Geraldine I Richards

Funeral Services for Geraldine I. Richards will be held on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Scott Guthrie officiating.  Interment will follow at the Alma Cemetery in Alma, Nebraska.

Geraldine Isabelle "Gerry" Richards, 96 years of age, of Alma, died on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society-Colonial Villa in Alma.  Gerry was born October 5, 1919, in Frontier County southeast of Stockville, Nebraska, the third of fifteen children born to Omer Kem and Maude Mae (Urling) Guthrie.  She received her education from the Pleasant View rural school district in Frontier County through the 8 ^th grade.  She worked and helped several families in their homes and enjoyed 4-H work and projects.  At the age of 16, Gerry made the decision to have the Lord in her life and remained a devoted Christian.

She later moved to Holdrege and was employed at the Phelps County Creamery.  On June 30, 1940, Gerry was united in marriage to Millard Earl Covey at the United Methodist parsonage in Curtis, Nebraska.  The couple lived in Holdrege until the spring of 1941, when they moved to a farm southwest of Ragan, Nebraska.  They moved to a farm northwest of Republican City, Nebraska until their retirement in 1970.  Millard preceded her in death on December 26, 1972 as a result of a tragic farm accident.  After Millard's passing, she moved to Alma and was employed at Bugbee's Café.

On October 20, 1974, Gerry was united in marriage to Leland M. Richards in Kearney, Nebraska.  The couple enjoyed traveling together and spent many winters in Tuscan, Arizona.  Leland preceded her in death on November 26, 1994. In June of 2004, she moved to Prairie View Gardens in Kearney. In July of 2015, she began to make her home at the Villa.

Gerry was devoted to her family and was a compassionate caregiver.  She wasn't blessed with children of her own, but became a second mom to her sister, Alpha's children when she was stricken with Polio.  She also cared for her parents until their deaths.

Geraldine was a member of the Alma Evangelical Free Church, now Lakeside Fellowship.  She was active in the Ladies Missionary Group, taught Sunday school and Bible school and regularly attended the Adult Sunday school.

Geraldine enjoyed being around people and listening to their life stories.  She possessed a quick wit, great sense of humor and zest for life, which kept her strong for 96 years.

Besides her two husbands:  Millard and Leland, she was preceded in death by; siblings:  LaVerne Guthrie and wife, Barbara, Alberta Covey and husband, Albert, Garnett Covey and husband, Donald, Alpha Fries and husband, Wayne, Omer Guthrie and wife, Wanda, Harold Guthrie and Myrna Guthrie; brothers-in-law: Neal Carlson, Clarence "Bud" Rogers, Leroy Maxwell and Wayne Fries; and sister-in-law, Almeda Lonn and her husband, Roy.

She leaves to celebrate her life; three sisters:  Florence Maxwell of Denver, Colorado, Thelma Soderberg and her husband, Vern of Northglenn, Colorado and Eleanor Rogers of Holbrook, Nebraska; four brothers: Jack Guthrie and his wife, Carol of Kearney, Wayne Guthrie and his wife, Janice of Alma, Cecil Guthrie and his wife, Donna of Holdrege and Dale Guthrie and his wife, Lou Ann of Ragan; sister-in-law, Linda Guthrie of Hastings, Nebraska; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 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.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

A memorial has been established in Geraldine's honor and will be designated at a later date.

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.