Erma I. Deselms

Funeral Services for Erma I. Deselms will be conducted from the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Friday, July 9, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Dale Lambert, officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege, following the services.

Erma I. Deselms, 80 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Friday, July 2, 2010 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Erma was born April 18, 1930 in Orleans, Nebraska, the fourth of five children born to Louis M. and Stella L. (Gimeson) Peterson. Erma received her primary education in Orleans, and then completed her education in Selah, Washington.

On November 7, 1948, Erma was united in marriage to Rodney M. Deselms and to this union three daughters and one son were born: Ronda, Dennis, Judy and Debra. The couple made their home in Selah, Washington for a year, before returning back to Nebraska and residing at Edison for seven years. The family then moved to Holdrege, residing there all the rest of their married life except for two years living in Lexington, Nebraska.

Erma was employed during their early marriage years at Del Monte Cannery in Yakima, Washington. She was a stay at home Mom raising her children. Upon returning to working she worked at J.M. McDonalds and the Holdrege High School cafeteria. At the age of 50, Erma went to cosmetology school and owned and operated the salon within the Methodist Memorial Homes until her retirement. Rodney and Erma also owned and operated the AA Motel in Holdrege for several years.

Erma was very active with her daughters in Campfire Girls, while the girls were growing up. She and Rodney loved camping, owning their own fifth-wheel which they pulled to many camping club events through the Traildusters Club for 18 years. They were also members of the NCHA Camping Association and the Second-Chance Camping Club which was part of Good Sam Club. In recent years, they wintered in the San Juan, area of Texas.

Erma leaves to mourn her passing her husband, Rodney of 61 years; four children: Ronda Claar and her husband, Steve of Torrington, Connecticut, Dennis Deselms of Marysville, Washington, Judy Anderson of Kearney, Nebraska and Debra Giovanetti and her husband, Jeff of Greenville, South Carolina; ten grandchildren: Jeffrey Claar, Shawn Deselms, Dustin Morris, Danielle Shatto, Patrick Claar, Kayla Anderson, Kassi Anderson, Tiffini and Elicia Giovanetti, and David Anderson; four great-grandchildren: Matthew and Jacob Deselms and Brianna and Caylin Shatto; step-grandson, Andrew Ballain; sister, Lucille Dixon of Stanwood, Washington; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides her parents, Erma was preceded in death by her two brothers: Richard and Sidney Peterson and sister, Doris Alvord.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 8, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege from 5:00 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 Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home of Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.