Isabelle Jean Lentell

Isabelle Jean Herrington Lentell was born on December 2, 1925 on the family farm near Newman Grove, Nebraska to Boyd and Frances (Nelson) Herrington. When she was three, Jean moved with her parents and her brother Bob to Waterloo, Nebraska in 1929. She attended 12 years of schooling in Waterloo, graduating in 1943. Jean entertained in many grade school functions, tap dancing and singing. In High School she was active in drama. Jean was baptized in the Waterloo Presbyterian Church where she sang in the choir, taught Sunday school and was president of the District Youth Groups. Jean’s church was an important part of her life from her childhood on. Jean moved to Valley with her parents in 1945 and they joined the Baptist-Presbyterian Church. She was employed with Mutual Benefit Health and Life Insurance Company in Omaha from the time she graduated until she was married. Jean married Junius Lentell on March 19, 1947 at the Baptist-Presbyterian Church in Valley, Nebraska and to this union two children were born: Steven and Laurie. Jean and Jay have raised their family on their farm north of Valley. Jean’s family were very important to her life she faithfully cared for her parents through their illnesses. Jean was a devoted wife and mother who enjoyed helping others through their difficult times, sharing her strong faith as a guide to them. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, collecting recipes and poems, bowling and serving her church. Jean was active in the Presbyterian Womens Group, the Mariners and taught Sunday School and Bible study all the years her children were in Valley. She was the Choir director for 14 years, a trustee, deaconess and one of the first women elected as an elder in the church. Jean and Jay began to spend their winters in Mesa, Arizona in 1975 and she felt that this added years to their lives with the special time they had together before returning in the spring to their farm work. Jean passed away on Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska with her family by her side at the age of 81 years, 11 months and 12 days. She was preceded in death by her parents Boyd and Frances, brother Bob and great grandson William. Jean is survived by her husband Junius of Valley, Nebraska; son and daughter-in-law Steve and Carol of Kearney, Nebraska; daughter and son-in-law Laurie and Brad Spelts of Burwell, Nebraska; 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Isabelle Jean Lentell

December 2, 1925 - November 14, 2007