Thanks to both sets of our parents, we were able to make the trip to Denver for my grandmother's funeral. It still kind of amazes me that she has passed on. She was always so healthy and full of energy, I guess I just didn't think she would go so quickly. Cancer has a way of speeding things up for even the most healthy I guess. It was a long drive but it was fun to have Heidi to visit with all the way. We had to be there by a certain time for the viewing, so we drove straight through with only a couple potty breaks. We even ate lunch in the car on the go. When we got to the hotel, we changed quickly, unloaded the car and headed to the funeral home for the viewing. This was the first funeral my boys remember ever going to, so it was kind of different for them. I guess we have been lucky that not many people that we have been close to have died. It was a sad occasion but it was fun to listen to my grandpa talk about her and about their childhood and early marriage. I wish I would have had a tape recorder with me and I wish I could have evesdropped on everyone elses conversations with him so I could hear more stories. Grandma looked really pretty and elegant like she always did. After the viewing, we went to Terri's for dinner.
The next morning, we got up and went to the viewing again. We had a family prayer with my Uncle Ron giving the prayer and then we all walked behind the hearse over to the mausoleum where her preacher did a service. The boys thought it was pretty cool that they used air soft bb's to roll the caskets into their places in the mausoleum.
We grabbed some lunch after that and then headed over to the church for the service. I have never been to a service after a burial, so that seemed kind of different to me. It was also the first time the boys had ever been to a church service other than our own church, so that was different for them also. It was great to see all of my dad's cousins and aunts and uncles and visit with them. One of the hymns was "How Great Thou Art" which is one of my favorites. I don't know that I cared for the arrangement, but it is one of my favorite hymns. Her sisters did a great tribute to her and told lots of fun stories about their childhood. I wonder if one of them will send me a copy of what they talked about. I'd love to have the stories. My best friend from when I was in elementary school, Michelle, or Shelly as she is now called, came to the funeral service and to the dinner at Terri's afterwards. It was great to see her also.
The next morning, right before we left for home, we went back and Dad dedicated her grave. It was my favorite part of the whole trip. Probably because it is the part that is most familiar to me as we have grown up in a different religion than that side of my Dad's family. The boys also thought that part was the best. They said they could definitely feel the spirit at that point. I'm so glad we were able to go and pay tribute to my wonderful grandmother. I'm excited one day to be reunited with her and grateful for the knowledge that indeed that will happen.
Here is what it said on the back of her program and also what I printed on the layouts above so that I had it.
Lucille Louise Bebensee Evers was born on April 15, 1922 at home near Wilcox, Nebraska to Gustav
and Anna Bebensee. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Hildreth, Nebraska. Lucille had two brothers and three sisters; Burtus, Ralph, Marji, Micki, and Lee.
She started school early because her older brother refused to go unless Lucille went too. They traveled to school riding bareback on their horse named Prince or riding behind the pony cart their father had built. She graduated from Wilcox High School in 1939. She fought hard to be able to go to high school, as her father, who was accustomed to the German ways, felt that 8 years of school was enough and that she was needed at home. She was determined to go and when discouraged her mother would remind her “that where there’s a will, there is a way.” Words she carried with her throughout her life and passed on to her own children. She worked at Bethpage Mission, Axtell, Nebraska in her younger years. It was an experience she treasured as well as the Sisters who managed it. When she was home in Nebraska seldom was there a time that she did not go back to visit all the patients she had grown attached to.
On August 17, 1942, she married George E. Evers at the home of her parents. George was in the Army and on a 3 day pass when they decided to get married before he went back. The entire family, friends and neighbors helped decorate and prepare the food, all in just those few days. That evening Lucille took George to the train station and he headed back to camp.
The first few years of their marriage were spent moving every 3 months. He attended electronic schools in different places and the wives were not permitted to go along. Lucille went back home and worked at Bethpage and also at the Minden hospital.
In 1945, their son Ron was born, and 17 months later their son Bob was born. In the fall of 1950, Lucille and the boys drove to Langley AFB in Virginia in a 1939 Mercury. In 1952, they were living at Chanute AFB in Illinois, where daughter Terri was born. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Scott AFB where Lucille was a Cub Scout leader and the Evers’ family remained for another 3 years. In 1956, George was sent to French Morocco and Lucille again moved her family back to Nebraska to be near her family while George was gone. In 1957, he was transferred to L. G. Hanscom AFB near Bedford, MA, where they lived for 5 years. Lucille worked at Raytheon in Massachusetts building B-58 airplanes. She was also very much involved with their church. She played piano at all the church services and also for the Sr. and Jr. Choirs.
George retired in 1962, and they built their first home in Boulder, Colorado and were members of Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. Lucille worked for Boulder Mattress as a seamstress for a couple of years,
then went to work for IBM. She retired after 18 years. She built parts for computers and copiers. She retired in 1988.
They moved to Arvada in 1986 from Longmont and joined Holy Cross Lutheran Church. She helped make quilts for the less fortunate for 20 some years. Lucille loved crafts, ribbon embroidery, Japanese
Bunka Thread Art and her computer sewing machine.
She was a devoted wife and mother, loving sister and an amazing friend. She made a difference in the lives of many and will be missed by all those who loved her.
Born: April 15, 1922 - Wilcox, Nebraska
Died: July 8, 2011 - Westminster, Colorado
