Obituary of Berniece E. Arterburn

Berniece E. Arterburn, age 90, formerly of Ogallala, NE died at the Lantern Park Nursing & Rehab Center in Coralville, Iowa Thursday, March 9, 2006. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 15, 2006, at the Ogallala United Methodist Church in Ogallala, Nebraska. Burial will be at the Ft. McPherson National Cemetery in North Platte, NE. Visitation will be from 9am Wednesday until services at the church. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Bernice’s memory. The Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City cared for the local arrangements. Berniece E. Kent Arterburn was born February 28, 1916, on the Kent ranch in Chase County, NE, the daughter of Elmer and Hazel Kent. She attended schools in Perkins County graduating from Perkins High School in Grant, NE. Upon graduation she taught grades one through eight at Perkins County Pride School for two years. She married Fred A. Arterburn on May 24, 1936. The couple worked in the post office in Grant for eight years. During World War II, the couple moved to Texas where Fred was stationed for two years. They moved back to Nebraska, settling in Ogallala in 1946. Here they became associated with the Sullivan Shoe Store, which they later purchased and it became the Arterburn Shoe Store. Fred and Bernice had been married for over forty-five years before Fred’s death on May 5, 1981. Berniece was the past president of BPW having been a member for over forty years, serving as its district governor for a time. She was a charter member of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce, having served as its president. She was a member of the Ogallala United Methodist Church, serving as president of the Wesleyan Service Guild. For many years she sang in the choir, and filled in as pianist for many special occasions. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for over fifty years. Bernice enjoyed music, baking, and playing bridge. In 1975 she and her husband, Fred, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Women’s Division of the Chamber of Commerce. Her family includes a daughter, Connie Norton of Coralville, IA and her children, Randy Norton and his wife, Claire of Bloomington, IL and their children, Thomas, Carly, Allie, and Nick; Terry Norton and his wife, Deb of Altoona, IA and their children, Alex , Chris, and Katie; Cheri Amelon and her husband, John of Iowa City, IA and their children, Nolan, Dan and Bryan; sister-in-law, Sharrel McBride Arterburn of Ogallala, NE; and her children, Lance Arterburn and his wife, Becca of Brady, NE and their children, Christian, Kaleb, and Madyson; Kim Mestl and her husband, Chris of Ogallala, NE and their children, Maaika and Kira; sister, Gladys Tharp of Grant, NE; and sister-in-law, Theone Kent of Grant,NE. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Fred; son, Kirk Arterburn; son-in-law, Dick Norton; brother, Gerald Kent, and a brother-in-law, Charles Tharp.