Catherine Helen Bastemeyer

"Toots" Bastemeyer was born on July 13, 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska to Edward and Mary (Veskerna) Raabe. She grew up near 85th and Blondo where she spent a good deal of her time helping on the family farm. She graduated from Underwood High School in 1936 Valedictorian of her class. As a young girl, Toots enjoyed acting in school plays and going to dances at Peony Park where she later worked as a waitress. Toots married "Hank" Christensen on November 15, 1938 in Glenwood, Iowa. To this union four children were born: Beverly, Judy, Sally and Ed. Toots and Hank raised their family at 106th and Blondo until they built a new home at 88th and Spaulding. After Toots got married, she left her job at Peony Park to assume the new role of homemaker and mother. She also became the bookkeeper for the milk route which she and Hank purchased from his father in 1942 and operated as Christensen Dairy until they sold out in 1958. In February, 1957 they bought the Wayside Tavern. Toots continued to run the Wayside Tavern even after Hank's death in 1973. On October 8, 1975 Toots married Don Bastemeyer. They were married almost 9 years before Don passed away in April, 1984. Toots was always fashionable and impeccably dressed. She enjoyed having her family gather at her home for special occasions or just to socialize. She also enjoyed fishing, camping, traveling, playing cards, or working in the garden with her roses and other flowers. She was an avid bowler who won many trophies, and she played a mean game of shuffleboard. But most of all, she loved her trips to Las Vegas! Catherine passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 at Marquis Place in Elkhorn, Nebraska at the age of 88 years, 4 months and 12 days. She was preceded in death by her parents Ed and Mary Raabe, husbands Hank Christensen and Don Bastemeyer, daughter Beverly Reeson, sisters Mable Pahl, Elizabeth Davie and Irene Knight, brothers Ed Raabe, Roy Raabe and Heinie Raabe. Catherine is survived by son and daughter-in-law Ed and Karen Christensen of Phoenix, AZ; daughters and sons-in-law Judy and Howard Christiansen of Elkhorn, NE, Sally and Cork Geise of Gretna, NE and Lloyd Reeson of Omaha, NE; step daughter Mary and husband Daryl Petersen of Waterloo, NE; brothers-in-law Warren Davie of Omaha, Keith Knight of Ft. Calhoun, NE, Bert Thompson of O’Neill, NE and Jim Christensen of Omaha; 11 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren. She will be dearly missed by all.

Catherine Helen Bastemeyer

July 13, 1920 - November 25, 2008