PHILLIPS COUNTY
Colorado
ARTHUR F DESELMS
Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, CO, October 19, 1995
Arthur Franklin Deselms of Farnam, Nebraska was born August 30, 1910 in Dundy County, Nebraska to Walter and Alice (Smith) Deselms. He died Wednesday, October 11, 1995 at Gothenburg Memorial Hospital in Gothenburg, Nebraska at the age of 85.
Art's parents moved to Edison, Nebraska soon after he was born. There he grew to manhood and on June 30, 1934 was united in marriage to Mable Slonecker. To this union two children were born.
Arthur moved his family to Colorado in 1941, residing in the Amitie Community near Holyoke and working on a farm for Guy Poe. In 1949 he contracted polio and had to leave the farm. They moved into Holyoke, and for several years Art worked as a mechanic for the Ford Motor Company and James Scholl.
In 1994, Deselms moved to Farnam to be closer to his daughter, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Arthur was considered to be a man who knew no strangers and was a friend to all.
Preceding him in death were his parents, wife Mable, grandson Michael, sister Viola and brothers Milton, Orville, Glen and Harry "Pat." Survivors include children Jr "Jim" and wife Kathy of Melbourne, Australia and Gerene "Geri" McPeak-Groewould and husband Raymond of Farnam; sister Lola Chapman of Caldwell, Idaho; sister-in-law Irma Deselms of Wray; grandchildren Daniel McPeak, William McPeak, Timothy McPeak, Julie Armstrong, David Deselms and Paul. Services were held Saturday, October 14, 1995 at Holyoke Church of the Nazarene. Burial followed at Pleasant Valley Cemetery near Holyoke.
CLARA FERN (MARTIN) DESELMS
Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, Colorado, November 28, 1985
Clara Fern Deselms was born August 27, 1908 in Phillips County and died November 22, 1985. Fern’s parents, LeRoy Martin and Zelpha North Martin homesteaded on their farm 10 miles east and four miles south of Holyoke in the Pleasant Valley community.
At the age of 5, Fern’s mother died. Later LeRoy married Ruth Briggs and to this union Glen Martin, deceased, Pearl Martin Jaycox and Mabel Martin Schiermeyer Triplette were born. When Mabel Triplette was one and a half years old, Ruth died and LeRoy later married his third wife Mabel Harb and to this union Betty Martin Sullivan was born.
At the age of 22, Fern married Milton Deselms and shortly thereafter moved to a farm east and south of Holyoke. Together for 25 years they farmed and raised two sons, Don W. Deselms, deceased and Gaylen Deselms.
In 1955 Milton and Fern moved to Holyoke and opened the Deselms Dependable Cleaners with a nephew Dale Deselms. Fern and Milton worked together until their retirement in the mid 1970s.
Fern had enjoyed 54 years of marriage to Milton before his death in July 1984. She was baptized at the Holyoke Christian Church and held her membership there.Fern was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Glen Martin, husband Milton W. Deselms and one son Don W. Deselms.
Fern is survived by her son Gaylen and his wife JoAnn Randall Deselms of Arvada; daughter-in-law Doris Holder of Phoenix, Arizona; grandchildren Kevin and Kyla Deselms of Arvada, David and Don Deselms II, both of Phoenix, Arizona; Daniel Deselms presently in the military and Diana Wier of New York; and several great grandchildren. Also surviving are three sisters Pearl Jaycox, Mabel Triplette and Betty Sullivan, all of Holyoke; many brothers and sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, other relatives, friends and
brothers and sisters in Christ.
Funeral services were held at the Holyoke Christian Church with Ken Boswell officiating. Interment was held at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery November 26, 1985. Thompson Mortuary of Holyoke was in charge of arrangements.
MABEL ( SLONECKER) DESELMS
Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, Colorado, February 20, 1986
Mabel Fern Deselms was born in Moorefield, Nebraska December 6, 1906 and passed from this life February 14, 1986. Her parents were Sophia and J.T. Slonecker. Mabel spent her childhood in Moorefield.
When Mabel was in her early 20s her family moved to Edison, Nebraska. There she met and married Arthur Deselms on June 30, 1935.To this union two children were born, Arthur J. (Jim) and Gerene. In the fall of 1941, Art and Mabel came to Colorado and lived in the Pleasant Valley Community. In 1948 they moved to Holyoke. Mabel was baptized into the E.U.B. Church in Lamar, Nebraska in 1946. Her life was her family. She was a devoted wife and mother.
Mabel is survived by her husband Arthur; son Jim of Melbourne, Australia; daughter Gerene McPeak of Ogallala, Nebraska; five grandsons, one granddaughter; two great grandchildren; two brothers Wayne Slonecker of Nompa, Idaho and Bud Slonecker of Arapahoe, Nebraska; one sister Ila Sinclair of Portland, Oregon.
MILTON W. DESELMS
Holyoke Enterprise, Holyoke, Colorado, July 26, 1984
Milton W. Deselms was born March 8, 1905 in Chase County, Nebraska. He was the oldest of seven children born to Walter Edwin and Alice (Smith) Deselms. At the age of six, Milton and his parents moved from Chase County to Edison, Nebraska. Upon completion of 12 years of education and several years of working around Edison and other areas, Milton moved to Lamar, Nebraska at about the age of 22.
In Lamar, he worked in the grocery store in all aspects - stocker, meat cutter, etc. This occupation lasted about five years. In the 1930 Milton married Clara Fern Martin and shortly thereafter moved to a farm east and south of Holyoke. Together for 25 years they farmed, until 1955. They then moved into Holyoke. At this time Milton and Fern opened the Deselms Dependable Cleaners with a nephew Dale Deselms. Milton and Fern worked together until their retirement in the mid-1970s. In 1968 Milton was recognized by the Secretary of Agriculture for his pioneering effort and contribution to American agriculture during the formative years of national farm policy of 1933-1940.
Milton and Fern enjoyed 54 years together. Two sons were born to this union, Don W. Deselms, deceased, and Gaylen Deselms. Milton was baptized at the Holyoke Christian Church and held his membership there. Milton had always been an active supporter in community activities. In the last few weeks, Milton’s health had deteriorated very quickly and he slipped from this life on earth at Prairie Vista Nursing Home July 17, 1984. He had reached the age of 79. Milton was preceded in death by his parents, his first son Don W. Deselms, one sister Viola Felt, one brother Glen Deselms.
Milton is survived by his wife Fern; son Gaylen and his wife JoAnn (Randall) Deselms of Arvada; daughter-in-law Doris Holder of Phoenix, Arizona; grandchildren Kevin and Kyla Deselms of Arvada, David and Don Deselms II, both of Phoenix, Arizona, Daniel Deselms presently in the military and Diana Wier of New York; and seven great grandchildren. Also surviving is one sister Lola Chapman of Coldwell, Idaho; three brothers Orville Deselms of Brush, Arthur Deselms of Holyoke and Harry (Pat) Deselms of Wray; many brothers and sisters-in-law, relatives, friends and brothers and sisters in Christ.
Services were held July 19, 1984 at the Christian Church in Holyoke, with Ken Boswell officiating at the ceremony. Interment was at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery.
All materials contained on these pages are furnished for the free use of those engaged in researching their family origins. Any commercial use, without the consent of the host/author of these pages is prohibited. All images used on these pages were obtained from sources permitting free distribution, or generated by the author, and are subject to the same restrictions/permissions. All persons contributing material for posting on these pages does so in recognition of their free, non-commercial distribution, and further, is responsible to assure that no copyright is violated by their submission.
Last updated December 2018