MORTON ALEXANDER IVES, 87

Graveside services were held at Temple Israel Cemetery in Omaha Sunday, Dec. 29 for Morton Alexander Ives, 87, who died Dec. 26, 1996 of complication from pneumonia at Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown, SD. Rabbi D. Stiel officiated.

Morton Alexander Ives was born in Pittsburgh, Penn. May 6, 1909 to Julius and Sarah Braverman Ives.

He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a business degree.

He was an officer in the medical corps stationed in France during World War II.

He was active in the motion picture business both prior to and after the war. He worked as a distributor of films for such companies as United Artists, Warner Bros., RKO and MGM. After the war he owned and operated several theaters.

In 1962, he opened the first of a chain of Village Inn Restaurants at 44th and Dodge in Omaha with two Denver partners. He was owner of seven Omaha area Village Inn restaurants at one time. He sold his half interest in MIA Inc., the owner of the restaurants, to the parent company, Village Inn Pancake House Inc. of Denver in 1978.

He also owned a tool and die company at 16th and Webster St. in Omaha. It was later sold and became MoReCo Plating, Inc.

In Dec. 1981, he and his son, Charles built the Blair Twin Theatres in Blair.

He retired in 1990 and moved to Watertown.

He had served on the board of directors of the Omaha Boys Club, Variety Club of Omaha, International Order of Odd Fellows, was a 32nd degree Mason and was active in other philanthropic organizations.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Sylvan and his wife of 57 years, Esther.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy of Watertown; son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Sandra Ives, Sr. of Blair; grandchildren, Michael and Irene Ives of Bellevue; Cynthia and Kurtis Kammerer of Omaha; Christina Ives of Blair; three great-grandsons and a sister, Jean Friedberg of Pittsburgh.

Memorials may be sent to the Omaha Boys Club.

John A. Gentleman Westside Chapel was in charge of arrangements.