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.

Adam Bean

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Adam D. Bean, 40, of Ogallala, Nebraska passed away on Monday, November 8, 2021 in Gosper County. Adam was born in Broken Bow, Nebraska on May 4, 1981, to David and Patty (Munnell) Bean. At the age of 6, his family moved from Arnold, Nebraska to Eustis, Nebraska. Adam attended and graduated from...

Evelyn Marie Whitehill L '59

Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Evelyn Marie was born on May 25, 1939 in the Swedish community of Gowrie, Iowa to farmer Clemens Hade and his wife, Esther. She was the youngest of four children and the only daughter. When Evelyn was a teenager she lost her mother, and her extended family stepped in to help raise her. She...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...