Rebecca L. "Becki" Krieger

Rebecca L. "Becki" Krieger

Rebecca Lynn "Becki" Krieger, age 61, of Atkinson, passed away, Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha.

Visitation was held on Friday, March 9, 2012, from 3-8 p.m. with a 7 p.m. prayer service at the Seger Funeral Home in Atkinson.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 10, 2012, at the United Methodist Church in Atkinson with Pastor Chris Gudgel, Jim Statler and Rev. Bonnie Forney officiating. Music was provided by Kylie Krieger and Chris Gudgel, singers and Rossanne Schilz, organist.

Pallbearers were Rick Smith, Verdon Smith, Bob Krieger, Larry Bridger, Tim Williams and Don Clemens.

Honorary pallbearers were all of Becki's family and friends.

Burial was in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Atkinson.

Seger Funeral Home in Atkinson was in charge of arrangements.

Rebecca Lynn (Jonas) Krieger was born on March 14, 1950, in Atkinson, to Robert and Lola (Carr) Jonas. She was raised on the family ranch southwest of Atkinson. Rebecca's education began in a one room country school, District #143 (K through 8th grade). She went to Atkinson Public High School graduating with the first class of West Holt High School (Class of 1968), but was the last class to walk across the stage of the old high school. They were the orange and black Balers and became the mighty Huskies, the blue and gold. The Class of 1968 was the class that voted on the name and colors of the new school.

She was married to Kenneth Krieger on June 8, 1968,  to this union two children were born.

She lived in or around Atkinson for most of her life. When her husband was in the Army they lived in Junction City, KS, Lawton, OK, and Fort Sill. She lived in Grand Island for one year while she attended beauty school.  

Rebecca was a woman with a strong work ethic and was a diligent worker. She worked hard her whole life. She managed the family dairy farm several years, while her children were growing up, allowing her to be a stay at home mother. She  also worked as a ranch hand and was a day care provider at Happy Face Day Care. She had fabulous culinary skills and used her talent while working at the West Holt Memorial Hospital in the dietary department, Down Home Restaurant, the Senior Center and managed the Stockman Cafe. 

She often said that she went to the school of hard knocks.....'when life knocks you down, you need to pick yourself up, dust off your pants and try again until you succeed.' She never met a stranger who did not soon become a friend.

Rebecca was a woman of strong faith and a big heart, always willing to give of herself to others. Regardless of circumstances or situations she could always reference scripture to find solace. She was always eager to share her faith and found time for fellowship with others. She taught Sunday school classes at the United Methodist Church in Atkinson for many years. She shared the wisdom of her life experience with her children, grandchildren, family and friends.

Rebecca enjoyed writing and attended a journalism class. She wrote several short stories and always dreamed of getting her life story published in a book.  She was a regular contributor of the "Bits by Becki" to the Wesley-Jonas newsletter. She traced the family genealogy back several generations. 

She found great joy in sewing and made many quilts for her family and friends. She placed a "Made with Tender Loving Care by Nebraska Sunshine" tag and used a signature zig zag stitch to finish the edge. You know that you are loved if you are an owner of one of her quilts. 

She loved spending time in her garden and canning the fruits of her labor. She mastered the art of making Grandma's dill pickles. Rebecca taught her children and grandchildren how to make sauerkraut, using the family's 100 plus year old kraut cutter. Nothing gave her more joy than to share her canning and fruits of her garden with her neighbors, family and friends. Rebecca loved spending time with her family and friends and cherished the time spent with her grandchildren.

Rebecca was a breast cancer survivor. She fought long and hard with liver disease with the hopes of getting a liver transplant. She went to live with her Heavenly Father on March 6.

Rebecca is survived by her children: Staci Krieger of Denver, CO, and Korby Krieger and wife, Nikki of Atkinson; grandchildren: Kylie, Alyssa, Cody and Carleigh Krieger; her mother, Lola Jonas of Atkinson; siblings: Ronald Jonas of Atkinson; Barbara and husband Royce Stout of Bassett, and Peggy Tejral of Atkinson; her ex-husband, Kenneth Krieger of O'Neill; sisters and brother-in-love: Leona and Rick Smith of Lincoln, Mary Dustako of Atkinson, and Bob Krieger of Wakefield; aunt, Ruth and husband, Randy Brummels of Norfolk; uncle, Don and wife, Mary of Marysville; nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, many cousins and special lifetime friends.

She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Jonas; uncles, Wallace Carr and Andy Carr; aunts, Rita Pantano and Imo Atkins-Scheidt; grandmothers, Pearl Hager Carr Pariso and Nettie Prettyman Jonas; grandfathers,  Robert Carr and Charles Jonas; mother and father-in-love, Emmanuel and Neoma (Crawford) Krieger; brothers-in-love, Bryan and Jerry Krieger.