Billy Gene Hines

Billy Gene Hines, 70, passed away March 25, 2008 in Pahrump.

He was born Dec. 18, 1937 in McCloud, Okla. and was a resident of Pahrump for 13 years, having come from Las Vegas.

He was self-employed as a maintenance man and retired in 1995.

Hines was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, a member of the Elks and the Moose Lodge and a member of Choice Hills Baptist Church.

His sons William Hines of Las Cruces, N.M., Curtis Hines of Weatherford, Texas and Tom Hines of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; daughter Shelley Hines of Las Vegas; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren survive him.

He was preceded in death by Juanita Hines.

Services were held at 3:30 p.m., March 28 at Choice Hills Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Nathan Adelson Hospice. (03/25/2008)

Vernon E. 'Dusty' Miller

Vernon 'Dusty' Miller, 78, passed away March 25, 2008, in Las Vegas.

He was born Sept. 22, 1929, and was a resident of Pahrump for 17 years, having come from Lemmon Valley.

He was an iron worker and laborer and held memberships in the Ironworkers Local 118 and the Laborers #872. He was also a member of the VFW in Wyoming, the Moose Lodge #808 here and a veteran of the Marines.

His wife Carline of Pahrump; son Butch of Nampa, Idaho; daughters Angel (Melba) of Tonopah and Louise of Las Vegas and 11 grandchildren survive him.

Memorial services were held 2 p.m., March 29 at the Moose Lodge.

Services are pending in Wyoming. (03/25/2008)

Karl Ward 'Skook' Berg

Karl Ward "Skook" Berg, beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, passed away March 26, 2008.

He was born Sept. 17, 1923, in Round Mountain, the fourth in line to William and Lillian Berg. He never ventured too far from his roots.

He finished his high school education at Palo Alto Junior/Senior High School and went on to college in Modesto, Calif., until he was drafted into the military during World War II.

While in the service, he went to Brighton University in England. As the war came to an end, he was discharged and came back to his home.

"Skooks" father, Will, was a strong believer in higher education and sent him to East Lansing, Mich., to further his education. But he could never get his heart back into learning and returned home vowing never to leave Smoky Valley again; a promise he kept.

On Aug. 13, 1949, he married his sweetheart Arleen Lofthouse and through good times and bad and almost 50 years of marriage, raised five kids in this tiny Nevada town.

"Skook" made a living in rural Nevada by working in the mill at the mine in the '50s, operating and maintaining the water system for the town, operating the only garage in Round Mountain and running the school's buses for both the elementary school and the high school runs to Tonopah. He also developed property in Smoky Valley to farm alfalfa as well as to subdivide for home sites.

"Skook" was a strong advocate for saving Central Nevada history and with the help of family and friends, was instrumental in restoring the Round Mountain school building, which he and other family members attended. The school building was moved onto his property and the Sunnyside Historical Society was formed.

As a key figure in Round Mountain and Smoky Valley history, he will be deeply missed by friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Will and Lillian, wife Arleen, brothers Dan and Will and sisters Georgetta (Jakowatz) and Betty Jane.

Surviving "Skook" are sister Shirley (Henle); five children Bill, Henry, Robert, Ron and Karla; grandchildren Billy, Shonilee, April, Ryan, Tommy, Kristi, Travis and Kelsey and many great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces that are too numerous to list.

There will be a memorial service held in Belmont for friends and family 11 a.m., April 4.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Sunnyside Historical Society, Round Mountain, NV 89045. (03/26/2008)

Christal Ann Williams

Christal Ann Williams, 34, died March 29, 2008, in Pahrump.

She was born Dec. 12, 1973, in Henderson, and was raised and lived most of her life in the Tecopa, Calif. and Pahrump areas.

Christal was a member of The Church of Christ, enjoyed attending services and was baptized there.

K.J. Marty of Pahrump; daughter Ashley Renee Marty of Pahrump; mother and stepfather Dona and Kenny Herzig of Pahrump; father and stepmother Harry and Louann Williams of Wyoming; grandparents Helen and Harry Williams of Wyoming and Yves and Janet Blanchette of Big Bear, Calif.; brothers Harry (Cheryl) Williams and Brian (Chris) Barkley, both of Pahrump; sister Erin (Chris) Wilson of Wyoming; aunts Edna Calkins of Wyoming, Luana Moran of Kansas and Linda (Todd) Heemeyer of Wyoming; uncle Don (Donetta) of Oklahoma and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends from Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma survive her.

She is preceded in death by grandmother Orietta (CiCi) Blanchette of California; grandfather Donald Patchen of Kansas and Joseph Moran of California.

A memorial service will be held at noon, April 5 at the Church of Christ, 911 Lola Lane.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family at the service. (03/29/2008)