Our Staff

“The goals of the Carpenter Breland Funeral Home staff emphasize the importance of meeting family needs while providing loving care and compassion at a most difficult time in your life. We have a genuine, thoughtful interest in each family, their special needs and individual desires,” says owner, Jerry Beckenhauer.

Jerry started with Carpenter Breland Funeral home in McCook in 1983 and is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. He is a native of northeast Nebraska, graduated from Neligh High School and Nebraska Christian College in Norfolk. Later he took classes at Kearney State College and earned a degree from Kansas City (KS) Community College of Mortuary Science. He is a member of McCook Christian Church, Kiwanis Club, serves as President of the Hillcrest Nursing Home Foundation Board.
 

His wife, Cheri, is the bookkeeper and receptionist. She graduated from McCook High School, Nebraska Christian College and Kearney State College. She is active in the church, serves as director of the Bison Alumni Newsletter, served as mentor for the Mothers Of Preschoolers (M.O.P.S.) program, and is presently serving on the McCook Community Foundation Board.

Jerry and Cheri have three children and five grandchildren.

The staff also includes Donna Hall, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, who joined the staff in June of 1995.

Donna is a graduate of Wauneta High School, McCook Community College and Kansas City (KS) Community College of Mortuary Science.

She and her husband, Jim, have five children and eight grandchildren. They are members of Peace Lutheran Church.

Donna presently serves on the Nebraska Critical Incidence Stress Debriefing Team, was past-President of District #7 of Nebraska Funeral Directors Association and a member of McCook Leadership Eleven Class.

Another staff member is Sara Searcey, she joined the staff in April 2005.

Sara is a graduate of Alliance High School and Nebraska Christian College. She and her husband, Mark, have two children. They are members of McCook Christian Church.