Lois LaVonne Hilbers

Lois LaVonne Lewerenz was born on Sunday, June 28, 1931 the only child of Louise (Naber) and Ernst (aka Ernest and Ernie) Lewerenz. She was born in Snyder Nebraska. The Lewerenz’s had a small family farm south of Snyder where Lois developed her love of the outdoors. She enjoyed flowers, birds, chickens, hogs and they even had a milk cow. Her younger days were spent playing in the orchard, the hay mow or playing with her toys in the front lawn of their modest farmhouse. Mom told the story of her cousin Jane coming from California for a visit one summer. They were playing in the front yard and Mom had a brand new silk parasol that Jane insisted on playing with. The girls went in the house for lunch and when they returned later, all that was left were the wire rods of the parasol. The grasshoppers had eaten the entire silk of the umbrella! Another time, same cousin, they had filled a pan of water for which to swim. Lois’ dad had warned her to move the tub every so often so his prize winning, pride and joy of a lawn wouldn’t get too muddy in any one spot. The girls were too busy jumping in and out of the tub of water that they completely forgot about Ernie’s request. When he returned home from the field that evening, he saw the mud hole where the tub had been and started to chase my mom like he was going to spank her. She was so scared that she started to run away from her dad and ran around the side of their barn. When she turned around to look to see how far behind he was, Ernie was doubled over in laughter. She knew then she was not in trouble like she expected. Louise (Lois’ mom) was an amazing seamstress. Lois had beautiful handmade clothing that was the envy of many. Louise used flour sacks to create a wardrobe for Lois that would rival many fashion houses. As Lois grew, her closet grew and she was one of the best dressed girls at Scribner High. In her middle school years, she joined the youth group and they would go roller skating in Scribner, Nebraska. This was a wonderful way to meet friends and have some fun. Lois told about a time when several boys followed her home one evening after roller skating. They ended up passing her and she knew there was a one lane bridge ahead, she was fearful that the boys would block her route, so she turned on a different mile road and took the long way home, avoiding any possible encounters of this carload of boys. The next Monday morning they were eager to find out how she got home because they seemed to have “lost” her. Lois just smiled. Lois attended school in Snyder and graduated from Scribner High School, class of 1949. She married Dean Hilbers on December 28, 1951, while he was on furlow. They honeymooned while they drove to Camp Gordon, Georgia, where Dean had to report for active duty during the Korean War. He was shipped out nearly immediately and mom returned to her parent’s farm. Mom helped her parents the summer of 1952 by driving the tractor, helping her dad and writing daily letters to Dean. Dean was discharged from the army in June of 1953 and mom along with her parents met him in Colorado Springs and brought him back to Dodge County. Ernie encouraged Dean to join him in his farming operation, but Dean could not see himself as a farmer. He got a job working for the Burlington Northern Railroad. This job took the young couple from Alliance, Nebraska to Burlington Colorado, to Rockford Illinois as well as several other depots. Mom told the story of one depot where they were living and how she would hang her clothes out on the clothesline. Because this particular stop was at the top of a long grade, the couple living in the lower level would holler up at mom through the window when a train was coming in so she could quickly gather her clothing off the line before it would get covered in coal soaked steam. No matter where they lived, Lois made friends easily with her neighbors. Over coffee she would engage them in conversation and often became fast, sometimes life long friends. She loved and protected her children with the fierceness of a lioness. Yet, her loving hands were soft and always willing to hold a newborn baby, or be held as she transmitted her strength to the hand she was holding. She was quick with a joke, a smile, an engaging laugh that could cause others to laugh. She hugged us, told us she loved us often and never ended a phone call without expressing her appreciation for our time together. Lois had a strong faith and raised her children in that same faith. She had grit, determination and could be a bit stubborn. But then, raising four children took all of that and then some. She had a certain look if she thought you were out of line, she would pierce you through. She was still mowing the lawn at 88 years of age. She drove a car until she was 89 years old. Is it any wonder that her children possess some of those same qualities. What else can we say? There were moments in life when her faith sustained her and her belief in her Savior Jesus Christ never waivered. Lois has entered her eternal life and did so with the same grace as she lived, quiet elegance. We will mourn our loss for many, many days. Our grief will pour out of us as liquid tears. We will watch as she is lowered into her grave. But this is not the end. This is merely her resurrection spot. God be praised, Lois/Mom/Grandma/Great Gram gets to spend Easter in Heaven with her Jesus and for all eternity. Amen. Lois L. Hilbers was born on June 28, 1931in Snyder, NE and passed away on April 3, 2023 in Omaha, NE. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Louise (Naber) Lewerenz, son, Vance Hilbers, and former spouse, Dean Hilbers. She is survived by daughters, Sheryl (William) Koile, Robyn (Dale) Vance, and Candace (Dennis) Klingemann, grandchildren, Jodie Morgenson, Bill (Amanda) Koile, Jr., Zachary (Lauren) Hilbers, Johanna Hilbers, Brent (Nancy) Klingemann, Tyler (Emily) Klingemann, Kaitlin (Efrain) Amador, great grandchildren, Xiola (Josh) Etherington, Adeline Morgenson, Claire Koile, Davis Koile, Sawyer Hilbers, Evelyn Hilbers, Emma Hilbers, Everett Klingemann, Pippa Klingemann, Antonella Amador, Cayden Klingemann, and special friend, Merlin Oerman. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, April 6th at 10:30am at The Lord of Life Lutheran Church (20844 Bonanza Blvd, Elkhorn, NE) Visitation with family will be Wednesday April 5th from 5:30 – 7:30pm at Reichmuth Funeral Home in Elkhorn. In Lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to The Lord of Life Lutheran Church or the American Cancer Society.

Lois LaVonne Hilbers

June 28, 1931 - April 3, 2023