Bertha S Waggoner

A funeral to celebrate the life of Bertha "Bert" Sophia Waggoner will be conducted from the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Dale Lambert, officiating. Interment will be held in the Alma Cemetery at Alma, Nebraska with Reverend Lorri Kentner officiating.
Bertha "Bert" S. Waggoner, 89, passed away on April 12, 2011 in Reno, Nevada. Bert was born on March 23, 1922 on a Franklin County farm north of Bloomington, Nebraska. She was the fifth of ten children born to John A. and Anna C. (Petersen) Hogeland and grew up in Franklin County and graduated from Franklin High School with the class of 1939. During WWII she worked in Denver, Colorado.

On April 7, 1946 she was united in marriage to Clayton R. Waggoner in Alma. The couple made their home in Holdrege and to this union one daughter was born, Beverly Jo. Clayton passed away in 1988.

Bert was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege.

Bert and Clayton enjoyed watching and attending local sporting events and especially University of Nebraska football games. Bert also enjoyed bowling, playing cards and shopping (especially with her sisters). Bert always had a camera at any family gathering and enjoyed doing both photo and scrap books.
Bert was a homemaker during Beverly's school years, but then worked at Becton-Dickinson in 1969 for 10 years. She then worked part-time for her nephew David Hogeland in David's Jewelry store in Holdrege.

In 2008 Bert moved to Hillcrest Terrace Assisted Living in Alma to be closer to her two sisters and other family.

In February of 2010 Bert moved to Reno, Nevada to live with her daughter Bev and her husband, Dan. In Reno she was also able to see her grandson, Austin and his wife Sarah, and their son Blake (her first great-grandson) on a regular basis. Living in Reno also made it easier for Bert to see her granddaughter, Whitney, and her husband Brian. Two weeks before Bert's death she rejoiced the arrival of another great-grandson, Zander, son of Whitney and Brian. She was also pleased to know Blake will have a younger brother in late July. Bert was so excited and proud to be both a grandma and great-grandma.

While living in Reno she attended Covenant Presbyterian Church.

Bert was preceded in death by her parents, her husband; four brothers: Robert Hogeland and his wife, Joann, Roy Hogeland, John Hogeland and his wife, Edith, Ernie Hogeland and his wife, Bette; three sisters: Ruby Thaete and her husband, Hilbert, Dorothy Waggoner and her husband, Daniel, and Amy Peterson and her husband, John "Pete"; and one brother-in-law, Bill Meyer.

Survivors include her daughter, Beverly Carne and her husband, Daniel of Reno; one sister, Gladys Meyer of Alma; one brother, Preston Hogeland and his wife, Delores "Dee" of Ft. Collins, Colorado; one sister-in-law, Martha Hogeland of Alma; two brothers-in-laws: Tom Waggoner of Holdrege, Gene Waggoner and his wife, Farrell of Alma; and one sister-in-law, Maxine "Mickey" of Omaha, Nebraska; two grandchildren: Austin Carne and his wife, Sarah of Reno, Whitney Carne Hull and her husband, Brian of Seattle, Washington; two great grandchildren: Blake Anthony Carne and Zander James Hull; many nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

One of Bert's few regrets (other than a few more national championships!) was being uncomfortable sharing her faith in Jesus Christ, her Lord. She would have two wishes for you: 1) that you have accepted Jesus, the Christ, as your personal Lord and Savior, and 2) that you actively pursue The Great Commission – to spread His story wherever life might lead you. May your life be worthy of God's blessings.

There will be no visitation and her casket will be closed.

A memorial has been established and kindly suggested to the youth program of First United Methodist Church of Holdrege.

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

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