Delilah P. Lauer

Funeral Services for Delilah P. Lauer will be conducted from the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend David Sites and Darrel Wissmann, PMA, officiating. Interment will be in the Orleans Cemetery at Orleans, Nebraska at 1:30 p.m.

Delilah Pauline Lauer, 81 years of age, of rural Holdrege, passed away on Sunday, February 7, 2010 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Delilah was born October 22, 1928 on the family farm northeast of Orleans in Harlan County, Nebraska, the third of four children born to Lee and Mabel (Carlson) Hodge. She received her primary education from District #69 in Harlan County and then attended Alma High School at Alma, Nebraska. Following her education, Delilah engaged in farming in Harlan County. She then moved to Monroe, Nebraska, where she was employed at Columbus, Nebraska until settling back to Harlan County.

On November 24, 1973, Delilah was united in marriage to Melvin L. Lauer. The couple enjoyed life together on the farm southwest of Holdrege, where Delilah worked side-by-side with Melvin. She thoroughly loved being a farmwife.

Delilah was instrumental in getting the Scandinavia Immanuel Lutheran Church moved from its original site north of Ragan, Nebraska to the Nebraska Prairie Museum at Holdrege for restoration. She also volunteered her time as the caretaker and event scheduling of the church. Delilah was a 49 year member of the Bethel Lutheran Church, where she was involved in many capacities including active with the ladies group. She was also a member of Tre Kronor and active with Lutheran Brotherhood for many years.

Delilah and Melvin treasured the friendship bonds formed through the years square dancing. She also enjoyed playing cards, tending to her garden, and was an accomplished seamstress and quilter. Delilah would often hand create more than 50 quilts per year, which she donated to many organizations and gifted a special quilt to every member in her family. She was a great cook, and loved serving family dinners.


She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Harold Leland Hodge in infancy; one sister, Lurine Richards and her husband, Oliver; and two sisters-in-law: Irene Janssen and her husband, Raymond and Jolene Lauer.

She leaves to mourn her passing her husband, Melvin of rural Holdrege; two daughters: Marsha Shriver of Holdrege and Elaine Waggoner and her husband, Jerry of York, Nebraska; two step-sons: James Lauer and his wife, Margery of Kearney, Nebraska and Norris Lauer and his wife, Naomi of Plano, Texas; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one brother, Bernard Hodge and his wife, Marilyn of Holdrege; three brothers-in-law: Bob Lauer and his wife, Jeanette, Roland Lauer and his wife, Norma all of Gothenburg, Nebraska, Willard Lauer and his wife, Audrey of Wichita, Kansas and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in Delilah's memory and will be designated at a later date.

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.