Obituaries for June 1, 2000

Thursday, June 1, 2000 | 11:40 a.m.

Dean Keith Abbott

Dean Keith Abbott, 70, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. He was born June 22, 1929, in Sutherland, Utah. A resident for 25 years, he was a retired gaming floorman and a Korean War and Vietnam War Army veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia; three sons, Douglas Abbott of Miami, Gregory Abbott of Las Vegas and Kevin Abbott of Boulder City; three daughters, Debra Andersen of St. Paul, Minn., and Leslie Scott and Laurie Abbott, both of Las Vegas; one stepson, Alan Loghry, and one stepdaughter, Deborha Schmidt, both of Las Vegas; 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Visitation is scheduled one hour prior to 9 a.m. services Friday in the LDS chapel at 4040 E. Wyoming Ave. Burial is scheduled at 11 a.m. Friday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., is handling arrangements.

Leodigario C. Balasi

Leodigario C. Balasi, 72, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. He was born Oct. 2, 1927, in the Philippines. A resident for seven years, he was a retired taxicab driver and a World War II Army veteran.

He is survived by one daughter, Corazon Bano, one son, Alberto Balasi, and one sister, Conchita Blasino, all of the Philippines; and one brother, Osias Balase of Las Vegas; and eight grandchildren.

Visitation will continue until 7 p.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Friday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City.

Esther Tina Beene

Esther Tina Beene, 89, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. She was born Feb. 2, 1911, in Fouke, Ark. A resident for 11 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by one son, Chester Beene; four daughters, Lee Hulsey of Las Vegas, Sybil Tarver of El Dorado, Ark., Bernice Caracciolo of Hayden Lake, Idaho, and Doris Johnson of Phoenix; 13 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Friday in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.

Thelma June Bennett

Thelma June Bennett, 92, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospice. She was born June 26, 1907, in Kansas. A resident for 20 years, she was a home furnishings saleswoman.

She is survived by one daughter, Sandra Truman; one grandchild and one great-grandchild.

Services will be 1 p.m. Friday in Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North.

Richard Benton

Richard Benton, 70, of Boulder City died Tuesday in a local hospital. He was born March 18, 1930, in New York City. A resident for 35 years, he was a retired aerial photographer, a retired employee of the Nevada Test Site, a retired employee of ARAMCO in Saudi Arabia, a Korean War Navy and Air Force veteran and a member of Rotary International.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; one daughter, Jamie Vaughn of Yuba City, Calif.; four sons, Danny Charles Benton of Las Vegas, Robert L. Benton of Boulder City, Edward D. Benton of Henderson and David Vondracek of Orlando, Fla.; one sister, Connie Latzko of North Bergen, N.J.; one brother, William Benton of San Francisco; and five grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Monday in Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway, Henderson.

Johnnie Mae Dollar

Johnnie Mae Dollar, 85, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local care center. She was born Nov. 20, 1914, in Birmingham, Ala. A resident for 58 years, she was a retired Sands hotel inspectress.

She is survived by two daughters, Jean Stowers and Dorothy Carson, three sons, Alphonso Fleming Sr., George Dollar Jr. and Henry E. Dollar, two sisters, Lucille Hughes and Elizabeth Shelborn, and one brother, Eddie B. Fleming Sr., all of Las Vegas; 25 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 2-7 p.m. Friday in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Palm Chapel, Main. Burial will follow at 11 a.m. Saturday in Palm Memorial Park.

Helen Mary Erickson

Helen Mary Erickson, 60, of Henderson died May 25 in Henderson. She was born May 14, 1940, in Council, Idaho. A resident for 32 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband, Maurice; one son, Joseph Erickson of Idaho; two daughters, Barbara Chamberlain of North Las Vegas and Rebecca Erickson of Henderson; and three brothers, Bill Camp and Gene Camp, both of Las Vegas, and Richard Camp of St. George, Utah.

Services will be 9 a.m. Friday in the LDS Desert Rose Chapel. Burial will follow in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Steven Jeffrey Finley

Steven Jeffrey Finley, 45, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospice. He was born Feb. 28, 1955, in Pueblo, Colo. A resident for eight years, he was a heavy equipment welder and a member of the Operating Engineers Union.

He is survived by one son, Dallas; three daughters, Victoria Finley, Sandra Finley and Staci Finley, all of Las Vegas; his mother, Elaine Lehman, and his father, George James Finley, both of Pueblo; and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 10 a.m. Saturday in Living Waters Ministry, 5400 E. Carey Ave. Affordable Cremation and Burial Service, 2457 N. Decatur Blvd., is handling arrangements.

