Leslie Firth

Leslie Firth, age 96, formerly of Hampton, died Sunday, January 17, 2005, at St. John's Center of Good Samaritan in Kearney.

Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, January 19th at the Chapel of Higby-McQuiston Mortuary in Aurora. Pastor Chris Kester Beyer will officiate. Interment will be in Hampton City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 P.M. to 8 P.M. Tuesday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: LESLIE FIRTH

Leslie Donald Firth, the son of Christopher and Alice (Sundgren) Firth, was born in Aurora, Nebraska on November 20, 1908 and died in Kearney, Nebraska on January 16, 2005, at the age of 96.

His mother passed away when he was small and so he lived part time with an aunt at Stockham. As a child, he worked and helped his aunt on the county farm. He attended school in Aurora. Leslie and his father purchased and ran the Sinclair gas station in Hampton for several years. He then worked for the township of Hampton.

Leslie was united in marriage to Ardith Schaepler Nelson in St. Paul in 1951. They resided in the Hampton Community until approximately 1963. They worked at White Hall Home for Boys in Lincoln for a short time and then moved back to York, where they were worked for the City as custodians of the York City Auditorium. They served large events held at the auditorium over the years until retirement. Ardith passed away in 1974.

In 1976, Les married Alida L. Budde of Grand Island. Alida and her late husband had been longtime friends of Les and Ardith. They purchased a home in Hampton, where they lived until 1998. After selling their home, they moved to the Lebasaraum Assisted Living in Grand Island. After Alida passed away, Les moved back to Aurora and lived at Colonial Corners for about a year and then move to St. John's Center in Kearny, due to declining health.

Les was a member of the Aurora Lions Club and a member of the Masons for over 50 years. In 2001, he was honored as the oldest living Mason in Nebraska. Les's hobbies included carpentry and fixing things in general for family, friends and acquaintances. Over his lifetime he met many different people form many walks of life. Les loved to visit and had many stories to tell about his experiences. In the nursing home, he would set in the hall and visit with friends and family of other residents. Several friendships grew out of these encounters. Les had a good memory for names and faces and never forgot his friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, both wives and two uncles.

Leslie is survived by his step-daughter, Francine (Gerald) Janzen of Kearney; 3 grandchildren, Michelle Janzen of Kearney, Kerri Koenig of Lincoln and David Janzen of Loredo, Texas; great-grandchildren, Brent, Daniel, Grace, Shawn, children of David and Luz Janzen of Loredo, Texas and Sophie Koenig, daughter of Brian and Kerrie Koening of Lincoln and one cousin on his mother's side.