LEONA E. BEETHE

1924-2022

Leona E. Beethe was born on April 12, 1924, to Ernest and Esther (Baucke) Heidemann, on the family farm near Elk Creek, Nebraska. Leona was baptized May 4, 1924, and confirmed March 21, 1932, both at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church of rural Elk Creek. She attended Beethe School District 30-47 in Pawnee County through the eighth grade, graduating on June 1, 1938.

On August 3, 1944, Leona was united in marriage to Rayman Beethe at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. The couple would be blessed with four children: Karen, Keith, Nancy, and Arlin, and made their home on a farm in rural Elk Creek. Leona was a true farmer’s wife, running the household and raising the kids, but later in life she worked for several years at the grocery store in Tecumseh and also at the Maple Grove Home, south of Tecumseh.

Time in her later years was passed by counting the number of birds outside her window, completing multiple word searches per day and embroidering quilt blocks so that each grandchild could have a quilt as a wedding gift.

Leona loved unconditionally, accepted everyone, and would give you the honest truth when you needed it. She had a sense of humor to be rivaled and could give a quick, witty response at any time. She loved playing cards with anyone that would stop by and was happy to get phone calls and visitors and always ended with “now you call me or visit me again sometime.”

On September 18, 2022, Leona was taken to the Pawnee Community Memorial Hospital in Pawnee City, it is there that she passed away a few days later on September 20, 2022. She was preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Esther Heidemann, husband Rayman, brothers Leland (Lola) Heidemann, Harley (June) Heidemann, sister Aloma (Eldon) Bradertscher, and several nephews.

Those left to remember her loving ways include her children Karen (Bob) Thompson of Colorado, Keith Beethe of Table Rock, Nancy (Pete) Eggers of Auburn, Arlin (Kim) Beethe of Elk Creek; grandchildren Bob (Patti) Thompson, Bill (Kelly) Thompson, Dave Thompson, Angie (Eric) Drake, Kevin (Carmen) Beethe, Kris (Matt) Castle, Lindsay (Matt) Tuxhorn, Spence (Ashley) Beethe, Lance (Lyndsay) Beethe, Erin (Tyler) Vock, Cole Beethe (Kaleigh); 17 great-grandchildren; other relatives and friends.

A funeral service was held Saturday, September 24, 2022, at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church near Elk Creek, officiated by Rev. Bill Cornelius. Loretta Kerchal was accompanist for congregational singing. Casket bearers were Bob Thompson, Bill Thompson, Dave Thompson, Spence Beethe, Lance Beethe, Cole Beethe, and Kevin Beethe. Honorary bearers were Angie Drake, Kris Castle, Lindsay Tuxhorn, and Erin Vock. Burial followed in St. Peter’s

Lutheran Cemetery. Services were entrusted to

Hemmingsen Funeral Home of Auburn.