Evelyn Ruth (Kinney) West

1921-2017

Evelyn Ruth (Kinney) West was born July 8, 1921 near Wolbach, Nebraska to Lloyd and Jane (Best) Kinney. She attended rural elementary schools, was the valedictorian of her graduating class of Ericson High School and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education at Kearney State College. While a junior at Kearney State, she was initiated into Kappa Delta Pi, limited to juniors and seniors who show high standards of scholarship in education and in overall class standings. She did graduate work at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. After signing her first teaching contract at age 16, she taught five years in Nebraska one-room schools, a number of years in Hall Country District 74 (Seedling Mile) near Grand Island as well as Dodge Elementary and 24 years in Barr and Walnut junior high schools in Grand Island, NE—a career of 38 years. Evelyn was married to John F. West of Grand Island on June 2, 1943. They became parents of a daughter, Sharon Lynn (West) Quest. Mr. West died August 8, 1977. Evelyn was a 50-year member of the Trinity Methodist Church in Grand Island and First United Methodist Church in Auburn, NE., combined. Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Robert, an infant sister, Dorothy and an infant nephew, Douglas Kinney. Surviving are her daughter, two grandchildren, Andrew Quest and Elizabeth Quest Cooper, a great-grandson, Dietrich Kurtzhals, a sister-in-law, Virginia Kinney of Norfolk, NE., and one niece and three nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Auburn Rescue Squad or to a charity of the donor’s choosing. Services will be held 11 am on Friday, July 14, 2017 at the First United Methodist Church in Auburn, Nebraska. A luncheon will follow at the church. Graveside services will be at 10 am on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at the Grand Island Cemetery.