Lawrence S Huffman

Celebration of Life Services for Lawrence S. Huffman will be held on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Axtell, Nebraska with Pastor Gale Dorn officiating.  At the conclusion of the services military honors will be provided by the Minden/Axtell American Legion Post #94 and V.F.W. at the church.  Private family inurnment will be held at a later date in the Walks Camp Lutheran Church Cemetery near Limon, Colorado.

Lawrence Sylvan Huffman, 85 years of age, of Axtell, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, February 5, 2015 at CHI Health Good Samaritan in Kearney, Nebraska.  Lawrence was born August 3, 1929 on the family farm twenty miles north of Limon, Colorado to Sylvan and Lena (Tull) Huffman.  The first of five children, he was joined by sisters:  Delores and Karen and brothers:  William and Lowell.  In 1941 the family moved to Limon, where he graduated from Limon High School with the class of 1947.  He then pursued higher education at Colorado A & M in Ft. Collins.

On April 16, 1951 he was inducted into the United States Army, where he served honorably in the Korean War as an Artillery Repairman, PFC E-3 of the Second Cavalry, until his honorable discharge on January 15, 1953.  He then continued to serve in the Enlisted Reserve Corp and was very proud of his service to his country.

On December 25, 1953, he was united in marriage to Iola Ruth Norbye twelve miles south of Last Chance, Colorado at the Norbye family farm.  Lawrence and Iola were married over 61 years and to this union they were blessed with four children:  Olaf Steven in 1954, Tina Ingrid in 1955, Lawrence Stanley in 1957 and Cynthia Mae in 1959.

The couple spent the early years of their married life in Limon until they moved in 1962 to Axtell, where they made their home until the present day.  Lawrence was most proud of his children and grandchildren and faithfully attended their sporting events, school programs and birthday parties.  The walls of his office were covered with assorted pictures and news clippings of their lives.  He held many positions but was especially proud of his Custom Harvest Crew, Huffman Land Leveling, Axtell Agricultural Service, Hildreth Building Corporation, Big H Products and Huffman Trucking.  He was a true entrepreneur.

Some of his favorite past times included:  fishing and boating, swapping stories with his grandkids, Civil War history and researching family genealogy.  His community and many young boys benefited greatly during the 60's and 70's when he was a very dedicated Troop Leader for the Boy Scouts of America.  In the late 60's, Lawrence's troop won the statewide Jamboree for most organized and skilled scout troop.  He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church of Axtell, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Axtell Lions Club, Hildreth Lions Club and hosted yearly the Hildreth National Tractor Pull, which brought much attention and industry to the tiny Midwest town, attracting coverage by ESPN in the final years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant brother, William Lloyd, brothers-in-law:  Peder Norbye and Bob Miller, nephews:  Bill Miller and Ray Cash, Jr. and infant granddaughter, Lena Janae Huffman.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Iola Huffman of their home in Axtell; two sons:  Oly Huffman and his wife, Tresa and Stan Huffman and his wife, Kristin all of Axtell; two daughters:  Tina Landen and her husband, Mike of Alma, Nebraska and Cindy Boehler of Alma and JJ Boehler of Orleans, Nebraska; 13 grandchildren:  Brady Nyberg, Kerry Boehler, Jeff Landen and his wife, Danielle, Jessica Miller and her husband, Adam, Melissa Bucher and her husband, Ryan, Jenny Boehler, Matthew Huffman, Bryan Landen, Joseph Boehler and special friend, Cassi Johnson, James Huffman and special friend, Bryce Anne Bell, Max Boehler and special friend, Alexa Whipple, Burke Boehler and Milena Huffman; bonus grandchildren:  Sean Deegan, Mike Deegan, Beth Seyfert and Trevor Popple; six great-grandchildren:  Isabella and Cord Landen, Braylin Pettit, Alexa and Owen Miller, Sophie Landen and Jackson Bucher; bonus great-grandchildren:  Rayn, Makyah, and Kaydence Johnson; siblings:  Delores Miller of Arvada, Colorado, Lowell Huffman and his wife, Linda of Strasburg, Colorado and Karen Hogan and her husband, Butch of Lusk, Wyoming; sisters-in-law:  Selma Cash and her husband, Ray Sr. of Aurora, Colorado, Olivia Parker and her husband, Warren of Ft. Morgan, Colorado, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many, many friends.

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There will be no visitation, the family is honoring Lawrence's wish for cremation.

A memorial has been established in Lawrence's honor and will be distributed equally to St. Jude's Children's Hospital and the Special Olympics.

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

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