Former Washington County resident J. Merton Kuhr, 89, died April 26, 2001, in Clarkston, Mich.

Mr. Kuhr, who had lived in the county for 86 years, and his wife, Bonnie, had stayed with their son Marshall in Texas for two years, and had been staying this year with their daughter, Emily, in Clarkston, where he died.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 1 at the Congregational Church in Blair, with the Rev. Shirley Schmidt officiating. Interment will be at the Blair Cemetery.

J. Merton Kuhr was born July 15, 1911, to George and Rena (Jensen) Kuhr on the John Kuhr farm located north of Orum.

Mr. Merton and his parents moved to the Perch Compton farm north of Blair in 1915. He first attended the old West School, and graduated from Blair High School in 1928. He renewed an old friendship with Emily “Bonnie” Spanggaard while studying at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he was also a member of the Farmhouse Fraternity. He married Bonnie on Feb. 14, 1937, and they returned to the farm on the bottom road to raise their family.

While farming, he led 4-H Clubs for 21 years. He called square dances and served as the President of the State Square Dance Association, was State Grange Master, State President of the Danish Brotherhood, and was recognized for his work in the Washington County and NE Republican Party. He also worked actively as an officer of the Washington County Extension Service, and served on the rural school board for several years.

Mr. Kuhr retired from farming in 1971, when the couple moved to Blair. He then served on the Blair City Council, and was specifically honored for his contributions to the Job Training Corp. of the Greater Omaha Area. He was also involved with Rotary and served as president of the Rose Society.

Mr. Kuhr is survived by his wife, Bonnie, his daughter, Patricia Smith of Kearney, Georgia Hansen of Flemington, N.J. and Emily Rath of Clarkston, Mich., and his son, J. Marshall Kuhr, of Normangee, Texas, 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, his sisters, Lelah Dole of Washougal, Wash., and Mardelle Ryan of Blair.

Memorials are suggested to the family, and will be used for Washington County 4-H Youth activities.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.