L. H. Whitman, 69 years of age, former editor and owner of the Farnam Press, passed away Tuesday morning, April 24, in the Good Samaritan hospital in Kearney. He had been in poor health for several months. Mr. Whitman is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Wm. Macek of Revenna; and Mrs. Donald Bopp of Spalding, Nebr. Mrs. Whitman died Dec. 1, 1955. Since the passing of Mrs. Whitman Mr. Whitman had made his home with the daughter in Ravenna. Funeral services will be held in the Farnam Methodist church Thursday afternoon, April 26, at 4:00 o’clock. Rev. B. H. Hart officiating. Interment will be in the Farnam cemetery with Olesen Funeral Home in charge.

The Farnam Press, 16(29):1 Thursday, April 26, 1956

Leroy Hugh Whitman was born June 6, 1886 at Ohiowa, Nebraska to Charles B. Whitman and Carrie McPherson Whitman and passed away at 1:15 o’clock Tuesday morning, April 24 in the Good Samaritan hospital in Kearney, Nebraska at the age of 69 years, 10 months and 18 days.

His health had not been good for a number of years, but being a man of strong will he kept at his profession, printing until a short time after his wife’s death just four months ago. When she passed away he said, "I am ready, it is time for me to go now, too."

He sold his newspaper, The Farnam Press, on Febr. 10 and planned to make his home at Ravenna and Spalding with his daughters, leaving the following day for Ravenna with his daughter, Mrs. William Macek, at whose home he spent the remainder of his life except for time he was in hospitals.

When Mr. Whitman was three years of age his mother passed away. The children then made their home with their grandparents, his brother making his home with his father’s parents at Minatare, Nebr., and he and his sister making their home with their mother’s parents at Geneva, Nebr.

He was baptised in the Methodist faith at Mason City, Nebraska when quite young.

He met and later married Miss Dency Blanche Wagers of Mason City on Sept. 15, 1909. To this union were born two daughters, Irene Mabel and Helen Marie.

Soon after their marriage Mr. Whitman began his work as a newspaper man, being employed on the Mason City Transcript.

In July, 1910, he purchased the Primrose Press at Primrose, Nebr. which he published for 30 years. For several of these years he also served as postmaster in Primrose.

In September, 1940, he purchased the Farnam Press at Farnam, Neb., which he published for over 15 years, until selling the newspaper in February, 1956.

In spite of his ill health he was always a good provider and a very kind and devoted husband and father.

Mr. Whitman took great interest in civic affairs, served as Village Clerk most of the 30 years he resided in Primrose, served on the school board a number of years, as a volunteer fireman during his residence in Primrose, was baseball manager for a few years before his first severe illness and served as Republican Committeeman for a few years and as Republican local chairman for a number of years.

Besides his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by his brother, Martin, who passed away in 1918.

He is survived by daughters, Irene, Mrs. Donald Bopp of Spalding, Nebr., and Helen, Mrs. Wm. Macek of Ravenna, Nebr., three grandchildren, Mrs. Garrett Kasselder, Jr., of Loretto, Nebr., AM-2 Ronald Bopp of the Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, and Miss Nancy Kay Macek of Ravenna, Nebr.; two great grandsons, and a host of other relatives and friends who mourn his passing.

Funeral services were held on Thursday afternoon, April 26 in the Farnam Methodist church, Rev. B. H. Hart officiating.

He was carried to his final resting place, beside his wife in the Farnam cemetery by the same pallbearers who had just four months ago acted as pallbearers for his wife. They were: John Rowland, Burr Parker, Dale Montgomery, Hugo Blomquist, Jack Martin and Ernie Lewis.

Mr. and Mrs. N. L. Olesen of Gothenburg were in charge of the services.

The Farnam Press, 16(31):1 Thursday, May 10, 1956