Delores "Dee" M. Micheel

Delores M. “Dee” Micheel was born October 26, 1940, in Pender, Nebraska to Carl and Marian (Olson) Anderson. The family later moved to Oakland, Nebraska. Dee attended a one-room country school, District 48-Rock School four miles west of Oakland on the highway. She also attended a one-room school for one year three miles west of Craig, and one year at a one-room school, northwest of Oakland. She was confirmed at First Covenant Church in Oakland in July 1956 and graduated from Oakland High School in 1958. She went on to attend Lincoln School of Commerce in Lincoln for 9 months. From there, she moved to Omaha and began her first job at Northern Natural Gas. Dee married Noel Finke on May 9, 1964, and they were blessed with two daughters, Patty and Sherri. In the early ’70’s, Dee and Noel purchased Bennington Food Mart and Freezer Meats. Noel passed away from cancer 2 years after they purchased the store. Dee continued to run the store with the help of Al Lambiase. She sold it 12 years later. Dee then went to work at Immanuel Hospital for 6 months, then to Douglas County Housing for 2 ½ years, and then to First National Bank for 18 years. Dee married Bill Micheel in 1981, and their daughter Kari was born. Dee was active in several organizations, but she dedicated most of her efforts to the Bennington Lions Club. She knew and served Lions locally and statewide, serving as District Governor for one year in 2009-2010. She was also a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and loved going to the Lighthouse coffee house every Tuesday and Thursday morning. She was a member of the Bennington Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary, Order of the Eastern Star, MoRi Shrine Club, Bennington Historical Society, Bennington Tree Board, Pilot Light ladies’ group, and Gold Wing Motorcycle Club. Dee loved playing cards and putting together jigsaw puzzles. She loved feeding birds and squirrels and growing flowers. Dee passed away suddenly at CHI Lakeside Hospital on Monday, December 1, 2025, at the age of 85 years, 1 month and 6 days. She was preceded in death by her first husband Noel, parents, brothers, Harold and LeRoy Anderson, sister Janet Higley, and grandson Doug Roth, Jr. Dee is survived by her three daughters: Patty (Larry) Morgan, Sherri (Doug) Roth, and Kari Micheel, 5 granddaughters: Kendra, Kayla, Ashley, Amber and April, and two great grandsons: Leyc and Ollie, her sister Jolene (Dave) Allen and two brothers: Leonard and James Anderson. A celebration of life service will be held Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bennington with visitation from Noon to 2 PM prior to the service. Private family interment will be at Flower Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lighthouse Coffee House at St. John’s or the Nebraska Lions Foundation.

Delores "Dee" M. Micheel

October 26, 1940 - December 1, 2025