Raymond A Palmer

Funeral Services for Raymond A. Palmer will be conducted from the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Friday, February 17, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. with Reverend Dale Lambert, officiating. Interment will be in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

Raymond Allen Palmer, 104 years of age, of rural Elm Creek, Nebraska, passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at the Christian Homes Care Community at Holdrege. Raymond was born near Elm Creek in the Cottonwood Township in Phelps County, Nebraska on November 20, 1907, the eldest of eleven children born to Robert Allen and Bessie (Johnson) Palmer. He received his primary education at the rural Phelps County School Dist. #52 and then graduated from Elm Creek High School with the class of 1925.

After high school, Raymond continued to help his parents on the farm. He would often say, "He remembers spending ten hours a day hoeing." They picked the corn by hand and hauled it to the elevator 50 bushels at a time in a wagon pulled by horses in a half a day. In 1928 his father bought the present farm site where Raymond lived his adult life. He purchased his first tractor in 1935. The owner of Phelps County's second irrigation well, he used ditches, not pipe, to irrigate starting in 1935. In 1935, Raymond began feeding cattle, work that he continued until he was 95 years of age. He celebrated his 100th birthday still living on his farm.

His life was shaped by pioneer farming ancestors, so he practiced hard work and thrift enhanced by the Great Depression as well as motivation to forge ahead. His life saw many changes and he inspired family and friends to use their educations and seek a better life of independence.

On April 25, 1940, Raymond was united in marriage to Verna Larson and they established their home three miles east of the home place in the Cottonwood Township in Phelps County. Verna passed away on January 6, 1978.

On May 19, 1979, Raymond was married to Helen E. Duncan and they continued to live on the same farm. Raymond and Helen loved to attend weekly dances in Holdrege, Miller, Nebraska, as well as across the State of Nebraska. They enjoyed life on the farm together, working side-by-side. He was preceded in death by Helen on February 20, 2002.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege and was also a past member of the Phelps County Farm Bureau.

Besides his parents, and his two wives, Raymond was preceded in death by his siblings: Leslie, Addison, Ida, Harry, Geneva "Jack", Lucille, Paige and Mason.

Raymond is survived by his two sisters: Goldie Hermsmeyer of Amarillo, Texas and Delphine Hilty of Orangeville, California; step-daughter, Gail Perdue of Kearney, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, friends and neighbors.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory and kindly suggested to the Phelps County Senior Center or Christian Homes Care Community.

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.