McLemoreStrong
Genealogy
Strong - McLemore History and Ancestry
First Name:  Last Name: 
[Advanced Search]  [Surnames]

Irma Elizabeth "Beth" Kotas

Female 1929 - 2018  (88 years)


Personal Information    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Irma Elizabeth "Beth" Kotas  [1, 2
    Nickname Beth 
    Birth 1 Sep 1929  Monroe, Platte County, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3
    Gender Female 
    Death 21 Apr 2018  Seward, Seward County, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Burial Plainfield Cemetery, Bradshaw, York County, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Notes 
    • Beth attended Milligan High School, graduating in 1946, at which time she went to Nebraska Wesleyan University for one year. She then taught in Fillmore County schools. (Milligan, 278).

      Obituary
      York News-Times, April 24, 2018
      (Courtesy of Dennis Belohlavy)


      Irma "Beth" Gordan, age 88, of Seward, formerly of Bradshaw, died Saturday, April 21, 2018 in Seward.

      She was born Irma Elizabeth Kotas at home in Monroe, on Sept.1, 1929, the oldest of William H. and Irma (Essex) Kotas. She graduated from Milligan High School in 1946 and attended Nebraska Wesleyan University for one year, earning her teaching certificate. She taught in Fillmore County Rural Schools District #44 and #95 for two years. She married Alvin L. Gordan on June 5, 1949, at the Milligan Methodist Church. Beth and Alvin lived in Meadow Grove where Alvin taught for one year. They then moved to Bradshaw to make their permanent home. They traveled to South Dakota for their honeymoon, and also to Texas, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and various states in between (traveling by car), as well as to Cancun, Mexico City, and several times to Hawaii. She loved to preserve garden produce that Alvin grew, crochet, sew clothes for her family, read books, and complete her family's history. She was a 60 year member of the Bradshaw United Methodist Church, and was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star (5 different Nebraska Chapters), lastly in Utica #199 for over 60 years.

      Beth is survived by their children, Joyce Bogen Campbell of Bradshaw, Trish (Dave) Collister of Dwight and Jim Gordan of Bradshaw. Grandchildren include, Mark (Nichole) Bogen of Bennett, Liz (James) Soukup of Lincoln, Brian Campbell (Amy Richardson) of Lincoln, Cody Campbell of Bradshaw, Melanie (Dan) Collister-Foulk of Seward, Jayme (Micah) Pomplun of Broken Bow and Kenzie Gordan of Norfolk. Great-grandchildren, Anya and Sean Bogan, Kaylyn and Jessa Soukup, Alivia Campbell, Xander and Isabel Foulk, Khloe, Kinlee and Kenna Pomplun.

      She is also survived by her sisters, Jeanie Holtmeier and Mary Ann Rut; sister-in-law, Elisa Gordan along with several nieces and nephews.

      Alvin died in 2004, and she continued to live at home alone until May of 2016 when she moved into an apartment at Brookdale Senior Living in Seward to be closer to her daughter, Trish.

      Beth is preceded in death by her grandparents; parents; husband; grandson, John Gordan; great-grandson, Evan Soukup; brothers-in-law, Bill Gordan, Lee Holtmeier and Roger Rut.

      Funeral services are scheduled for 10 a.m., Saturday, April 28, 2018 at the Bradshaw United Methodist Church in Bradshaw with the Reverend Karla Sheffy officiating. Interment will follow at the Plainfield Cemetery, west of Bradshaw. Visitation will be from 1 '96 8 p.m. Friday, April 27, with her family greeting friends from 6:30 '96 8 p.m. at the mortuary in York. Memorials are directed to family for later designation.

      Online condolences may be directed to his family at www.metzmortuary.com Metz Mortuary, York is handling arrangements.
    Person ID I19699  Strong Family Tree
    Last Modified 6 Dec 2023 

    Father William H. Kotas,   b. 1 Apr 1898, Glengary Township, Fillmore County, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 30 May 1980, Friend, Saline County, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years) 
    Mother Delcia Irma Essex,   b. 26 Jan 1903, Stillwater, Payne County, Oklahoma Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 18 Sep 1993, Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 90 years) 
    Marriage 22 Jun 1926  [1
    • Married at the Home of the Brides' parents.
    Family ID F2179  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Alvin L. Gordan,   b. 22 Oct 1926, Bradshaw, York County, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Oct 2004, York, York County, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 77 years) 
    Marriage 5 Jun 1949  Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Children 
     1. Living
     2. Living
     3. Living
    Family ID F7097  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 9 Dec 2006 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 1 Sep 1929 - Monroe, Platte County, Nebraska Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 5 Jun 1949 - Milligan, Fillmore County, Nebraska Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 21 Apr 2018 - Seward, Seward County, Nebraska Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Sources 
    1. [S219] Milligan Centennial History Book Committee HISTORY OF MILLIGAN, NEBRASKA 1888-1988 (Walsworth Publishing, Marceline, MO), p 361 (Reliability: 3).

    2. [S548] Belohlavy, Dennis (belohdb@windstream.net) "Family Tree of Dennis L. and Rebecca J. "Becky" (Arnold) Belohlavy ; http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=belohlavy, (http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=belohlavy).

    3. [S219] Milligan Centennial History Book Committee HISTORY OF MILLIGAN, NEBRASKA 1888-1988 (Walsworth Publishing, Marceline, MO), p 278 (Reliability: 3).

    4. [S219] Milligan Centennial History Book Committee HISTORY OF MILLIGAN, NEBRASKA 1888-1988 (Walsworth Publishing, Marceline, MO), 278 (Reliability: 3).