Doris E Renken

Funeral Services for Doris E. Renken will be conducted from the Hope Lutheran Church in rural Smithfield, Nebraska on Thursday, April 8, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Cathi Braasch, officiating. Interment will be in the Hope Lutheran Cemetery in Gosper County, Nebraska.

Doris Hilma Elaine Renken, 88 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska (formerly of rural Smithfield) passed away on Sunday, April 4, 2010 at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege. Doris was born March 22, 1922 on the family farm northeast of Bertrand in Phelps County, Nebraska, the eighth of ten children born to John Godtfred "J.G." and Hilma Caroline (Peterson) Broberg. She was baptized and confirmed from the Westmark Evangelical Free Church north of Loomis. She received her primary education from Phelps County District #69 School and then graduated from Bertrand High School with the class of 1939.

On September 24, 1940 she was united in marriage to Elmer Fred Henry Renken at the Westmark Evangelical Free Church north of Loomis, Nebraska. To this union three children were born: Douglas, Rogene, and Dale. The family made home on the farm northwest of Bertrand. Doris' focus was raising her children and assisting Elmer on the family farm. During the winters, Doris and Elmer would work together providing wallpapering and painting throughout the area for over 35 years. In June of 1998, she was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer. In 1999, Doris moved to Holdrege. In 2006, she began to make her home at the Christian Homes Care Community, where she resided until her passing.

She was a member of the Hope Lutheran Church, where she was active through the years teaching Sunday school, quilting and involved with the Lutheran Women's Organization. Doris will be remembered for her talent of cooking and baking. She enjoyed dancing, and gardening, especially tending to her vegetable and flower garden.

Doris leaves to mourn her passing her daughter, Rogene Harris of Holdrege; two sons: Douglas Renken and his wife, Beverly and Dale Renken and his wife, Alice all of Omaha, Nebraska; 11 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; two sisters: Ruth Johnson of Springfield, Missouri and Beverly Duff of Grand Prairie, Texas; three sisters-in-law: Ruth Renken of Smithfield, Evelyn Lundeen of Kearney, and Faye Broberg of Kearney; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Besides her husband and parents, Doris was preceded in death by one grandson in infancy; son-in-law, Don Harris in 2001; four brothers: Lawrence and his wife, Lucille, Quinton and his wife, Marna, Welton and Dean Broberg and his wife, Carol; three sisters: Betty Canada, Lenore Brokaw and a sister in infancy; four brothers-in-law: Paul Johnson, Carrol Duff, Emil Renken and Arnold Lundeen.

Visitation will be held at the Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 from 1:00 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 her 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 Sandstrom Funeral Home in Bertrand is in charge of the arrangements.