LaVera Neufeld died on Dec. 1, 2013, at Frieda House, Bluffton, Ohio. She was born Sept. 26, 1927, in Inman, Kan., the second of five children born to Curt and Sarah Androes Regehr. The family moved to Dalhart, Texas, for several years during the Dust Bowl, but later returned to Inman.
She attended West Eagle and Welcome rural schools, often riding the family horse, Blackie. LaVera and her cousin, Lilly Ann Regehr, were driven to high school by Elmer Neufeld and his brother, Herb.
Esther P. Luginbuhl, 92, died at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton on Nov. 28, 2013. She was born Jan. 30, 1921 in Mount Blanchard to George and Naomi Crawford Shoemaker, who preceded her in death. On May 16, 1943 she married Delbert Luginbuhl who preceded her in death on Oct. 22, 1987.
Mrs. Luginbuhl graduated from Pandora High School in 1939. She worked in a variety of places during the years, including Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton University, Urich's IGA, and Triplett Corporation. She was a member of First Mennonite Church, Bluffton.
Esther P. Luginbuhl, 92, of Bluffton died at 8:10 a.m. Nov. 28, 2013, at the Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton. Arrangements are incomplete at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Bluffton.
Ellen Messing, 78, of Bluffton, died Nov. 21, 2013 at her residence. She was born April 23, 1935, in Ada to the late Rufus G. and Lillian M. Howard Smith.
She retired from Sprint where she was an operator and dispatcher. She was a member of the English Lutheran Church, Bluffton and the Ada VFW. She was a 1953 graduate of Ada High School.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Louis David Brentlinger.
Helen L. McOwen, 91, of Pandora died at 7:40 a.m. Nov. 20, 2013, at the Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora. She was born Nov. 6, 1922 in Putnam County to Clarence and Edith Thomas Hofferbert. On Dec. 26, 1944 she married Roger McOwen and he preceded her in death on November 28, 1982.
She had been a bookkeeper at Steinman Brothers Lumber Company in Bluffton. She was a member of the Pandora United Methodist, the Gideon's Auxiliary and the Asi No Mas Club of Pandora. She was a graduate of Vaughnsville High School and attended Northwest Business College, Lima.
Eleanor Judith Hillemann, 94, died Friday, Oct. 25, 2013, at Hilty Memorial Home, Pandora. She was born on March 18, 1919, at Bluff Dale Ranch near Almont, N.D. Her parents, Emelie Sorum Pederson, and Jonathan Pederson, were homesteaders and the children of Norwegian immigrants. She was the fourth of six daughters.
