Catherine "Kitty" M. Eltiste

A Funeral Service for Catherine "Kitty" Eltiste will be held on Monday, December 15, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska. Interment will follow at the Sumner Cemetery, Sumner, Nebraska.

Catherine Maye Clough Eltiste, 86 years of age, passed away on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at Holdrege Memorial Homes in Holdrege, surrounded by her family. She was born Catherine Maye Clough to Earl Thomas and Euvora Ann (Wiley) Clough on August 29, 1939, in Versailles, Kentucky. She graduated from Versailles High School with the class of 1957 and then attended the University of Kentucky, where she was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority.

On December 7, 1958, she married Robert "Bob" Wade at the Christian Church in Versailles. They moved to the Wade Hereford Ranch near Elwood, Nebraska and 3 children were born: Sonia Sue, Robert Todd, and Gregory Roy.

On February 21, 1980, she married Howard Eltiste in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

In addition to being a homemaker, Kitty worked many jobs, including: the Welcome Wagon, Buffums, Orkins, Gibsons, Rice's Market, J.C. Penney's, American Greetings, and the State of Nebraska. She also owned and operated several businesses throughout her life, including: the Acorn Shop in Lexington, Ocoma Health Foods, and Ocoma Storage and Rentals in Holdrege.

She delighted in her role as a mother and grandmother and later, a great-grandmother. She was baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many callings.

Her smile and outgoing personality helped her create many friendships and acquaintances and she relished in giving small gifts to people. She was an avid genealogist, and enjoyed traveling through the hills of Kentucky to research her family. She treasured family photographs, histories, and family lore.

She loved growing flowers and in later years, especially roses. She also enjoyed hearing from her classmates from Versailles High School.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and son, Gregory Roy in 2021.

She is survived by her husband, Howard of Holdrege; daughter, Sonia Howard (Tom Tarver) of Johnson Lake, Nebraska; son, Todd (Tonia) Wade of Douglas, Nebraska; step-daughters: Michelle (Mark) Smith of Lehi, Utah; and Marie (Joel) Rodriguez of Johnson Lake; grandchildren: Monte (Amy) Brummet; Tasha (Mike) Von Kaenel; Durea (Levi) Brady; Rachel Howard; Sam Brummet; Tyler Eltiste; Alyssa (John) Brooks; Marissa Rodriguez; Christina Rodriguez; Allison Smith; Stephanie Smith; and Camile Smith; great-grandchildren: Tripp; Brenna; Miles; Stella; Tyler; Mavrick; and Juniper; and many other relatives and friends.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Catherine's honor, and kindly suggested to the family for future designation.

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.