Edith E. Weller

Edith E. Weller, age 94, of O'Neill, passed away Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, at the Golden LivingCenter in O'Neill.

Funeral services were held on Friday, Jan. 18, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Faith Community Church in O'Neill with Pastors Paul Harder and Steve Randolph officiating. Music was provided by pianist, Lynn Garwood and soloist, Joe Liscano.

Pallbearers were Phil Lorenz, Rick Lorenz, Derek Weller, Grant Weller, Mike Buller and Zane Young.

Burial was in the Chambers Cemetery in Chambers.

Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill was in charge of arrangements.

Edith Evelyn was born on June 14, 1918, at home near Ballagh to Robert Adair Ballagh, Jr. and Harriet Emlin (Gumb) Ballagh. She grew up on the family ranch with a sister, Esther and two brothers, Glen and Gordon.

After graduating from Burwell High School in the spring of 1936, she got her teaching career off to a quick start by teaching that fall at the Scafe School. The following year she began teaching at the Cedar Valley School. She would take her Dad's car or her brother Gordon's horse to get to school.

At a Thanksgiving in 1937 she shared a pie with a hired man that worked for the Shipman family, Kenneth Weller. In 1939 she and her brother Gordon visited the Wellers in Missouri and Edith received a ring from Kenneth.

Edith and Kenneth were married at her parents home near Ballagh on Aug. 11, 1940. Following the wedding they returned to Missouri where Kenneth taught at schools in Gallatin and Urich, MO. During this time Edith took some college classes and their first child, Larue, was born while they were in Urich in 1942.

In 1943 they returned to Nebraska and worked for Edith's dad on his ranch between Chambers and Burwell. Their second child, Ledean, joined the family in 1945. In August of 1945 they moved to O'Fallon, IL, were Kenneth taught school.

In 1948 the family moved back to Nebraska where they rented a small farm. Edith taught at several rural schools including the Worden and Ballagh schools. Their third child, Earl was born in 1956.

In the fall of 1956, following a farm auction, the family moved to Oto, Iowa where Kenneth taught in the local high school. In 1957 they returned to Nebraska where Kenneth became superintendent at Chambers and Edith taught at the Alderson and Martha schools. She took a leave from teaching in January of 1960 to take care of her mother until her passing in May of 1960. The next three years she taught at the Harkins School before the family moved to Craig where she taught in her first "town school."

Throughout her teaching career she had attended college during the summers in Missouri and at Kearney and Wayne. After two years of teaching at Craig she resumed her college education at Dana College in Blair and graduated with a bachelors of science degree in 1967.

In the fall of 1967 the family moved to Ponca. Edith taught at Jackson, a small town near Ponca. In 1972 they moved to O'Neill and she continued teaching at Harkins, Meek and Opportunity schools until 1987. She also substituted at the Word of Life and O'Neill Public schools.

Edith taught 38 years, mostly in rural one-room schoolhouses during a career spanning from the 1930's through the late 1980's. Larue and Earl were among the estimated 500 students that she taught.

She was an industrious person working hard with Kenneth to help provide for the family. In addition to teaching and caring for the family, she kept busy with gardening, canning, freezing, making homemade soap and sewing clothing for the family.

Edith enjoyed quilting, knitting and crocheting her entire life, teaching many along the way. She made quilts for all of her children and grandchildren over the years. She loved playing various board games including checkers and caroms and could also play the piano.

She accepted Christ as her personal Savior at age 16 and was later baptized at the Memorial Baptist Church in Chambers.

Edith is survived by a daughter, Larue and husband, Gordon Lorenz of O'Neill; two sons, Ledean and wife, Carolyn Weller of N. Newton KS, and Earl and wife, Heidi Weller of Burnsville, MN; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, friends and former students.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth; one sister, Esther Knight; two brothers, Glenn and Gordon Ballagh.