The family suggests donations to the Nathan Adelson Hospice, 4141 S. Swenson St., Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Jess Fleming

Jess Fleming, 76, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in a local hospital. He was born Oct. 8, 1923, in Winslow, Ariz. A resident for six years, he was a retired federal government flight service specialist, a World War II Navy veteran and a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; four sons, Jim Fleming of Charlotte, N.C., Bill Fleming of Pleasant Hill, Calif., Don Fleming of Sacramento and Steve Fleming of Lakenheath Air Force Base, United Kingdom; one daughter, Jill Wake of Salt Lake City; 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Visitation is scheduled 5-7 p.m. Friday in Palm Mortuary, 7600 S. Eastern Ave. Additional visitation is scheduled one hour prior to 1 p.m. services Saturday in the Bermuda LDS Ward.

The family suggests donations to Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City.

Mary Pierce Freebairn

Mary Pierce Freebairn, 60, of Las Vegas died Sunday in Las Vegas. She was born April 7, 1940, in Syracuse, N.Y. She was a human resources expert at Casino Data Systems and active in LDS organizations.

She is survived by her husband, Robert D.; one daughter, Meredith Mackris of Salt Lake City; two sons, Robert D. Freebairn Jr. of Salt Lake City and Jeffrey S. Freebairn of San Francisco; five sisters, Vivian Lewis Ritter of Indiatlantic, Fla., Miriam Large of Murrells Inlet, S.C., Gloria Smith of Surfside Beach, S.C., Alberta Gautreaux of Baton Rouge, La., and Karen Delisle of Vancouver, British Columbia; five brothers, Peter Pierce, Edwin Pierce and Keith Pierce, all of Syracuse, N.Y., Gary Pierce of Dallas and Ray Pierce of Binghamton, N.Y.; and two granddaughters.

Visitation is scheduled 5-7 p.m. today in Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Services will be 1 p.m. Friday in Bunkers Chapel. Burial will be in Utah.

Robert Hepsoe

Robert Hepsoe, 68, of Pahrump died Monday in Pahrump. He was born Oct. 27, 1931, in Washington state. A resident for two years, he was a lounge owner, a member of the Elks, Moose, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Teamsters Union and a former mayor of Mantesano, Wash.

He is survived by his wife, Deloris; two stepdaughters, Heather Wallach of California and Kathy Cleveland of British Columbia; two stepsons, Scott Oddy and Garret Oddy, both of Washington state; and one brother, Henry of Norfolk, Va.; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service will be in Westport, Wash. Pahrump Family Mortuary, 2240 E. Calvada Blvd., is handling arrangements.

Mary Quintana Huff

Mary Quintana Huff, 69, of Las Vegas died Wednesday in a local hospital. She was born Oct. 26, 1930, in Colorado. A resident for 18 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband, James; two sons, Gilbert Quintana of Las Vegas and Aaron "Michael" Quintana of California; six daughters, Jean Sharon Esquibel of Canon City, Colo., Shirley Ash of Kansas, Nea "Charlene" Martinez of California, Yevonne Fontana of Tustin, Calif., Jacqueline Purvis of Las Vegas and Anonka Rasheed of Huntington Beach, Calif.; one sister, Annamae Walton of Colorado; 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Friday in Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Boulder City. Affordable Cremation and Burial Service, 2457 N. Decatur Blvd., is handling arrangements.

Doris M. Johnson

Doris M. Johnson, 61, of North Las Vegas died Thursday in a local hospital. She was born Sept. 25, 1938, in Columbus, Texas. A resident for 35 years, she was a laundry presser.

She is survived by two daughters, Gwendolyn Gant of North Las Vegas and Paula A. Jackson of Las Vegas; three sons, Ivory D. Ford of Indian Springs, Lonnie Johnson of Los Angeles and Edward Johnson of Las Vegas; one brother, Lonnie O'Neal of Las Vegas; and nine grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 5-7 p.m. Friday in Affordable Cremation and Burial Service, 2457 N. Decatur Blvd. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday in Zion Methodist Church, 2108 N. Revere St.

Alice J. Knight

Alice J. Knight, 65, of Las Vegas died Saturday in a local hospital. She was born May 24, 1935, in Chicago. A resident for seven years, she was a retired registered nurse.

She is survived by one daughter, Charlene Bolin of Fairfield, Calif.; six sons, James Knight, Kenneth Knight, Joseph Knight, Jessie Knight and Hasting Knight, all of Inkom, Idaho, and Ernest Knight of Fairfield; two brothers, Bud Gemkow of Covina, Calif., and Thomas Gemkow of Fontana, Calif.; 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Visitation was scheduled noon until 2 p.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St., followed by graveside services in Palm Memorial Park.

The family suggests donations to the American Diabetes Association, 2785 E. Desert Inn Road, Suite 140, Las Vegas, NV 89121.

Grace Lapos

Grace Lapos, 88, of Las Vegas died Sunday in a local hospice. A retired beauty salon owner-operator and member of the Fulton County Beautician Association, she was born March 22, 1912, in Gloversvile, N.Y.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Edward F.

She is survived by one brother, Peter C. Persico of Schenectady, N.Y.; and one sister, Susan A. Riccio of Amsterdam, N.Y.

