Florence Onken

Florence Onken, age 96, of Aurora, died Monday, April 21, 2008, at the Hamilton Manor.

Funeral Services will be held 10:30 A.M. Friday, April 25th at the Assembly of God Church in Aurora. Revs. Jim Garfield and Sam Fox will officiate. Interment will be in Parkview Cemetery in Hastings at 2:00 P.M. Visitation will be from 5 P.M. to 8 P.M. Thursday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: FLORENCE ONKEN

Florence C. Onken, the daughter of William H. and Harriet Dora (Sanders) Meester, was born in Clay County, Nebraska on July 28, 1911 and died in Aurora, Nebraska on April 21, 2008, at the age of 96.

She grew up in Deweese and attended school through the 8th grade.

On April 29, 1930, Florence was united in marriage to Russell E. Onken. During their early years of marriage they lived in Deshler, Fairbury and then moved to a farm east of Glenvil in 1943 and years later moved to a farm northeast of Aurora. When the children were grown, Florence baby sat for a family in Aurora and then worked for J.C Penny’s, which became Parker’s Clothing until they closed. She then went to work for Gambles until the owners retired. They moved to Hastings in 1973, where they took care of Russell’s parents. They moved back to Aurora in 1997. Russell passed away on November 18, 2004.

Florence belonged to the Extension Club and Christian Church Ladies Aid, when she was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, four sisters and two brothers.

Those left to cherish her memory are her three daughters, Evelyn (Ervin) Bamesberger of Aurora, Rachel (Robert) Scott of Arvada, Colorado and DeEtta (Dallas) Amend of Fountain Hills, Arizona; half-brother, William Meester of West Virginia; 7 grandchildren, David Bamesberger of Naples, Florida, Denese Callen of Livermore, California, Kevin Lawrey of Fort Morgan, Colorado, Tami Fiedler of Grand Island, Nebraska, Traci Raber of Grand Island, Nebraska, Michael Amend of Seattle, Washington and Russell Amend of South Riding, Virginia; 13 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews