Elizabeth Claussen

Memorial Services for Elizabeth "Luby" Claussen will be conducted from the Landreth-Popkess Funeral Home in Axtell, Kansas on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Art Rathburn, officiating.

Private family inurnment will be held at the Rosebud Cemetery at Glenwood Springs, Colorado at a later date.

Elizabeth "Luby" Claussen, 95 years of age, of Holdrege, Nebraska (formerly of Summerfield, Kansas), passed away on Friday, October 28, 2011 at the Christian Homes Care Community at Holdrege. She was born January 2, 1916 in Gallatin, Missouri, the eldest of three children born to Frank and Blanche (Thompson) Smith. She was baptized on February 6, 1916 by her maternal grandfather, Reverend W.N. Nickell. The family moved from Missouri and settled to Carbondale, Colorado when she was very young. The family ranch was located on a bend of the Colorado River near Carbondale.

After graduation from Carbondale High School, she was united in marriage to William "Bill" Claussen on May 19, 1934. They paid for a honeymoon trip over the mountain passes to Denver by selling a load of potatoes, which was a wedding present from Bill's father who raised and sold potatoes to restaurants in New York. To this union six children were born: Betty who died at age 4, Hilton, Judy, MaryAnn, Edward, and Fritz. Bill managed the Crystal River Cattle Ranch on the mesa and Luby took over the cooking for the crew. She became quite noted for her cooking skills.

Luby and Bill moved to Scotland, South Dakota, where Bill managed the Jim River Ranch. In the late forties they moved to Defiance, Iowa, managing and farming a 750 acre farm and raised hogs and cattle. They moved to Summerfield, Kansas in 1964 and ran the Bar2Ranch, a 4,000 acre cow/calf ranch. Luby later worked for the Campbell's Soup Co., retiring after Bill passed away in March of 1979.


Later, Luby enjoyed the company of special friend, Martin Reigel of Summerfield. They enjoyed traveling together during the winters, first to California, then to Texas, leaving the cold behind and enjoying the many friendships that were formed being snow birds. During the summer they traveled, spent time with their family and enjoyed fishing. Always catching much bigger fish than everyone else! Luby caught a huge 32 pound catfish at the river in Kansas, reeling the fish in with Martin coming to her rescue.

Luby had a total green thumb and enjoyed her flower garden for many years. If she planted it, it grew!

Besides her parents, husband, Bill and her daughter, Betty; she was preceded in death by brother-in-law, Fred Downey; daughter-in-law, Terry Claussen; and son-in-law, Elmer LeRoy Doyel.

She is survived by her five children: Hilton Claussen of Washington, Nebraska, Judy Doyel of Horace, North Dakota (formerly of Newell, Iowa), MaryAnn Kienast and her husband, Allen of Lawson, Missouri, Edward Claussen of Holdrege, and Fritz Claussen and his wife, Debbie of Minden, Nebraska; 11 grandchildren: Kurt Claussen and his wife, Cristen, Kevin Claussen and his wife, Dava, Wade Claussen, Clint Claussen, Lisa Schafer and her husband, John, Scott Kienast and his wife, Marilyn, Rhonda Smith and her husband, Roger, Rodney Doyel and his wife, Leila, Todd Doyel and his wife, Kim, Laura Lynne Hartman and her husband, Mark, and Wendy Bernier and her husband, Michael; 17 great-grandchildren: Kailey and Cory, Jonan, Dillon, and Benjamin Claussen, Drew, Lauren, and Ella Shafer, Mackinzie and Kayla Kienast, Daniel and Denny Smith, Chrissie Hartman, Jennifer Hoffard, Maximillian and Samson Bernier and Harley Doyel; 4 great-great grandchildren: Cole and Caleigh Hoffard, Cecillia and Chloe Gonzales; brother, Robert Smith and his wife, Eumeta "Mike" of Longmont, Colorado; sister, Mildred Downey of Grand Junction, Colorado and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

There will be no visitation, the family is honoring Luby's request for cremation.

A memorial has been established in her memory and may be directed to: Judy Doyel, 9702 Robin Rd., Horace, ND 59047.

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.