Bethel Harlow

Bethel Curren Harlow was born on March 4, 1913 near Arborville , Nebraska to Harvey and Frances (Conrad) Curren. She grew up on the family farm near Arborville where she attended country school and graduated from Polk High School in 1930. Bethel received her teaching certificate and did some substitute teaching early on. As a young girl, Bethel helped with chores and due to her mother’s poor health and being the oldest daughter, assumed the task of helping raise her siblings. Much of the family entertainment centered around home life with mother playing the piano and the children and their neighbor friends dancing and singing. Bethel married Russell Harlow on January 7, 1935 in St. Paul , Nebraska and to this union three children were born: Wayne, Ken and Diane. Bethel and Russell raised their family in Polk, Nebraska, Nebraska City, Watson, Missouri, Hamburg, Iowa and for the past 66 years in Valley, Nebraska. Bethel was always a hard working woman with jobs as a phone operator, a waitress at Farmer Brown’s, Valley Café and Ford Café, as well as working at Boys Town , Rob-See-Co and Dick’s IGA. Bethel enjoyed sewing, quilting and other handy work. She loved playing cards, doing puzzles and listening to polka and gospel music but she was always happiest when she could be with her family. Bethel treasured the time when her family could gather together and she could share the stories of her youth and feed her family. She is remembered as a giving woman who sacrificed often to put her family first and their needs ahead of her own. And to the newest generation she is affectionately known as the “Cookie Grandma”. Bethel is a long time member of the United Faith Community Church in Valley and was active in the Bunco Club and 60 for many years. Bethel passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at the Methodist Hospital in Omaha , Nebraska at the age of 96 years, 3 months and 9 days. She was preceded in death by her parents Harvey and Frances, husband Russell, son Wayne, brother Lloyd, sisters Bessie, Millie, Pansy, Opal and Lois, grandson Patrick and great grandchildren Douglas, Christopher and Alivia. Bethel is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Ken and Carol Harlow of Waterloo, Nebraska; daughter and son-in-law Diane and Mike Agnitsch of Ralston, Nebraska; 10 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren; brothers Ken Curren of Minden, Nebraska and Leo Curren of Bradshaw, Nebraska;

Bethel Harlow

March 4, 1913 - June 13, 2009