Obituaries for August 24, 2005

Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2005 | 8:57 a.m.

Thelma Bird

Thelma Bird, 84, of North Las Vegas died Aug. 17 in Las Vegas. She was born Dec. 24, 1920, in Arkansas. A resident for six years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by three daughters, Lillie Reed of North Las Vegas, Evelyn Harrison of Arkansas and Rosemary Marks of Kansas; four sons, Carl Byrd and Artise Byrd, both of Arkansas, Lonnie Byrd Jr. of New York state and Alfreddie Riggs of Texas; 32 grandchildren; and 73 great-grandchildren.

No local services are scheduled. Services will be in Arkansas. Thomas and Jones Funeral Home, 310 Foremaster Lane, is handling arrangements.

Herman Lee DeJohnette

Herman Lee DeJohnette, 59, of Las Vegas died Aug. 5 in Las Vegas. He was born Feb. 22, 1946, in Louisiana. A resident for 42 years, he was a hotel custodian.

He is survived by four sisters, Carolyn DeJohnette, Dianne DeJohnette, Angela DeJohnette-McFarland and Edna D. DeJohnette, and one brother, Michael W. DeJohnette, all of Las Vegas.

Thomas and Jones Funeral Home, 310 Foremaster Lane, handled arrangements.

Laura Virginia Henkensiefken

Laura Virginia Henkensiefken, 89, of Las Vegas died Tuesday in Las Vegas. She was born Jan. 14, 1916, in Annapolis, Md. A resident for three years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by two sons, John Calvin Henkensiefken of Westminster, Md., and David Henkensiefken of Centreville, Md.; four daughters, Clara Virginia Copeland of Upper Marlboro, Md., Barbara Ellen Stalcup of Millersville, Md., Shirley Mae Ford of Centreville, Md., and Patricia Ann Shaw of Las Vegas; one sister, Lillian Adamecz of Annapolis; 11 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 3-7 p.m. Thursday in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St.

Charles E. Holbert

Charles E. Holbert, 55, of North Las Vegas died Friday in North Las Vegas. He was born Aug. 15, 1950, in Las Vegas. A lifelong resident, he was a customer service representative for an airline.

He is survived by his wife, Carol; three sons, Ray Holbert and Damien Holbert, both of Las Vegas and Charles Holbert Jr. of North Las Vegas; one daughter, Aja Holbert, and three brothers, Elgin Holbert, Gerald Holbert and Wesley Holbert, all of Las Vegas; three sisters, Eleanor Walker and Renee Gisendaner, both of Las Vegas, and Yolanda Walker of Atlanta; and one grandchild.

Visitation is scheduled 3-7 p.m. Thursday in Thomas and Jones Funeral Home, 310 Foremaster Lane. Services will be 11 a.m. Friday in New Bethel Baptist Church, 400 W. Adams Ave. Burial will follow in Davis' Paradise Memorial Gardens, 6200 S. Eastern Ave.

Emil J. Richko

Emil J. Richko, 84, of Las Vegas died Monday in a local hospital. He was born March 27, 1921, in Youngstown, Ohio. A resident for 16 years, he was a retired carpenter.

He is survived by his wife, Elsie; two sons, Richard Richko of Las Vegas and Melvin Richko of Chicago; two daughters, Bernadine Richko of Las Vegas and Geraldine Horvath of Salt Lake City; 10 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is scheduled 5-7 p.m. Thursday in Palm Mortuary, 1600 S. Jones Blvd. Services will be 10 a.m. Friday in Palm Chapel, Jones. Burial will follow in Palm Valley View Memorial Park, 7600 S. Eastern Ave.

Mary Schlaifer

Mary Schlaifer, 95, of Las Vegas died Saturday in Las Vegas. She was born June 19, 1910, in Oneill, Neb. A resident for more than 65 years, she was a homemaker.

She is survived by one niece, Diane Warren of Troutdale, Va.

Visitation is scheduled 10-10:30 a.m. today in Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St. Graveside services will follow at 11 a.m. in Woodlawn Cemetery.

The family suggests donations to the Las Vegas Humane Society, 2250 E. Tropicana Ave., Suite 19, Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Robert M. Stephenson

Robert M. Stephenson, 70, of Las Vegas died Friday in Las Vegas. A construction company owner and an Army veteran, he was born April 17, 1935, in South Dakota.

He is survived by his wife, Jerri; three sons, Michael, William and Matthew; two daughters, Karen Lee Keeton and Cynthia Stephenson; one sister, Helen Munson; and five grandchildren.

A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Sept. 1 in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 1811 Pueblo Vista Drive. Desert Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, 1111 Las Vegas Blvd. North, is handling arrangements.

Richard Devine Wickens

Richard Devine Wickens, 94, died Sunday. He was born in Greensburg, Ind. A former Las Vegas resident, he was a public accountant and tax preparer and a World War II Navy veteran who served in the South Pacific.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years, Vera Mae Hazen Wickens.

He is survived by two daughters, Patricia W. Reggie of Lafayette, La., and Marjorie W. Cannon of Las Vegas; one sister, Mary Adelle Frogge of Shelbyville, Ind.; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Martin & Castille Funeral Home, Lafayette, is handling arrangements.

The family suggests donations to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston St., Lafayette, LA 70503 or St. Jude Research Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.