Historic Bank and Bankers Honored at Convention

The Nebraska Bankers Association paid tribute to six Nebraska bankers who have marked a significant milestone and one bank that has served its community for 75 years. The following were recognized during the association’s annual convention in La Vista on May 8:
 
Bankers recognized for 50 years of service:

• John Boehler, Bruning Bank, Holdrege
• Peggy Christensen, Midwest Bank, Pierce
• Perry DeKay, Nebraska State Bank, Lynch
• Dallas Kiburz, MNB Bank, McCook
• Thomas Schulze, Clarkson Bank, Clarkson
• Ronald Weaklend, RVR Bank, Fremont

John Boehler
Following his graduation from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1975, John Boehler’s banking career began at Farmers & Merchants State Bank in Bloomfield before a switch to First State Bank in Loomis. In 1983, he joined First Security Bank in Holdrege, where he served as executive vice president and CEO until its acquisition by United Nebraska Bank in 1992. He remained with the bank through its transitions to TierOne Bank and later helped establish Bruning Bank’s Holdrege branch. He currently serves as location president and on the bank’s board of directors. Additionally, he completed the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating with honors in 1987.
 
In addition to his banking roles, John has been actively involved in local organizations, including the Holdrege Chamber of Commerce and the Phelps Memorial Health Center, and has contributed to various community initiatives.

John Boehler

Peggy Christensen
Peg Christensen has dedicated 53 years to the banking industry, with 35 of those years at Midwest Bank. During her long career, she has witnessed significant changes, including the acquisition and merger of four banks in 1998 that formed what is now Midwest Bank. Peg was instrumental in transitioning the bank’s in-house Fiserv Premier infrastructure to outsourced in 2012 and later helped convert Midwest Bank’s sister bank to Fiserv Premier in 2019.
 
Throughout her career, Peg has exemplified Midwest Bank’s core values of family, initiative, integrity and community. Her tireless efforts behind the scenes, friendly smile while greeting customers and support of local community organizations and events have been an asset to Midwest Bank.

Peggy Christensen

Perry DeKay
Perry DeKay’s entire career in banking has been with Nebraska State Bank in Lynch, where he began as a bookkeeper and teller in 1975. Eight years later, he obtained his loan license and became a director by 1984. In 1987, Perry was promoted to assistant cashier, later taking on the role of CEO and cashier in 2016, two roles he has continued since then.
 
In conjunction with his banking career, Perry has helped operate the DeKay Ranch, founded in 1898 by their great-grandfather, with his brother Barry. He has also actively served in various board positions at his church since 1976 and on the Lynch Public and Boyd County public school boards from 1994 to 2022. Perry is the current vice president of the Niobrara Valley Electric Corporation and has also been a board member during his tenure. He has served on the boards of the Niobrara Valley Hospital and Niobrara Valley Development Corporation. In his spare time, he officiated NSAA high school football games every weekend of the season from 1984 to 2020.

(Not pictured)

Dallas Kiburz
Dallas Kiburz began his banking career in 1974 at First National Bank of Omaha in Grand Island, where he served as a collections manager. Two years later, he advanced to loan officer and was promoted to a vice president in 1980. From 1981 to 1990, Dallas led the Bank of Wilber as president. He then transitioned to a bank consultant role and later served as president of Provident Bank in St. Joseph, Mo., and as branch president of First Central Bank in Warrensburg, Mo.
 
Throughout his career, Dallas has dedicated 34 of the 50 years to executive roles. Though retired, he currently serves as a board member with MNB Bank and Farmers & Merchants Bank in Milligan. Additionally, he was the executive vice president and chief credit officer of Bankers’ Bank of the West for 18 years, where he continues to serve as an advisory director.

Dallas Kiburz

Thomas Schulze
Tom Schulze began his career at Clarkson Bank in 1973. He remained with the bank through multiple changes in the holding company, including becoming president in 1978 when the newly formed bank holding company, Clarkson Management Company, purchased the majority interest in Clarkson Bank. Tom held this position until April 2022, when the holding company switched again, this time to Clarkson Bancshares. Since his retirement that same year, he has remained involved in the banking industry through his participation on the bank’s audit committee.

Thomas Schulze

Ronald Weaklend
In 1975, Ron Weaklend’s banking career began as an assistant vice president of lending and credit at American National Bank. Seven years later, he joined First State Bank of Fremont, where he served in a variety of roles, from vice president, loan officer, senior vice president, and ultimately executive vice president and head of lending. Ron also continued on the bank’s advisory board until his retirement in 2018 and served on the bank’s board of directors until the name changed to RVR Bank in 2023.
 
In addition to his career with RVR Bank, Ron taught emerging leaders at the American Institute of Banking and is an alumnus of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado. Additionally, he served on the Bankers Title Insurance of Nebraska board of directors. His commitment to the Fremont community includes various leadership positions and involvement in the Fremont Optimist Club, the Greater Fremont Development Council and the Fremont Family YMCA, where is also president of the foundation board.

Ronald Weaklend

75-Year Bank

• Corn Growers State Bank, Murdock

Edwin McHugh founded Corn Growers State Bank in 1949. He handed the reins to his two sons, Brian and Lynn McHugh, in the 1980s. Brian’s son, Jeremy, and Lynn’s son, Nathan, became the bank’s owners in 2020, serving as the president and vice president, respectively. Now in its third generation of leadership, the bank has been through changing and challenging times, embracing innovative technologies while maintaining a commitment to serving the Murdock community as a small family bank.

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Corn Growers State Bank