In Memoriam

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.

Dennis Johnson L'56

Dennis Johnson L'56

Monday, November 1, 2021
Dennis Ray Johnson passed away on October 31, 2021 at the age of 85 at Midwest Covenant Home in Stromsburg, NE. He was born to Raymond D. and Thelma M. (Willits) Johnson, in the record breaking 114-degree heat on July 30, 1936, in Grand Island, NE. He was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Lutheran...

Carrie A. Essink '99

Carrie A. Essink '99

Thursday, October 28, 2021
Carrie Essink, age 44, of Bennington passed away peacefully Saturday, October 23, 2021, in Empoli, Italy, with her husband at her side. A public memorial service and Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, November 1, 2021, at Relevant Center, 21220 Elkhorn Dr (212th and W. Maple Rd...

Ann Wilhite '67

Ann Wilhite '67

Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Ann Louise Wilhite, age 75, of Fremont died on Oct. 23, 2021, at Methodist Fremont Health. The daughter of Rev. Paul and Lela (Zimmerman) Wiegman, she was born in Omaha on March 9, 1946. She grew up in Tekamah and Ponca, where her father served as a Lutheran minister. Arriving at Midland Lutheran...

Dee Ann Tillotson

Dee Ann Tillotson

Monday, October 25, 2021
Dee Ann Tillotson, 80 years, of Fremont, NE passed away Saturday, October 16, 2021 at Dunklau Gardens in Fremont. Dee was born on November 15, 1940, to Wilbur and Lucille (Conyers) Sommer in North Platte, NE. She was raised on a farm near North Platte and moved to town in junior high. She graduated...

Laura Hunt L'58

Laura Hunt L'58

Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Laura Jane Anderson Hunt (formerly of Stromsburg, Nebraska) age 84 passed away October 19, 2021 with her children by her side. Laura Jane was born March 1, 1937 to Norris Merton John and Violet Charlotte (Stromberg) Anderson at the York Hospital in York, Nebraska. She was baptized and confirmed at...

Gayard Nygren L'53

Gayard Nygren L'53

Sunday, October 17, 2021
Gayard Ernest Nygren, April 9, 1935 - October 13, 2021 Preceded in death by parents, Hilda and Ernest Nygren; and sister, Joann Edstrom. Survived by wife, Coreen (Nelson); sister, Delois Jacobson; daughters and sons-in-law, Colleen (Barry) Finkhouse, Gaylene (Ray) Quinn and Judith (Christopher...

Delores Ruge '55

Delores Ruge '55

Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Delores was born to Ernest and Wanda (Dean) Ruge in Norfolk, NE, July 15, 1932. She departed to be with our Lord Oct. 11, 2021. The family moved to Washington in 1937. Delores graduated from Vancouver High School and went on to attend Midland College in Fremont, NE. After graduation she went on to...

Lynn Schmale '85

Lynn Schmale '85

Monday, October 11, 2021
Lynn Schmale, 59, of Carmel, Indiana, formerly of Schuyler, passed away at his home in Carmel on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Schuyler. Burial with military honors took place in the Schuyler Cemetery. Lynn Karl...

Dona Erickson Laten I'59

Dona Erickson Laten I'59

Thursday, October 7, 2021
Dona Mae Laten, age 91, of Fremont died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, at Providence Place. Dona was born Nov. 23, 1929, in Froid, Montana, to Bernhard and Gyda (Wermager) Buchholz. She was raised in Northern Minnesota, graduated from Waubun Minnesota High School in 1947. She attended Aakers School of...

Marilyn Hurrell

Marilyn Hurrell

Thursday, October 7, 2021
Marilyn A. Hurrell was born Aug. 17, 1926 to Willie and Rose Eggers on their farm near Mead. She passed away on Sept. 24, 2021 at Dunklau Gardens in Fremont at the age of 95 years. Marilyn attended an elementary country school near her family's farm and graduated from Yutan High School at the age...

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