Alberta B. Ekholm

Funeral Services for Alberta (Orsborn) Ekholm will be held on Friday, July 1, 2011, at 2:00 p.m., at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Rev. Jean Clayton officiating. Inurnment will be held at the Ft. McPherson National Cemetery at Maxwell, Nebraska.

Alberta Bernice Ekholm, age 81 years of age, of Kearney, Nebraska (formerly of Swisher, Iowa), passed away on Sunday, June 26, 2011 at the Mt. Carmel Home – Keens Memorial in Kearney. She was born July 8, 1929 in Cozad, Nebraska, the sixth of ten children to John and Maltie (Estep) Orsborn. Alberta grew up and received her primary education from Elm Creek, Nebraska and graduated with the class of 1947. Following graduation, she received her Master's Degree in Education.


On May 28, 1948, she married the love of her life, Jared LaWarren Ekholm. Soon she began teaching, a career she would pursue for the rest of her working life. Alberta taught in Centerville, Iowa for twenty years and then she and Jared moved to Barrow, Alaska, where she taught four years. Upon retirement she spent her summers in Colorado fishing and winters in south Texas, where she volunteered in schools.

Alberta was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jared Ekholm in 2010; brothers: Jeptha Orsborn, Kermit Orsborn, Cogan Orsborn, and Gary Orsborn; sisters: Gloria Sutherland Lind and Sadie Orsborn; and sister-in-law, Jo Orsborn.

She leaves to mourn her passing, a son, Steve Ekholm and his wife, Collyer of Phoenix, Arizona; one granddaughter, Sarah Ekholm of Los Muermos, Chile; brothers: William and his wife, Jeanette Orsborn of Kearney, Otto Orsborn of Wood River, Nebraska; sister, Jaunita Wenburg and her husband, Kenneth of Elm Creek; two brothers-in-law: Maynard Ekholm and his wife, Patty of Farmington, New Mexico, W. Berniel Ekholm and his wife, Norma of Springfield, Missouri; two sisters-in-law: Renee Nelson and her husband, Robert "Hap" Nelson of Holdrege and Marcy Arrasmith and her husband, Dr. Donald Arrasmith of Omaha, Nebraska; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 30, 2011, at Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Alzheimer's Association in Kearney - Great Plains Chapter c/o Alexandra Dillon, PO Box 1351, Kearney, Nebraska 68848.

Expressions of kindness and caring can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of arrangements.