Notes:

Helen Arleen Ewald, 91, of Curtis, passed away May 18, 2014, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte.

Helen was born on Aug. 15, 1922, in Frontier County, to Carl and Sigrid (Jepsen) Nelsen. After graduating from UNSA in 1940, she earned a teaching certificate from Kearney Teachers College and taught in two rural county schools.

On June 9, 1941, at Oberlin, Kan., Helen married Jim Ewald and they farmed and raised their six children in Lincoln County, north of Curtis.

In addition to crops, irrigation and livestock, Helen raised and sold chickens and eggs and shared the abundance of large gardens with family and friends. Helen will be remembered by many for her work ethic, honesty, hospitality, and generosity. The farm remained her home until she moved to Curtis in 2006.

Helen then had more time to devote to reading and embroidery, sharing books with friends and making sure each of her grandchildren had a needlework pillow case and a supply of strawberry jam.

She had been an active member of Ebenezer Lutheran Church and was a current member of St. John?s Lutheran Church in Curtis.

Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Nelda Ewald, of Daytona Beach, Fla.; four daughters, Karen (Jerry) Lehman, of Farnam, Ann (Pat) Hagan, of Smithfield, Jo Ellen (Rod) Jurgens, of Lamar, Mo., Mary (Dennis) Peterson, of Bertrand; a son, Lynn (Patty) Ewald, of Curtis; a nephew, Michael Lehman, of North Platte; a dear friend, Carol McKennon, of Curtis; 19 grandchildren; and 37 great-grandchildren. Helen was looking forward to welcoming another great-granddaughter to the family in June.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jim in 1979; a son, Bill, in 1997, and her sister, Marjorie Lehman, in 2006.

Memorials are suggested to the St. John?s Lutheran Church, 504 Wallace, Curtis, NE 69025 or Frontier County Library. To sign the online guest book, go to blasestrauser.com.

Services will be at 1 p.m., today, at St. John?s Lutheran Church, of Curtis, with the Rev. Derrick Brown officiating. Burial will follow at the Curtis Cemetery. Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Memorial Chapel, Curtis, is in charge of arrangements.

Helen married Jim Ewald on 9 Jun 1941 in Oberlin, Dacatur County, Kansas. USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Patty Freeze. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Jerry Lehman. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Pat Hagan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Rod Jurgen. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Dennis Peterson. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Larsen, Ewald wedding

Monday, October 17, 2005

Courtney Larsen of Culbertson and James Ewald of Curtis were united in marriage Saturday, Aug. 6, 2005, at the Nazarene Church in McCook.

Parents of the couple are Jeanie Earnest of Culbertson and Lynn and Patty Ewald of Curtis.

Grandparents of the couple are the late Jim Earnest, Bev Earnest of Stratton, Lucille Bradley of Benkelman, Helen Ewald of Curtis, the late Jim Ewald and Clifford and Alberta Freeze of Brady.

Honored guests included Gloria and Willis Schultz of Sioux City, Don and Donna Sailors of McCook, Bev Earnest of Stratton, Leva Cochran of North Platte, Viola Patchin of North Platte, Clifford and Alberta Freeze of Brady and Helen Ewald of Curtis.

The bride wore a floor-length, white, tulle, halter gown trimmed with crystals, beads and pearls. The bride's veil was waist-length, her gloves were white satin and she carried a bouquet of fresh red roses.

The maids of honor were the bride's two sisters Constance Larsen of Omaha and Catrina Larsen of Culbertson. Bridesmaids were Heather Steele of Benkelman, Sara Ware of Culbertson and Marie Wesch of McCook.

The bride's attendants all wore burgundy, satin, two-piece, floor-length gowns and silver elbow-length gloves and carried a bouquet of fresh, white roses.

The best man was Kurt Sawyer of Mason City. Bridegroomsmen were lan Reagan of Wauneta, Casey Thompson of Curtis, Kanen Hammond of Curtis and Ryan Hammond of Arapahoe. The bridegroom and his attendants wore long-tailed tuxedos with red rose boutonnieres.

The flower girl was Rebecca Earnest, cousin of the bride, of Benkelman and the junior bride was Karie Funk, cousin of the bride, of Culbertson. They each wore white, satin dresses with burgundy ribbon and carried white roses.

Aden Boiler, cousin of the bridegroom, of Farnam was the ringbearer and Adam Earnest, cousin of the bride, of Benkelman was the junior bridegroom. They each wore long tailed tuxedos. The candlelighter was Elizabeth Earnest, cousin of the bride, of Benkelman. She wore a navy blue, floor-length gown.

The mothers of the bride and bridegroom lit the unity tapers at the beginning of the ceremony. They both wore navy blue dresses.

Ushers were Lance Lewis of Curtis, Gregg Boiler of Farnam, Barry Brush of McCook and Aaron Reiman of Beatrice.

Marie Coffey provided piano and organ pieces and Kerri Linger was the soloist.

A reception and dance followed the ceremony at the Hitchcock County Ag Complex in Culbertson. A sit down dinner was served with entertainment provided.

The couple honeymooned in Nashville, Tenn.

They are making their home in McCook while attending McCook Community College.

James married Courtney Larsen on 6 Aug 2005 in Nazarene Church, McCook, Nebraska, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]