Funeral Services: 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 14, 2007 at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice, NE.

Richard "Dick" Roy Stewart, 81 years of age, of Beatrice, NE. passed away at the Parkview Center in Beatrice Wednesday, April 11, 2007. He was born on June 30, 1925 in Wymore, NE., the 10th and last child of Etta Mae and Robert Ross "Trid" Stewart. He attended school in Wymore, NE. and was a proud member of the undefeated Wymore Zephyr football team, and was a 1944 graduate of Wymore High School, Wymore, NE. After high school, he worked at the Dr. Pepper Bottling Plant in Wymore and the Burlington Northern Railroad in Wyoming. He served his country in the United States Army from January 19, 1949 until January 19, 1950, and also from October 8, 1950 until October 4, 1951. He served as a MASH Ambulance and Supply Truck Driver during the Korean Conflict, spending 11 months in Korea. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal and 3 Bronze Stars. He and Rubye Elaine Baker were married on October 10, 1952 in Wymore and they enjoyed 54 years of marriage. He was employed at the Natural Gas Pipeline of America, Beatrice Booster Station for 32 years, retiring in 1986. He was a member of the Church on Christ in Wymore, NE., and was baptized on April 9, 1972. He was a former member of the Bitting-Norman Post #27, American Legion, the Geddes-Thober Post #1077, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Lodge #619, B.P.O. Elks, and the Beatrice Country Club. all in Beatrice. He was an avid Nebraska football fan; loved to play golf with his wife, children, and friends at the Beatrice Country Club; and was proud of his green lawn and enjoyed taking care of his yard. The light of his life the past few years were his grandchildren. He was well known for his "train whistle".

Survivors include his wife Rubye; daughter Sandra Stewart and her special friend Bev Lawrence of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; son Rick Stewart and his wife Debbie of Omaha; grandchildren Sarah and Reileigh; brother William "Bill" Stewart and wife Edna Mae of Valley, NE.; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert Ross "Trid" and Etta Mae Stewart; 3 brothers, John, Robert and Murray Stewart; and 5 sisters, Thelma Kirchner, Frankie Bednar, Jean James, Leola (Heusman) Wymore, and Louise Stewart; and parents in law Ray and Florence Baker.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, April 14, 2007 at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice with Jon Palmquist officiating. Interment will be held in the Wymore Cemetery, Wymore, NE. Military graveside services will be conducted by the Wymore American Legion. The body will lie in state Friday from 9-9:00 and Saturday until the time of the service at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice. A memorial has been established to the Dick Stewart Memorial Fund with Clay and Carol Scott in charge. Messages of condolence may be sent to [email protected]. They will be forwarded to the family.

The Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice is in charge of the services.