Ted R Wells

Funeral Services for Ted R. Wells will be held on Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Gale Dorn and Pastor David Evenson, officiating. Private family inurnment will be held at a later date at Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

Ted Ray Wells, 72 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away after a valiant fight against cancer on Thursday, February 24, 2011 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. He was born on July 25, 1938 at Holdrege, the eldest of four children born to Harley James and Clara Elizabeth (Swanson) Wells. He received his primary education for the first three grades from Lincoln Elementary in Holdrege and then from School District #25 through the eighth grade. Ted then graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1956.

On May 3, 1958, he was united in marriage to Arlis Marie Bergman at the Bethel Lutheran Church in Holdrege and to this union four children were born: Michael James, Wendy Lou, James Harley and Jarold Lee. After their marriage, Ted farmed with his father and the family lived in the little house on Harley's farm north of Holdrege. In 1962, the family moved to the old Merryman place north of Axtell that Ted's great-grandfather, Nelse Merryman, homesteaded about 1886. Ted's grandmother, Florence Merryman Wells, was born in the house. In 1974, Ted and Arlis built a new house 5 miles north and 1 ½ miles east of Funk. In the Summer of 1996, Ted and Arlis began to make their home in Holdrege. After retirement from farming, Ted did area trucking and most recently for Schemper Custom Harvesting.

Ted attended the Trinity Lutheran Church in Axtell. He was also a member of the Eagles, Elks Lodge, on the Funk Co-op Board, and was instrumental in forming the Phelps County Corn Growers Association, and served as past president. Ted was an avid sportsman, had a quick wit and always had a joke to share with family and friends. He was always concerned about others before himself, especially the care of his children and grandchildren.

Besides his parents, Ted was preceded in death by a nephew, Tad Dossett; and sister-in-law, Helen Emmitt.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife Arlis of 52 years; four children: Mike Wells of Kearney, Nebraska, Wendy Larson and her husband, Jim of Funk, and Jim Wells and Jerry Wells both of Lincoln, Nebraska; six grandchildren: Dustin, Jamie and Jordan Larson, Chaela, Alex and Jesse Wells; one sister, Betty Lou Dossett and her husband, Ted of Holdrege; two brothers: Fred Wells of Thornton, Colorado and David Wells and his wife, Candy of Holdrege; two sisters-in-law: Anne Sandin and her husband, Bud of Lincoln and Allene Soshea and her husband, Dick of Snohomish, Washington; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 28, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his name 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 in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.