Elna M Nyberg

Memorial Services for Elna M. Nyberg will be conducted from the Christian Homes Care Community Chapel in Holdrege, Nebraska on Friday, February 25, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. with Mr. Wayne Carlson and Pastor Murray Jones, officiating. Private Family Interment will be held in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege prior to the memorial service.

Elna Martina Nyberg, 94 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. She was born September 10, 1916 at Hordville, Nebraska, the third of five children born to John Emil and Mary (Swenson) Stranberg. Elna was confirmed on April 5, 1931 at the Mamre Evangelical Free Church at Hordville. She received her education from District #94 in Hamilton County, Nebraska near Hordville. Following her education, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska in 1934, where she began her employment as a Nanny in a private home. She accepted the Lord as her personal savior in the early teens. She was baptized on July 31, 1936 in the Platte River near Hordville.

On August 15, 1936, she was united in marriage to Edwin Oscar "Ed" Nyberg at her parent's farm near Hordville by Reverend Paul Carlson. To this union five children were born: Larry, Daryl, Dennis, Ardell and Robert. The family made their home in Polk County until 1956 at which time they moved to Holdrege, where Ed became the Farm Manager at Christian Homes. Following retirement in 1984, the couple moved to 716 Sheridan Street until 2000 when they moved to Chrisoma Villa. Ed passed away on November 7, 2003.

Elna was very active in the Evangelical Free Church in Polk, Nebraska, where she taught Sunday school, enjoyed Women's Missionary Society, sang and directed the church choir, played the piano for Sunday school and later for the church services. In the years to come, the church purchased a Spinet Organ which she taught herself to play. And that was when her organ ministry began. Throughout the years, Elna played for nearly 1000 services that consisted of weddings, funerals and special occasions.

They transferred their membership to the Trinity Evangelical Free Church on Hancock Street in Holdrege, where she continued to play for services. When the new church was built on 18th Street she continued her organ ministry, retiring in 2001 after 45 years.

Throughout the years, Elna was employed by several area businesses. In her retirement years, she was employed as a Visitation Hostess at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home for over ten years, retiring in 2005. She then continued to volunteer and give of her time at the Christian Homes Care Community.

Besides her parents and husband, Ed, Elna was preceded in death by two sons: Dennis in 1978, Daryl in 2010; one great-great grandson, Aiden; two brothers: Alvin Stranberg and his wife, Rose Marie and Arvid Stranberg and his wife, Edna; one sister, Elvira Nyberg and her husband, Rudolph; three brothers-in-law: Philip Nyberg and his wife, Violet, Henry Nyberg, and Leonard Nyberg; and sister-in-law, Helen Nyberg.

She leaves to mourn her passing her three children: Larry Nyberg and his wife, Julie of Loomis, Nebraska, Robert Nyberg and his wife, Carrie of Seward, Nebraska, Ardell Day and her husband, Ron of Land O Lakes, Florida; daughters-in-law: DeLane Nyberg of York, Nebraska and Carol Wagner of Chestertown, Maryland; 10 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; brother, Vincent Stranberg and his wife, Marilyn of Flower Mound, Texas; sisters-in-law: Eldora Nelson and LaVerna Nyberg both of Rockford, Illinois and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 24, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in her memory and kindly suggested to the Christian Homes Care Community-Chapel Fund.

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.