Cecil M. "Butch" Bales

Glenvil resident Cecil M. “Butch” Bales, 88, passed away Friday, September 12, 2025, at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, NE. 

Rosary will be at 6 p.m. Monday, September 15, at Butler Volland Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 16, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Hastings with Father Craig Clinch officiating. Burial will be at Glenvil Cemetery in Glenvil. Visitation will be 1-6 p.m. with the family present 4-6 p.m. Monday, September 15, at the funeral home, and one hour before the service at the church. Memorials may be given to the family for a memorial to be established at a later date. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Butch’s obituary and click the play button shown toward the bottom of the page.

Butch was born September 11, 1937, in Fairbury, Nebraska, to Ernest L. and Neva P. (Nickell) Bales. He graduated from Fairbury High School in 1956. From 1957 to 1963, he served in the United States Army as an aviation mechanic. On September 17, 1960, he married Cecilia A Siegel. She preceded him in death on June 3, 2005.

Butch worked for Thermo King in the Water Treatment Department for 20 years. Earlier in his career, he also drove a milk truck and worked in a packing house. A man of strong faith, he was a member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church and a 3rd Degree Knight with the Knights of Columbus. He was an avid fisherman and spent much of his retirement enjoying fishing and camping at his cabin near Lovewell Lake.

He was preceded in death by his wife; daughter, Theresa (Teri) Hermann; son, Barry Bales; parents; grandchildren, M.E. Hermann and A.A. Hermann; great-grandchild, Cecilia Hermann; and all his siblings.

Survivors include:
Son-in-law: 
   Russell (Theresa) Hermann
Grandchildren & Spouses:
  Christina & Keith Maaske
  Joseph & Lexi Hermann
  Anne Hermann
  Matthew Hermann
  Patrick & Jenna Hermann
  Steven & Claire Hermann 
Great-grandchildren:
   Hunter
   Izabella 
   Elizabeth 
   Gabriel 
   Zachariah
   Luka