In Memoriam

We honor the amazing lives of our Midland alumni, faculty and staff. To notify us of a death of a classmate or family member, please email alumni@midlandu.edu or call 402-941-6055.

Memorial Gifts

Gifts made in memory of a family member, teacher, student or friend are generous and thoughtful ways to remember a person's life and accomplishments. When making a gift in memory of someone, please send your gift with a note specifying the honoree's name and address and/or contact information so we can send a notification that a gift has been made.

Please send memorial gifts to: Midland University, ATTN: Institutional Advancement, 900 N. Clarkson, Fremont, NE 68025, or make a gift online.

Owen Picton '60

Sunday, December 21, 2025

Owen S. Picton, age 88, of Blair, died Thursday, December 18, 2025, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair. Owen was born December 29, 1936, in Falls City, Nebraska, to Samuel and Martha “Roesch” Picton. He was raised in Falls City and graduated from Falls City High School. After high school he...

Gordon Swenson '58

Sunday, December 21, 2025

Gordon John Swenson, 86, died on October 18, 2025 in Boise, Idaho. Gordon was born on February 7, 1939 in Evansville, Minnesota to Rev. Swen and Mildred Swenson, and was raised in Aberdeen, Washington and Seattle. Gordon graduated from Luther Academy in Wahoo, Nebraska in 1957, attended Luther...

Melva (Grube) Schmidt '55

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Melva Mae (Grube) Schmidt passed away on December 15, 2025, at the age of 91, following a recent fall. For the past two years, she had been a resident of Fieldstone Memory Care in Yakima, Washington where she was well cared for and known for being independent. Melva was born on March 11, 1934, in...

Doug Osborn '69

Monday, December 15, 2025

November 25, 1946 - December 14, 2025 Survived by wife, Gloria Menard Osborn; brother, Brad (Sandy) Osborn; step-sons, Keith (Michelle) and Todd (Dawn) Menard; grandchildren, Michael (Riley), Kayleigh, Michaela, Juliette, and Tristian Menard; nephew, Matt (Dawn) Osborn; niece, Amanda (Frank) Barron...

Michael Wilcox '71

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Michael “Mike” Eugene Wilcox, 76 passed away surrounded by his family on November 9, 2025, at Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha, NE Michael was born to Stanley Wilcox and Norma Knott Wilcox in Council Bluffs, IA on March 29, 1949. Mike was the oldest of 4 siblings. His parents, both educators,...

Mary Anna (Carlson) Anderson '56

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

A funeral service for Mary Anna Anderson be held on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Vicar Libby Florian, officiating. Interment will follow at Prairie Home Cemetery, Holdrege. Mary Anna Anderson, 90, of Holdrege, died on...

Gordon Soderberg '54

Monday, November 17, 2025

Gordon W. Soderberg, age 92 of Blair, passed away November 14, 2025, at his home in Blair. Memorial services will be held Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Blair. Gordon was born on November 25, 1932, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Gordon T. and Blanche E. (...

Ilene Smith '71

Monday, November 10, 2025

Ilene Smith, 77, of Fort Dodge, died November 8, 2025, at the Marian Home. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, a fantastic nurse and a humble fighter who battled her health challenges over the years with courage and grace. Ilene Marie Franke, daughter of Norman and...

Del Roberts '61

Monday, November 3, 2025

Del P. Roberts died on October 31, 2025, at the age of 86. He was born in Fremont, Nebraska, the son of John H. and Elsie Roberts. Del attended Fremont High School and graduated from Midland Lutheran College (now Midland University) in 1961. Upon graduation, he joined Arthur Anderson & Co. and...

Rev. Harlan Heier '53

Monday, October 27, 2025

The Rev. Harlan Heier of Lincoln died on Oct. 20, 2025. He was 94. Harlan Frederick Heier was born on Oct. 14, 1931 in Wayne, Nebraska, to Frederick and Helena “Lena” (Bartling) Heier. He graduated from Wayne (Nebraska) High School in 1948, Midland Lutheran College in 1953, Central Lutheran...