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.

Gary Overfield '74

Gary Overfield '74

Monday, March 30, 2026
Gary W. Overfield, 74, of Fremont, Nebraska, passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. Gary was born on January 29, 1952, in Falls City, Nebraska, to Herbert C. Overfield Jr. and Patricia (Trull) Overfield. He grew up in Falls City, where he graduated from...

Susan (Nelson) Bengston '62

Susan (Nelson) Bengston '62

Monday, March 30, 2026
Funeral services for Susan Bengston, age 83, of Wausa, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Thabor Lutheran Church in Wausa. Richard Bloomquist PMA will officiate, with burial in Thabor Lutheran Cemetery in Wausa. The service will be livestreamed on Thabor Lutheran Church's...

Helmut Yurk '73

Helmut Yurk '73

Monday, March 16, 2026
Rev. Helmut Yurk 74, of Fremont, Nebraska passed away Saturday, March 7, 2026 in Mazatlán, Mexico. He was born August 18, 1951 in Kolbermoor, Germany to Henry and Hildegard (Schulz) Yurk. Helmut came to Hastings, Nebraska as an infant and also lived in Fremont, Platte Center, Lewiston and Gurley,...

Trudy Reeves '49

Trudy Reeves '49

Sunday, March 8, 2026
Trudy Reeves, age 98, of Crete, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2026, surrounded by family. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, aunt, great-grandmother, and friend whose warmth, grace, and kindness touched many lives. She was known for her vivacious personality and charming spirit. Gertrude...

Don Bern '56

Don Bern '56

Friday, February 27, 2026
Don L. Bern, age 90, of Wahoo, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, in Wahoo, surrounded by his family. Don was born on June 18, 1935, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Arthur and Mary (Brown) Bern and grew up on his parents' farm. After graduating from Luther College in Wahoo, Don became...

Darlene (Frimann) Aspinall '66

Darlene (Frimann) Aspinall '66

Friday, February 20, 2026
Darlene Mae (Frimann) Aspinall of Kerrville, TX passed away on February 19, 2026 surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Alliance, Nebraska, on May 27, 1944, and was raised on the family dairy farm in Hay Springs, Nebraska. She attended local schools where she met her high school...

David Shaw

David Shaw

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
David H. Shaw, longtime owner of Nenana Heating Services and community advocate, died January 31, 2026, in Anchorage after a short illness. He was 82. He was born David Harrel Shaw Feb. 12, 1943 in Eureka, KS, to Wilson Harrel and Elizabeth Ruth Williams Shaw, the third of nine children. David grew...

Connie Tabler '66

Connie Tabler '66

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Connie Ann Tabler, 81, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Monday, February 2, 2026, at Meridian Gardens in Columbus. Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 13 at 10:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Columbus, with The Rev. Cory Burma officiating. Interment will be held in Zion Lutheran Grand...

Rev. Bob Kocher '51

Rev. Bob Kocher '51

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
The Reverend Robert Gale Kocher, age 98, of Fremont, Neb., died January 31, 2026. Born in Omaha, Neb., June 17, 1927, he is lovingly remembered by his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched throughout his life. During high school, Robert worked at a local florist, where his love of...

Honorable James Hansen '65

Honorable James Hansen '65

Thursday, February 5, 2026
Honorable James Thomas Hansen, a respected figure in the legal community and a cherished family member, passed away on December 14, 2025, in Fort Myers, Florida. He was born on May 27, 1943, to Norman and Eileen Hansen in Holdrege, Nebraska. James spent his early formative years on the family farm...

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