Claude L. Hoatson, age 76, of Hershey, Nebraska, passed away Thursday, November 13, 2025, at Great Plains Health.

Claude was born October 1, 1949, to Fred and Mildred (Broeder) Hoatson at their family farm near Hershey, NE.

As a youth, Claude attended Birdwood Country School for elementary and middle school, where he graduated Eighth grade. He attended Hershey High School, which he graduated from in 1968. He went on to continue his education at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. There he joined the Ag Men Co-op Fraternity where he made lifelong friends and many amazing memories. He graduated from UNL with a Bachelors Degree in Agronomy and Animal Science, which he immediately put to use when he returned to work on the family farm and ranch, Hoatson Land and Cattle, which has been in the family for over 100 years. During this time, Claude wrote a column for Midwest Messenger for a year as a Producer Progress Reporter. He also served on the church board at Hershey United Methodist Church and attended many of Birdwood school's events. It was at these events that Claude met Kelly Linstrom, a teacher who was chaperoning her schoolchildren and was soon to become the love of his life. They began dating shortly after and, after a proposal at the headwaters of the Birdwood Creek, they were wed over Christmas break on December 27, 1993. To this Union was born their beloved children, Madison in 1998 and Colin in 2001. As his children grew, he supported them by joining the Sutherland School Board and helping to found the Sutherland School Foundation.

Throughout his life, farming was always Claude's passion. He loved the closeness with nature and the accomplishment of growing new life. He never stopped bettering himself and learning about the world around him. He was quick to adopt new technology, and even had one of the first computers available, on which he learned to program. He also loved learning about history and genealogy, but most of all, he loved learning about science, especially when it came to space. He loved watching the stars in the night sky and even had an alarm for when the International Space Station was passing overhead, so he could get up and watch it. He was also a Husker fan, listening to and watching every game he could, especially the football and volleyball games. But most of all, Claude was a family man. He loved supporting his kids however he could and, though often stuck at home due to work, he loved taking trips with them when he could and making new memories. One of his favorite memories that he always talked about was the helicopter ride on their trip to Hawaii as they toured the island. Through his memory, he lives on in his friends' and family's hearts.

Those left to cherish Claude's memory are his wife Kelly; children Madison Hoatson of North Platte and Colin Hoatson of Denver, CO; brother Blaine (Nancy) Hoatson of Hershey; parents-in-law Larry and Rosalind Linstrom of North Platte; brother-in-law Mike (Dawn) Linstrom of Hershey; and many family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents Fred and Mildred and many aunts and uncles.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 22, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Hershey United Methodist Church with Pastor Mark Baldwin officiating. Burial will follow at North Platte Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday, November 21, 2025, from 12 to 7 p.m. with family receiving friends from 5 to 7, at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home, which has been entrusted with arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Hershey and Sutherland Fire Departments, Hershey Methodist Church, or the Sutherland School Foundation.