Dolores "Dee" M Van Marter

Celebration of Life Services for Dolores M. "Dee" Van Marter will be held at the First Presbyterian Church Holdrege, Nebraska on Monday, January 26, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr. officiating. Private family inurnment will be held prior to services at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

Dolores Mae "Dee" Van Marter, 85 years of age of Holdrege, lost her two year battle with cancer on Monday, January 19, 2015 at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. She was born on October 13, 1929 at Long Beach, California to Walter and Edna (Butcher) Benner and the family moved to Holdrege in 1935, when her father was hired by Tri County. Dee graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1947. She then pursued higher education at the Colorado Women's College in Denver, Colorado and following graduation she taught school in Grand Island.

In 1949, she was united in marriage to James E. Van Marter and to this union two sons were born: James W. and David C. The family made their home in Kearney, Beaver City, and Sargent, Nebraska and since 1957 they made their home in Holdrege. Dee was employed at the First National Bank of Holdrege for 29 years and was an officer at the time of her retirement in December of 1991.

Dee was a loyal member of the First Presbyterian Church, where she served as Ruling Elder; President of the Women's Association and was a long-time member of the Chancel Choir. She belonged to Chapter HM, P.E.O., where she served as past President and was also a fifty plus year member of Eastern Star Concordia Chapter #97. Dee was very active in her community and was a board member of the Holdrege Community Concert Association. She also enjoyed her volunteer services to Nebraska Prairie Museum, Meals-On-Wheels, Red Cross Blood Mobile, Holdrege Memorial Homes, Friends of the Library and Holdrege Day Care when it was at the Washington School.

Besides her parents; Dee was preceded in death by her son, James W. Van Marter and brother, Gary who died in infancy.

She leaves to mourn her passing; her husband of 65 years, Jim Van Marter of Holdrege; her son, Dave Van Marter of Orlando, Florida; daughter-in-law, Valerie Van Marter of Amarillo, Texas; two granddaughters: Christine Bateman and her husband, Ryan of Bellevue, Washington and Melody Faghih and her husband, Jason of San Antonio, Texas; four great-grandchildren: Lyla and Kyler Bateman and Avery and Parker Faghih; two sisters-in-law: Betsy Gibbs of Lake St. Louis, Missouri and Nancy Garthwaite of Havertown, Pennsylvania; and cousins, nieces and nephews in Canada, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Arizona, California and Missouri.

There will be no visitation as the family is honoring Dee's wish for cremation.

A memorial has been established in Dee's honor and kindly suggested to the First Presbyterian Church or donor's choice.

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.