Edith Youngmark

Funeral Service for Edith M. Youngmark will be held on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Ted Carnahan officiating. Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege, with Military Honors provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the United States Army Funeral Honors Team.

Edith Marguerite Youngmark, 88 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 24, 2017 at her daughter's home in League City, Texas. Edith was born on August 14, 1928, on the family farm in Phelps County, Nebraska, Northwest of Wilcox, Nebraska, the only child born to Vernon V. and Marguerite A. (Danielson) Farm.  She received her primary education from country schools in Phelps and Harlan Counties and attended Ragan High School, graduating with the class of 1945.  Edith pursued higher education from Hastings College for one year then attended Mary-Lanning School of Nursing, graduating in 1949, as a Registered Nurse.

Edith served as a Lieutenant in the United States Army Nursing Corps during the Korean Conflict.

On January 1, 1951, Edith was united in marriage to Bernard Oscar "Ben" Youngmark at Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege.  To this union, they were blessed with 2 children:  Bradley and Laura.

Edith worked for 49 years as a Registered Nurse.  After graduation, she worked at Holdrege Brewster Hospital for 19 years until the opening of Phelps Memorial Hospital, where she served as head nurse.  She then worked as Dr. Stuart Embury's office nurse for the next 10 years until returning to Phelps Memorial Hospital where she held a variety of titles including Infection Control & Quality Assurance Coordinator, until her retirement.

Edith had a love for her rose garden, vegetable garden, and all plants.  After retirement, she became a Master Gardener and thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the Holdrege Garden Club.  In addition, she also enjoyed cooking, collecting cookbooks, reading, and traveling with her husband and later with her daughter.  Edith was actively involved with the Nebraska Nursing Association, serving an integral role of the 1950s-1960s grass-root movement to acknowledge the career of nursing, which ultimately raised wages to a more professional level.  She was honored as the Nebraska Nurse of the Year in 1969.

She was a member of Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church, serving in the Stephen Ministries and participating in other activities and Bible studies.  She loved the service projects, especially the Backpack Project. Prior, she was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church where she served on the church council board, was active with various Bible studies and church circles, and served as a Stephen Minister.  Edith volunteered with the Blood Mobile and enjoyed annual trips to her daughter's residence near Houston, Texas, volunteering in her daughter's classroom as a tutor and mentor periodically through the years after Ben's passing.

Edith had a special place in her heart for animals, especially shelter dogs, for whom she lovingly cared - including her current faithful friend, Baby.  She also cherished the time spent with her 4 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, cousins and many friends.   Being an only child, Edith's cousins felt like siblings to her.  She was also blessed by many special friendships through the years, all of whom held a special place in her heart throughout her lifetime.

Besides her husband and parents, Edith is preceded in death by her sister-in-law and brother-in-law:  Elaine and Earl Carlson; aunts, uncles, and many cousins, including Robert (Bob) Winkler and Richard (Dick) Winkler from Loomis, Alan Farm from Minden, and others from the Omaha area, Connecticut, and California.

Edith persevered through physical health hardships throughout her life, knowing that the Lord would carry her.  Her life is a testimony of faith, determination, work ethic, perseverance, prioritizing family and loved ones, and keeping an eye on the positives and on Jesus instead of obstacles.

She leaves to celebrate her life; her children:  Laura Youngmark of League City, Texas and Bradley Youngmark and his wife, Patricia of Abilene, Kansas; four grandchildren:  Jennifer Winters and her boyfriend, Mike Broman of Kearney, Nebraska, Kimberly Peters and her husband, Christian of Omaha, Nebraska, Brooks Youngmark and Benjamin Youngmark both of Abilene; four great-grandchildren:  Hannah, Jacob and Abigail Winters of Kearney and Emilia Peters of Omaha; along with a nephew, other cousins, and many beloved friends.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 31, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Edith's honor and kindly suggested the Bernard & Edith Youngmark Scholarship Fund for Nursing & Law Enforcement, c/o the Phelps County Community Foundation or to the Spirit of Grace Lutheran Church in Holdrege.

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.