Esther Loraine (Meints) Huls Parde Obituary (1932 - 2013)

Esther Loraine (Meints) Huls Parde, 81 years of age, of Lincoln, formerly of Beatrice passed away in Lincoln Sunday morning, June 23, 2013. She was born on January 31, 1932 in Gage County, NE. to Chris and Bertha (Baehr) Meints. She was raised on a farm with two brothers, Raymond and Edwin, and one sister Alveda. Esther was a 1949 graduate of Cortland High School in Cortland, NE, attended Peru State College in Peru, NE and taught school before getting married and starting a family. She and Richard M. Huls were married on February 4, 1951 at Christ Lutheran Church, R. Pickrell. They had six children. Richard passed away on May 17, 1993. Esther then married Lavern Parde on May 10, 2001 at St. John Lutheran Church in Beatrice. Esther learned the meaning of hard work on the farm growing up. She was a stay at home mom until her youngest was in junior high school. She always had a large garden and loved yard work and flowers. She had worked at the Beatrice State Developmental Center for 17 years, retiring in 1997. Esther was a current member of Zion Lutheran Church, R. Pickrell, and past member of the St. John Lutheran and Emmanuel Lutheran churches. She was active in the Ladies Aid, taught summer bible school and served as Sunday school treasurer at Emmanuel, served on the Altar Guild at St. John, and was very active in blanket sewing at Zion. Esther had also been a 4-H leader and enjoyed playing cards and board games. She was a very gracious and caring woman, always concerned about others before herself. Esther is survived by husband Lavern; 4 daughters Deborah Tatro of Lincoln, Sharon Pearce and husband Mike of Tampa, Barbara Wilson and husband Jim of Kearney, MO, and Kathy Kath and husband Ralph of Gilbert, AZ; son Dan Huls and wife DeAnn of Fairbury; 3 step daughters Colleen Dorn and husband Duane of Beatrice, Glenda Behrends and husband Rex of Hickman, and Sharon Bitting and husband Mark of Beatrice; 15 grandchildren, 4 step grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 4 step great grandchildren; sister Alveda Gronewold and husband Harlan of Atlantic, Iowa; aunts, brothers and sisters in law, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Chris and Bertha (Baehr) Meints; first husband Richard Huls (1993); son Glen Huls (1998); and 2 brothers Raymond and Edwin Meints. Memorial services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, June 28, 2013 at the Zion Lutheran Church, R. Pickrell with Reverend Tim Wiggins officiating. Inurnment of her ashes will be held at 2:30 P.M. at the Evergreen Home Cemetery, following a lunch at the church. There will be no viewing as cremation has taken place, but a register book will be available for signatures from 10-9:00 Thursday at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice with the family greeting friends from 6-7:30. A memorial has been established to the Smile Train with Robert and Anora Schoen in charge. Sign Esther's online guest book and watch a video tribute when completed at www.ghchapel.com. These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.