Palm Mortuary, 7400 W. Cheyenne Ave., is handling arrangements.

Harrold D. Lewis

Harrold D. Lewis, 62, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospice. He was born Aug. 26, 1937, in Dallas. A resident for two years, he was a driver for an auto parts business.

He is survived by his very special friend, Lois Lucarelli of Las Vegas; four sons, Bobby Ray, Dwayne and Vincent Martin, all of Tucson, Ariz., and Kevin Lewis of Pittsburg, Calif.; one daughter, Donna of Tucson; one sister, Brenda Johnson of Los Angeles; and several grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 5-7 p.m. today in American Burial and Cremation Services, 310 Foremaster Lane. Services will be 1 p.m. Friday in Wesley United Methodist Church, 2727 Civic Center Drive, North Las Vegas. Burial will be private.

Jimmy Luffman

Jimmy Luffman, 48, of Las Vegas died May 25 in Las Vegas. He was born April 12, 1952, in North Carolina. A resident for two years, he was a casino slot supervisor.

He is survived by his wife, Kimberly; and his mother, Josephine Luffman of Elkin, N.C.

No local services are scheduled. Burial will be in Elkin. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Vesta Lee 'Mother' Marion

Vesta Lee "Mother" Marion, 72, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. She was born Aug. 18, 1927, in Louise, Miss. A resident for more than 50 years, she was a retired casino porter.

She is survived by four daughters, Brenda Marion, Beverly Marion and LaToya Marion, all of Las Vegas, and Camille Marion of Beverly, Calif.; four sons, Raymond Seals of Milwaukee and Donald Marion, LaMar Marion and Ivy Reece Jr., all of Las Vegas; four sisters, Lillian Jones of Altadena, Calif., Avoy Graham of Riverside, Calif., and La Tashia Marion and Emma Colbert, both of Las Vegas; two brothers, Leroy Marion Sr., and Robert "Brother" Marion, both of Las Vegas; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 2-7 p.m. Friday and 9-11 a.m. Saturday in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday in Palm Memorial Park.

Daniel Joseph 'Kricker' McNally

Daniel Joseph "Kricker" McNally, 31, of Amargosa Valley died Tuesday in a local hospice. He was born Nov. 15, 1968, in Bishop, Calif. A resident for 5 1/2 years, he was a plumber.

He is survived by his wife, Michelle; two daughters, Mercedes McNally and Cherish McNally, both of Amargosa Valley; his father, James McNally of Bishop, Calif.; and one sister, Kimberly McNally of Las Vegas.

Memorial services will be in Amargosa Valley and Bishop. Affordable Cremation and Burial Service, 2457 N. Decatur Blvd., is handling arrangements.

The family suggests donations to Laws Museum, Bishop.

Miguel Angel Munoz

Miguel Angel Munoz, 15, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. He was born May 20, 1985, in Puerto Rico. A resident for 12 years, he was a student.

He is survived by his father, William Munoz of Puerto Rico; his mother, Norma Solano, one sister, Sandra Rivera, and two brothers, William Munoz and Alexis Morales, all of Las Vegas.

Visitation is scheduled 3-7 p.m. today in Bunkers Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Blvd. North. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday in St. Anne Catholic Church, 1901 S. Maryland Parkway.

Stephen P. Nally

Stephen P. Nally, 42, of Las Vegas died Monday in Las Vegas. He was born Oct. 8, 1957, in Louisville, Ky. A resident for nine months, he was a real estate agent.

He is survived by his mother, Jeanette Nally of Louisville.

No local services are scheduled. Burial will be in Indiana. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Margaret Ricketts

Margaret Ricketts, 65, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. She was born June 18, 1933, in Texas. A resident for many years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by one daughter, Jeanie Eckert of Manor, Texas.

No local services are scheduled. Burial will be in Travis County, Texas. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

Richard Riddell

Richard Riddell, 83, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. He was born Nov. 29, 1916, in Seattle. A resident for 10 years, he was a retired attorney and a World War II Air Force veteran.

He is survived by his wife, Dolores; four daughters, Dorothea Alleyne of New York City, Wendy Riddell of Seattle, Kate Reeves of Carlton, Wash., and Caren Gloyd of Las Vegas; five sons, Mark Riddell and Steve Gloyd, both of Seattle, Bill Gloyd of Albuquerque, N.M., Robert Gloyd of Marysville, Wash., and Tom Gloyd of Sultan, Wash.; and 13 grandchildren.

Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd., is handling arrangements.

Rubio A. Romero

Rubio A. Romero, 68, of Henderson died Tuesday in Henderson. He was born April 23, 1932, in New Mexico. A resident for 15 years, he was a city jailer.

He is survived by his wife, Marie.

No local services are scheduled. Burial will be in New Mexico. Hites Funeral Services, 438 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, is handling arrangements.

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