Rubie C. Houlden

Memorial Services for Rubie C. Houlden will be conducted from the Faith Lutheran Church at 9th and Chestnut in Hastings, Nebraska on Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Paul Dunbar, officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date in the Westlawn Cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska.

Rubie Clara Houlden, 79 years of age, of Hastings, Nebraska (formerly of Elwood, Nebraska), passed away on Thursday, September 13, 2007 at the Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital of Hastings. Rubie was born October 6, 1927 at Wausa, Nebraska, the youngest of six children of Emil G. and Clara A. (Hassel) Johnson. Rubie received her education from Holdrege, graduating from Holdrege High School with the class of 1946. Following her education, Rubie was united in marriage to Carl O'Grady in 1947 and to this union two children were born: Judith Ann and Joseph Standish.

On April 29, 1961 Rubie was united in marriage to Clyde J. Houlden Jr. This marriage extended the family with an additional four children: Shera, Brad, Tim and Scott. The family made their home in Elwood and in 1965, they relocated to Omaha, Nebraska to be near their son, Scotty who was attending the Nebraska School of the Deaf. While in Omaha, Rubie was employed for 30 years by the State of Nebraska-Department of Education as the secretary of the Nebraska School for the Deaf until her retirement in 1992. Following retirement, the couple enjoyed their retirement years in Elwood, Nebraska.

Rubie enjoyed entertaining their family and friends, cooking, putting puzzles together, playing cards and tending to the washing and ironing. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde on September 7, 2003 and following Clyde's passing Rubie made her home in Hastings, Nebraska. She was a past member of the Eagle's Auxiliary in Omaha and loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She leaves to mourn her passing her two daughters: Sherry Easterday and her husband, Gene of Eustis, Nebraska, Judy Bunger and her husband, Michael of Hildreth, Nebraska; three sons: Joe O'Grady and his wife, Kim of Blair, Nebraska; Brad Houlden and his wife, Shirley of Cambridge, Nebraska and Tim Houlden and his wife, Barb of Omaha; 21 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law, Dean Houlden and his wife, Elaine of Elwood; two sisters-in-law: Berdina Houlden of Elwood and Barbara Holloway and her husband, Dave of Virginia; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Besides her husband, Clyde she was preceded in death by one son, Scotty Houlden; sister, Alice Martin and her husband, George; one brother, Larry Johnson and his wife, Irene; three sisters: Jean Sundquist and her husband, Merrill, Viola Gardine and her husband, Earl and Irene Anderson and her husband, Gilbert; sister-in-law, Doris Moncrief and brother-in-law, Melvin Houlden.

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

A memorial has been established in her memory.

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.