David Rodger Hughes, age 81, of Sutherland, Nebraska passed away at the Sutherland Care Center on June 20, 2021.
David was born, the youngest of 6 children, on June 28, 1939, to Almer
Robert and Acenath Carrie (Schrekengast) Hughes in Sutherland, Nebraska. He grew up on the family farm south of Sutherland and attended country schools for the first two years then went to Sutherland Public Schools. After graduating in 1957, Dave worked for the telephone company in Sutherland until enlisting in the U.S. Navy.
He served in the military until his honorable discharge in 1966 then
returned home and went to work for Hunt Telephone Company. In 1969 he hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad, working as a
conductor/brakeman until retiring in 2001. After retiring, Dave took up
recycling quite seriously and became known around town as the CAN man.
Dave met Betty Brown in 1966 and they married on June 11, 1967. They
made their home in Sutherland and became parents with the adoption of
their daughter, Bobbi Sue, from the Nebraska Children's Home on February 13, 1973.
Dave was a member of the Sutherland United Methodist Church and Otto V. Johnson Post #208 Sutherland American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Almer and Acenath; sisters,
Lola Pauline Hughes, Joyce Boyer and Ramona Watrous-Powell; and
brothers-in-law, Bud Priel and Pete Watrous.
Dave is survived by his wife, Betty, of Sutherland, Nebraska; daughter, Bobbi Cooper (special friend, Shawn Barthel) and granddaughter, Charlee Rayn, of Parker, Colorado; sister, Betty Priel, of North Platte, Nebraska; brother, Bill (Evelyn) Hughes, of Spencer, Iowa; brother-in-law, Lloyd Boyer (friend, Marilyn), of North Platte, Nebraska; his former exchange students, Hiroko Izawa and Hisae Yano and their families; as well as many nieces, nephews and other family.
Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 25, 2021, at
the Sutherland Methodist Church in Sutherland, Nebraska with Pastor Mark Baldwin officiating. Inurnment with military honors will follow in the Riverview Cemetery in Sutherland. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore in North Platte, Nebraska, which is in charge of arrangements. Cremation will follow the viewing. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to Nebraska Children's Home, Sutherland Methodist Church or Donor's Choice.