Jeanette Natalie Mueller

Jeanette Natalie Mueller was born November 8, 1923 in Omaha, Nebraska to Roy and Nancy Gordon. She was baptized, confirmed and married at Saint John’s Lutheran Church. She kept a bible she received for 3 years of perfect Sunday School attendance. She grew up in the large white house across from the school where she resided until she became terminally ill in August of 2007. She attended grade school and graduated from Bennington High School in a proud class of 19 in 1942. Following high school graduation, she attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln but returned home after one semester to help participate in family businesses during the war. She was not bashful of work and did a variety of jobs that included operating farm implements, skinning mink, managing a grocery store, freezer plant, restaurant and serving as secretary/treasurer of the Nebraska Mink Association. Jeanette married Enno Mueller in January 11, 1946 at St John’s Lutheran Church in Bennington where Enno had actually been Jeanette’s Sunday School teacher years before. They moved to a farm northwest of Bennington and had two sons: Gordon and Alex. After their boys had grown, Jeanette and Enno gave up farming and returned to the Bennington home following the death of her parents. The couple remodeled Oft’s Hall in 1970 which became a popular restaurant and dance establishment in Bennington. Enno died in 1977 but Jeanette continued to manage the business until she retired in 1995. Jeanette was known for her warm smile, sharp blue eyes and positive and outgoing personality. She was fun. She was inquisitive; always wanting to learn and help. In retirement, she was known by motorists passing through Bennington as the lady that waved from the porch. She enjoyed animals, playing cards, watching Nebraska football, traveling and riding with Coe Leta to get implement parts (and pie) in Omaha. She was devoted to her family, friends, and community. Jeanette was a resident at the Hospice House in Omaha when she left to be with her Lord and family in heaven on October 18, 2007 at the age of 83 years, 11 months and 10 days. She was preceded in this passage by her parents Roy and Nancy, her brother Douglas and her husband Enno. Jeanette is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Gordon and Linda of Lakewood, Colorado and Alex and Pam of Bennington; three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.