“Princess Leyha Jane Bartels”, 6, of Brady, Nebraska, died November 30th, 2012, at her home after a courageous three year battle with cancer.  “Princess Leyha” lived in the Brady community and was currently a kindergartener in the Brady school system.

Leyha’s contagious smile and positive attitude spread to the people around her. She had a love for life that no one had ever seen. She always had compassion for those around her. Leyha’s brother Hunter was a large part of her life and she always loved and protected him. She was the leader of her huge group of cousins, and everybody’s best friend. She also had a special friend, Randin Hood, a soldier deployed to Afghanistan who “adopted” her.  

She is survived by her father Jason Bartels of Maxwell, Nebraska; mother Katie Stewart of North Platte, Nebraska; brother Hunter Bartels of North Platte; grandparents Sue Spurgin of Brady, Kathy Hoffman of Brady; great-grandmother Velma Jean Brown of Brady; aunts and uncles Dan and Torrey Stewart of Curtis, Nebraska, Jeremy and Becky Bartels of Brady, Jill Miller of Brady, Angel Hoffman of Brady, Mark and April Hoffman of Cozad, Nebraska; and many other family members and friends.

Leyha was preceded in death by her grandfathers Dan Stewart and Gerald Brown; great-grandparents LaVonne and Larry Spurgin; great-aunt Sherry Lynn Spurgin, great-uncle Gerald Brown; and cousin Brianna Brown.

Memorials may be made to The Princess Leyha Scholarship Fund, which was established in her name, and online condolences may be made at www.adamsswanson.com. 

Funeral services were held Wednesday December 5th, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. at the Brady High School with Reverend Robert Litzenberger officiating.

Burial followed at Gaslin Cemetery near Brady.

Adams and Swanson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.