Betty G Kirchmann

Betty Gernelle (Keener) Kirchmann was born on July 16, 1926 in Fremont, Nebraska to George and Gernelle (Andersen) Keener. She attended Fremont grade school and graduated from Fremont High School in 1944. As a young girl, Betty enjoyed sewing and music especially piano. In her early years, Betty and her mother lived at the Lindstrom Inn, a boarding house in Fremont, owned by sisters Emma Meservy and Julia Lindstrom. When she was three, Gernelle married William Leister and Betty enjoyed a typical family life. When Betty was 8 years old her mother was diagnosed with cancer and died in April of 1934. Again it was Julia that stepped up and took Betty in and cared for her. It was here that Betty learned to play the piano and the violin and was able to take voice lessons. After she was a little older, Betty would spend summers with the Wilson family near Des Moines, Iowa up until she was married. This friendship lasted a lifetime, keeping in touch up until last year. Betty married Ken Kirchmann on April 29, 1945 at the First Methodist Church in Fremont, Nebraska and they were blessed with three children: John, Nancy and Kent. Betty and Ken raised their family in the Valley and Yutan area. Betty was first and foremost a mother and farm wife but as the children got older she worked outside the home at Sears, Ashland Care Center and for Dr. Branchaud in Yutan. Betty and Ken enjoyed weekly dances and following Kent’s Rodeo competitions. She enjoyed crafts, puzzles and crocheting, which she would give away to family and friends. Betty stayed active following the activities of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was active in her church, teaching music at Sunday school classes. Betty was often cold and always had a sweater on and did not tolerate having her hair messed up. She always looked forward to dinner out at many of the Fremont restaurants. Betty passed away on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at the Saunders County Care Center in Wahoo, Nebraska with her family by her side at the age of 86 years, 6 months and 28 days. She was preceded in death by her mother Gernelle and husband Ken; Betty is survived by her sons John (Lene) of Ashland, NE and Kent (Heather) of Ashland, NE; daughter Nancy (Roger) Juedes of Yutan; 7 grandchildren: Tricia and Chad Fox, Julie and JD Collins, Mike and Stacy Kirchmann, Jennifer and Ryan Ravenscroft, Russell Juedes, Colton Kirchmann and Rylee Kirchmann and 9 great grandchildren: Nate, Zach and Josh Fox, Caleb and Jacob Juedes, Sela and Ethan Ravenscroft and Krystin and Thomas Collins.

Betty G Kirchmann

July 16, 1926 - February 13, 2013