Dot Stehl

A Memorial Service for Dot Stehl will be held on Friday, November 19, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Reverend Sylvia High Karlsson officiating. A private inurnment will be in the Highland Cemetery at Bertrand, Nebraska, prior to the services.

The funeral service will be live streamed via the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Homes Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Nelson-Bauer-Funeral-Homes-111601113801622

Dorothea M. (Burkey) Stehl, 77 years of age, died on November 14, 2021 at her daughter's home near Smithfield, Nebraska. Born on December 18, 1943, on the Burkey Farm, along Turkey Creek, south of Smithfield, to Charles and June (Schrader) Burkey, she was the fourth of ten children. She attended rural schools through 8th grade, then attended and graduated from Bertrand High School with the class of 1962.

One of Dot's early jobs was for the Kitty Clover potato chip company in Omaha, Nebraska. She married Lloyd Stehl on July 21, 1963 at Hope Lutheran Church in Smithfield. They made their first home together in Lincoln, Nebraska and to this union three children were born: Kevin, Angela and Kellie. The Stehls returned to the Bertrand area in 1968, and raised their family in Phelps & Gosper County.

After all the kids were in school, she went to work at The Home Decorating Shop in Holdrege as a sales assistant. She also worked as a seamstress from home and made precise draperies. A generous and skilled hostess, she hosted more parties for family and friends than anyone could count, and if there was fun to be had, she was usually the instigator but was also happy to encourage someone else's good idea. She enjoyed setting a beautiful table, especially at Christmas, and was known for great tea parties with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  She was an avid Husker fan, but her true love in sports was the Dallas Cowboys. There were many spirited debates during and around the Thanksgiving dinner about NFL teams. She enjoyed golf, racquetball, bowling, riding bikes, and always had a craft project in process. In later years, she turned her sewing skills to making costumes for the grandchildren.

Dot was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Stehl; her parents, Charles and June Burkey; her in-laws, Reuben and Beulah Stehl; younger brother, Larry Burkey; and brothers-in-law: Bob Acker and Ron Anderson.

Survivors include: son, Kevin Stehl (Sara) of Bertrand; daughter, Angie DeFilipps (Charlie) of Smithfield; and daughter, Kellie Stehl of Holdrege; grandchildren: Dusty (Mollie) Stehl of Omaha; Shane (Leah) Wissmann of Grand Island, Nebraska; Brandon (Janelle) Stehl of Kearney, Nebraska; Skylar (Derek) Langenberg of Minden, Nebraska; Shelby Stehl and boyfriend, AJ Viter of North Platte, Nebraska; Riley Stehl and girlfriend, Maddie Wolfe of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and KC DeFilipps of Omaha. Dot's great-grandchildren brought tremendous joy to her life and include: Breelyn and Anslee Langenberg; Bennett Stehl; and Halsey Wissmann; her siblings: Roberta (Maynard) Dunse of Kearney; Susan Anderson of Solon, Iowa; Peggy Kahler (Lynn Otto) of Arapahoe, Nebraska; Bill Burkey (Jan Lindgren) of Lincoln; Marilyn (Jim) Burkholder of Loomis, Nebraska; Beverly (David) Binning of Missouri Valley, Iowa; Mary Acker of Edgerton, Missouri; and Brian Burkey of Lincoln; sister-in-law, Jan Lilyhorn (Dale) of Lees Summit, Missouri; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and a tremendous group of friends.

Memorial book signing will be held on Thursday, November 18, 2021 at the Village of Bertrand Town Hall in Bertrand, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  There will be no viewing.  The family has honored her wish for cremation.

A memorial has been established in Dot's honor and kindly suggested to the family for later 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 arrangements.