Born on a farm in Adrian, Minnesota on Oct. 12, 1935, Merlyn B. Honerman passed away June 18, 2020 surrounded by his loving family. After graduating in 1957 with a degree in business administration from St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minnesota, Merle started in retailing with W. T. Grant Co. During his almost twenty-year career with Grants, he managed stores in seven states, including the one in downtown North Platte from 1964-1968. In 1976, Merle purchased the Ben Franklin store in Westfield Shopping Center and the Gothenburg Ben Franklin in 1981. He retired from retailing in 2009.
Merle believed that when a community is good to you, then you should “give back to your community.” He demonstrated this belief by serving as president of the Chamber of Commerce, Chamber Ambassadors, Rotary Club, and Variety Distributors Board; and Chairman of the Holy Spirit Parish Council, Finance Committee, Board of Counselors of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, and the local SCORE chapter. Merle served on the boards of American Security Bank, Farmers State Bank, Nebraska Retail Association, Westfield Merchants Association, Nebraskaland Days, Great Plains Hospital Board, Great Plains Development Corporation, Great Plains Taxing Authority, North Platte Country Club, Salvation Army, and the North Platte Development Corporation. Merle was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus and an Admiral in the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska. In 1989 he was honored as the Businessman of the Year by the North Platte Chamber of Commerce, and in 1994, the Nebraska Retail Association named him Nebraska Retailer of the Year.
Merle loved creating memories with his family, going fishing, spending time with friends, playing golf, and following the Los Angeles Lakers.
He is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Diana; children Deb Thalken (Marty) of Tulsa, OK and Mike Honerman (Barb) of North Platte; grandchildren Tamara Noel (Chris) and Tyler Thalken (Ashley) both of Tulsa, OK, Matt Honerman (Tanya) of Lawrence, KS, Brian Honerman of St. Paul, MN, and Amy Honerman of Kearney, NE; great-grandchildren Palmer and Pearson Noel and Charlotte Thalken; sister Eileen Hocking of Luverne, MN; brother Gordon Honerman (JoAnn) of Sioux Falls, SD, brother-in-law Charles McCain (Myrna) of Independence, MO, and sister-in-law Darlene Howard (Dale) of Sun Lakes, AZ and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Merle never met a stranger and was a master storyteller (most of them detailed exaggerations!).
A rosary will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Sunday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Vidya Sagar Arikotla on Monday, June 22 at 10:00 a.m. For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed and available at Adams & Swanson’s Facebook page.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be contributed to the Prairie Arts Center, North Platte Catholic Schools Endowment Fund, or a charity of your choice. Services will be live streamed on Facebook.