In Memory Of
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Vada E. Tegtmeier
Seneca, KS
09/27/1915 - 12/24/2009
Vada E. Tegtmeier, 94, of Seneca, KS, died Thursday, December 24, 2009 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.
She was born on September 27, 1915, the third child of Floyd A. Butler and Gladys I. Goodridge Butler, at the family home in Pawnee City, NE. She lived on a farm nine miles west of Pawnee City and attended Rosinweed Country School, walking almost two miles each way to school every day. During one brief period when Vada was eight years old, her parents packed up the family and left Nebraska in a Model T Ford, camping along the way during their move to California. After one year of living and attending school there, they moved back to Nebraska and resided on a farm north of Pawnee City.
Vada graduated from Pawnee City High School in 1934, where she enjoyed participating in drama, cheerleading, chorus, glee club and was chosen as a Queen. Following graduation, she worked at the Pawnee Variety Store as a clerk at the candy counter.
On April 10, 1935 she married Henry F. “Hank” Tegtmeier, Jr. in Alma, KS after a one-year engagement. They made their home on a farm two miles south of Du Bois, NE on the Kansas-Nebraska state line. While raising a son, Vada worked at several part-time jobs throughout the years. After her husband’s death in 1980, she spent eight years managing a retirement home in Napa, CA. In 1990 she retired and moved to Hastings, NE, where she lived until the fall of 2002, when she moved to Seneca to be closer to her immediate family.
Vada enjoyed nature and being outdoors. As a child, she spent time working the fields with her father, and then as a wife, she continued to help with the farm work and cattle on their farm, Angus Acres. Her favorite pastime was horseback riding; she was a former member of the Pawnee Saddle Club. Vada spent countless hours working in her garden and growing beautiful flowers each year. During the cold months, she enjoyed crocheting and was an avid reader. She also enjoyed traveling and visiting friends. In addition, she was a talented artist, gifted with the ability to paint with oil and watercolor. She also enjoyed china painting.
Vada was a 4-H project and community leader for many years. She was a member of the Friedens Women’s Fellowship, where she served as a former President of the group. She was a member of Friedens United Church of Christ of rural Bern.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Donovan Butler and Floyd “Grail” Butler; a sister, Jane Estelle “Tillie” Holman; and a daughter-in-law, Dana Strahm Tegtmeier.
She is survived by her son, Terry Tegtmeier of Bern; four grandchildren, Clint Tegtmeier and wife Mary of Bern; Sandra Farwell and husband Mark of Seneca; Brenda Macke and husband Bob of Baileyville; Jill (Omid) Alhosseini of Olathe ; and seven great grandchildren, Jessica Stallbaumer and husband Garret, David Tegtmeier, Eric, Jenna, and Kelsey Farwell, Brandon and Jamison Macke.
Funeral service will be 11 AM Wednesday, December 30, at the United Church of Christ in Bern. There will be a visitation from 7 to 8:30 PM Tuesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorials may be given for Friedens United Church of Christ in Bern.
She was born on September 27, 1915, the third child of Floyd A. Butler and Gladys I. Goodridge Butler, at the family home in Pawnee City, NE. She lived on a farm nine miles west of Pawnee City and attended Rosinweed Country School, walking almost two miles each way to school every day. During one brief period when Vada was eight years old, her parents packed up the family and left Nebraska in a Model T Ford, camping along the way during their move to California. After one year of living and attending school there, they moved back to Nebraska and resided on a farm north of Pawnee City.
Vada graduated from Pawnee City High School in 1934, where she enjoyed participating in drama, cheerleading, chorus, glee club and was chosen as a Queen. Following graduation, she worked at the Pawnee Variety Store as a clerk at the candy counter.
On April 10, 1935 she married Henry F. “Hank” Tegtmeier, Jr. in Alma, KS after a one-year engagement. They made their home on a farm two miles south of Du Bois, NE on the Kansas-Nebraska state line. While raising a son, Vada worked at several part-time jobs throughout the years. After her husband’s death in 1980, she spent eight years managing a retirement home in Napa, CA. In 1990 she retired and moved to Hastings, NE, where she lived until the fall of 2002, when she moved to Seneca to be closer to her immediate family.
Vada enjoyed nature and being outdoors. As a child, she spent time working the fields with her father, and then as a wife, she continued to help with the farm work and cattle on their farm, Angus Acres. Her favorite pastime was horseback riding; she was a former member of the Pawnee Saddle Club. Vada spent countless hours working in her garden and growing beautiful flowers each year. During the cold months, she enjoyed crocheting and was an avid reader. She also enjoyed traveling and visiting friends. In addition, she was a talented artist, gifted with the ability to paint with oil and watercolor. She also enjoyed china painting.
Vada was a 4-H project and community leader for many years. She was a member of the Friedens Women’s Fellowship, where she served as a former President of the group. She was a member of Friedens United Church of Christ of rural Bern.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Donovan Butler and Floyd “Grail” Butler; a sister, Jane Estelle “Tillie” Holman; and a daughter-in-law, Dana Strahm Tegtmeier.
She is survived by her son, Terry Tegtmeier of Bern; four grandchildren, Clint Tegtmeier and wife Mary of Bern; Sandra Farwell and husband Mark of Seneca; Brenda Macke and husband Bob of Baileyville; Jill (Omid) Alhosseini of Olathe ; and seven great grandchildren, Jessica Stallbaumer and husband Garret, David Tegtmeier, Eric, Jenna, and Kelsey Farwell, Brandon and Jamison Macke.
Funeral service will be 11 AM Wednesday, December 30, at the United Church of Christ in Bern. There will be a visitation from 7 to 8:30 PM Tuesday at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.
Memorials may be given for Friedens United Church of Christ in Bern.
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