ANNA BELLE REDFERN
1927-2023
Anna Belle (Dovel) Redfern, one of seven children of Herbert Dovel and Marie (Houlton) Dovel was born November 22, 1927, in Auburn, Nebraska. She attended Auburn Public Schools and graduated from Auburn High School in 1946.
On November 28, 1946, Anna Belle married Edgar B. Redfern at the First United Methodist Church in Auburn, Nebraska. They were blessed with four children: Theresa Marie, Lannie Burton, Cynthia Ann, and Laurie Beth. They were quite the pair building their first house themselves after purchasing a small acreage property, running Redfern Furniture Store for several years and remodeling and flipping a house. When their children grew older, they enjoyed pulling their camper to lakes and campgrounds throughout the country until Bud passed away September 8, 1983.
Anna Belle joined the First United Methodist Church on Mother’s Day at the age of 12 and was a member for over 75 years. She loved the opportunities provided to help others. She was a 31-year member of Eastern Star and enjoyed the Auburn Garden Club. Her flower and vegetable gardens were amazing. Her love of nature and being outdoors were important to her. She was still watching the birds and squirrels outside her window before her passing. She was an excellent mother, cook, (#1 pie maker) carpenter, crafter, embroiderer, quilter, seamstress, and upholsterer. She continued remodeling and flipped two homes by herself after Bud’s death. She also enjoyed antique collecting and spending time with family and friends.
Anna Belle fell into ill health in April 2022 and had to move from assisted living at Long’s Creek to Good Sam Society-Auburn. There she made many new friends with residents and care givers. She passed away Saturday, May 13, 2023. She was 95 years, 5 months, and 21 days old. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Bud, brothers Harold Dovel, Wayne Dovel, Jackie Dovel, sisters Irene Thomas, Betty Dovel and Mary Ann Jones.
Survivors are: daughter and son-in-law Theresa and Chuck Snyder, son and daughter- in-law Lannie and Elaine Redfern, daughter and son-inlaw Cynthia and Keith Biere, and daughter and son-in-law Laurie and Kelly Hardin; 7 grandchildren: Scott (Karla) Snyder, Melissa (David) Antinoro, Shannon Biere, Heath (SammieJo) Biere, Brett (Lindsay) Biere, Amanda (Young) Shon, Jillian Redfern; and 10 great-grandchildren: Garrett and Rece Snyder, Dennis, Elliott, and Daisy Shon, Merrick LeBlanc, Emersyn Biere, Louis, Sam, and Sophia Antinoro; nieces, nephews and friends.
A memorial service was held Friday, May 19, 2023, at Hemmingsen Funeral Home in Auburn, officiated by St. Croix Chaplain Mark Borchardt. Sam Antinoro played prelude and postlude. Honorary bearers were Scott Snyder, Melissa Antinoro, Heath Biere, Shannon Biere, Brett Biere, Amanda Shon, and Jillian Redfern. Burial of ashes followed in Sheridan Cemetery near Auburn.
Services were entrusted to Hemmingsen Funeral Home of Auburn.