Beulah M. Gerdes

Gravesides Services and Interment for Beulah M. Gerdes will be held on Wednesday, February 24, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. Mountain Time (2:30 p.m. Central Time) at the Benkelman Cemetery at Benkelman, Nebraska with Pastor Kenton Birtell officiating.

Beulah Maxine Gerdes, 91 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at the Christian Homes Care Community at Holdrege.

Beulah was born December 6, 1924 in Franklin County, south of Bloomington, the second of three children born to Elmer L. and Bernice O. (Strong) Lantis. Beulah received her primary education from a rural school near Bloomington. The family then moved to Campbell, Nebraska for a brief time before settling to Edison, Nebraska, where Beulah graduated from Edison High School with the class of 1942.

Following her education, Beulah and her family moved to Benkelman. On June 5, 1945 she was united in marriage to Lee A. Gerdes of Benkelman, and to this union twin sons were born: Stanley Eugene and Richard Lee. The couple made their home at New London, Connecticut, while Lee was stationed on the submarine base until his discharge in December of 1946.

The family returned to Nebraska and resided at Culbertson and Wauneta before settling in Holdrege, where they owned and operated Lee's Frontier/Husky Station and Beulah was elected as the Phelps County Assessor, and continued working in the Assessor's Office for over 28 years until her retirement.

Beulah was a past member of the American Legion Auxiliary and enjoyed spending time with her family.

On May 12, 2005 she was preceded in death by her husband, Lee. Besides her husband and her parents; Beulah was preceded in death by two brothers: Herbert L. Lantis in infancy and Elmer Dale Lantis in 2011; daughter-in-law, Sheila Gerdes and a host of brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law on the Gerdes side of the family.

She leaves to celebrate her life; her two sons: Stanley Gerdes of Holdrege, and Richard Gerdes of Omaha, Nebraska; one grandson, JR Gerdes of Omaha; two step-grandsons: Phil Gravert and Dean Gravert of Ft. Calhoun, Nebraska; sister-in-law, Velda Hartman of McCook, Nebraska and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

There will be a private family visitation.

A memorial has been established in Beulah's honor and kindly suggested to the Christian Homes Care Community 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.