman, Norma did internships and worked at the Library of Congress, the National Archives, NASA and the Smithsonian. In every case, her intelligence and abilities confounded and impressed the librarians, archivists and scientists she worked for.

During her time at the Smithsonian, Norma’s love for sciencedeepened—paleontology, specifically. She committed to memory the history of the dinosaurs, their types, their rises and falls through time, and always kept track of their modern-daydescendants. This was a passion she never gave up.

When Norma announced to her parents that she wanted to pursue graduate studies in paleontology, they were more than just “aghast.” They vehemently protested and declared that itwas “not an appropriate field of study or vocation, for that matter, for a woman.”

Norma eventually ended up doing a PhD in Philology—the study of “dead languages.” Old English, Middle English, Latinand Greek were her passions and, in effect, her “literary and linguistic dinosaurs.” Dr. Engberg joined the faculty at the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 1970 and taught Old English, language and linguistics, principles of modern grammar and the Bible as Literature.

Eventually she met and married Edward Thoemmes, a retired Marine Corp Lt. Colonel who shared Norma’s love for English language studies and, more importantly, the “living fossils of the Nevada desert”—the tortoise. Norma was one of the founders of the Nevada Desert Tortoise Group, which is active and thriving today. She and Edward raised and rescued a variety of tortoises and turtles. Their pride and joy was a pair of Aldabra tortoisesnamed Gus and Gigi—who currently reside at the Oakland Children’s Zoo.

Norma taught at UNLV for 41 years. She was a pioneer and leader in distance education, broadcast and on-line learningwhen those forms of education were highly unpopular with the faculty of the day. When COVID-19 hit and universities across the world shifted to online and “Zoom” classes, she told a close friend, “Sure glad we did the hard work early on!” She directed masters and doctoral theses for numerous students, many who have gone on to a variety of professions in academia, education, politics, business, communications, the arts and other worthy causes.

Upon retiring from UNLV, she permanently moved to Ely, NV to live in the pinyon-juniper woodland and to be closer to a community she had loved and cherished for so many years. St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church, Four Square Gospel, White Pine Ministerial Association, Salvation Army bell ringing at Ridley’s, the food bank, the Northern Nevada Railroad, Margarita’s Mexican Restaurant, Twin-Wok, and Bath Lumber are the things, and the people associated with them, she lived for and that enriched her life.

Ever prayerful and unwavering in her core Christian beliefs, Norma enjoyed a personal relationship with God that guided her every step and brought her strength and comfort. In mid-April of this year, she moved to Wellsville, Utah, to the home Rob Behunin, her former student, life-long friend and confidant, toconfront the return of cancer. As she met with doctors and nurses, Norma consistently told them, “Our job is to fight the good fight. God will let us know when we are done.” Norma fought well, and on Saturday, May 16, 2020, God, in his tender mercy, called her home.

It is Norma’s request that if there are those who wish to honor her memory, that they make a contribution to any of the following in her name:

St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church—stbartholomewnevada.com

White Pine Ministerial Association—PO Box 150683 Ely, NV 89301

Nevada Northern Railroad—nnry.com

Nevada Desert Tortoise Group—tortoisegroup.org

Turtle Conservancy—turtleconservancy.org

Center for Biological Diversity—biologicaldiversity.org

A private, virtual memorial service will be held in her honor. Interment will be at St. Bartholomew’s Columbarium at a future date when social distancing and travel restrictions have been lifted.

Janet Anderson, 85, a former longtime resident of Ely, passed away May 20, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Janet was born in Antimony, Utah and moved to Ely after her marriage to James Lloyd Anderson.  They loved Ely and were happy to raise their family there. In 1977, Janet and Lloyd partnered with his brother Lee and sister-in-law LeAnna to form Anderson Brothers.  Janet worked in their various business ventures, including Anderson’s IGA (later Foodtown) and Andy’s Western Wear.  Janet loved meeting with and serving the residents of Ely.  She made lifelong friendships with community members, employees, and members of her church.  She was a lifetime member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and lovingly served in many callings.  In 2005, Lloyd’s medical needs required the couple to move to Utah.  Janet has missed her Ely friends and community ever since.  She is preceded in death by Lloyd, her husband of 50 years.  She is survived by her 4 children, Janalyn (Cordell) DeMille, Darren Anderson, Allison (David) Jones, and Dustin (Keri) Anderson; 13 grandchildren; and 21 great grandchildren.  Read more about Janet at www.valleyviewfuneral.com.

Robert Elmer Hollinger went to be with his Savior & wife April 27, 2020 after a short illness in the home he built in Ranchester, Wyoming.  Bob was born May 13, 1929, in Sterling, Co. to Elmer and grace Witter Hollinger.

Louise Marian Baer Calchera, age 77 years, passed away on June 2, 2020 at her home, with her family by her side, after a long battle with cancer. She was born on December 29, 1942 to Fern J. Baer and Edna Mae Cobb.

​Louise loved sewing, fishing, camping, and spending time with her family. Louise has been with the love of her life Michael Calchera for 45 years. They were recently married April 18, 2020.

​Louise is survived by her husband Michael Calchera, three beautiful daughters and two sons; Cheryle (Shane) Roderick, Kailani(Jerry) Burton, Jodi duncombe, Richard (Shelley) Calchera, and Shane Calchera. Louise has twenty-three grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren; two brothers Edward (Emma) Olsen and James (Kathy) Olsen; one sister Nancy Olsen; several very special cousins, Thelma, Earleen, Arleen, Glendon, Judy, George, and Bonnie; best friend Dorothy Easling and special friends Jan and Ross Bennett and Judy Calchera.

​Louise is preceded in death by her parents; sister Nonieanne Baerand one grandson Mathew.

​A Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10, 2020.

​Flowers can be sent to Mountain Vista Chapel 450 Mill Street Ely, Nevada 89301.

​~We love you mom and grandma, Infinity~