Raeshelle Jean Rickers Obituary (1961 - 2015)

Raeshelle Jean Forney Rickers was born on August 15, 1961, to Raymond and Shirley (Hewitt) Forney at the Fairbury Hospital in Fairbury, Nebraska. She lived with her parents in Daykin, Nebraska, until the age of 6 years old at which time she moved with her parents and family to the Family Dairy Farm northwest of Daykin. She was received into the Kingdom of God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism in early infancy at the Western Methodist Church. She confirmed her Christian Faith through the Rite of Confirmation at the Western Methodist Church at Western, Nebraska, as a teenager. In the late 1970's she and her family joined the Daykin United Methodist Church at Daykin, Nebraska, of which she was an active and faithful member until her marriage to Harlan Rickers in 1989. She attended kindergarten at the Daykin School and completed the rest of her grade school years and high school at Meridan Public Schools of which she was a 1980 Graduate. She graduated from Southeast Community College in 1982 with an Associate Degree in Business. After graduating from College she was employed at Delta Optical until her marriage in 1989. Raeshelle was an active 4-H Member showing Dairy Cattle during her 4-H years. During her 4-H Years she was also selected as the Jefferson County 4-H Queen. Being very active in 4-H she showed her Dairy Cattle at the District Dairy Shows, Jefferson County Fair, The Nebraska State Fair and at Aksarben. She also served as a 4-H Leader for several years in Fairbury. In 1987 Raeshelle met a dairy farmer who eventually became the man of her life. Many times over the years she had made the comment that she would never marry a Dairy Farmer since she herself was a Dairyman's Daughter. On April 8, 1989, she was united in Holy Marriage to Harlan J. Rickers at the United Methodist Church in Fairbury, Nebraska, with the Pastor Rob Welch, Pastor Gerald Buss and Pastor John Dale Officiating. This union was blessed with two children, Curtis James in 1990 and Angela Jo in 1992. After her marriage to Harlan, they resided on the Family Dairy Farm south of Wymore, Nebraska, on which they lived their entire married life until her untimely death. She actively participated in the life on the dairy farm and instilled her love for 4-H in her children by having both Curt and Angie showing dairy cattle throughout their 4-H years. Following her children's 4-H years, she still continued her love for 4-H by coaching and helping Brett and Ashley Oltman of Pickrell, Nebraska in grooming and showing Dairy Cattle at the Gage County Fair. She ran a Daycare from her home for over 20 years until she decided to quit the Daycare Business three years ago at which time she decided to help her husband with the day to day operations on the farm and his bookkeeping business and devote the rest of her time to being a fulltime homemaker. Raeshelle was a wonderful cook and always had plenty of food available at all times for her family on a daily basis. Raeshelle was an extremely dedicated wife and loving and faithful mother to her two beloved children and attended all of their High School and College activities. After Angie met Tim, Raeshelle and Harlan made frequent trips to Hastings, Nebraska, along with Tim's parents to attend his Hastings College Football Games. She was an active member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Wymore, Nebraska, since her marriage to Harlan in 1989. She was an active member of the WELCA of the Church and Harlan and Raeshelle served as Luther League Sponsors for Our Savior's from the time of their marriage until 2005. During their tenure as sponsors they took the youth on several trips throughout the years and it was not uncommon for the youth to stop by their home on Friday or Saturday evenings and spend the evening with them. The Luther League youth they sponsored were truly an inspiration to Raeshelle, Harlan and their children. On Saturday evening, March 21, 2015, Raeshelle was called home to her Heavenly Father unexpectedly at the Marysville Hospital in Marysville, Kansas, following a brief illness. Those left to mourn her earthly passing are her beloved Husband, Harlan Rickers, of Wymore, Nebraska, her loving children, Curtis James Rickers, of Wymore, Nebraska, Angie Jo Rickers of Hastings, Nebraska, and her fiance, Tim Blecha, her mother, Shirley Forney of Fairbury, Nebraska, two sisters, Janelle Forney Weir of Fairbury, Nebraska, and Carrie Haake and her husband Lawrence of Plymouth, Nebraska. Brother-in-Law, Gene Rickers of Wymore, Nebraska. One Niece, Niticia Haake of Plymouth, Nebraska, and two nephews, L.J. Haake and wife Kenzie of Omaha, Nebraska, and Tyler Haake of Plymouth, Nebraska. Two Aunts, Betty Gutzmer and Elevera Rodgers, and one uncle, Bill Hewitt. She also leaves behind a host of extended family and friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Raymond Forney, on June 5, 2014, grandparents, Rolland and Katherine Forney, and William and Anna Hewitt. She was also preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law, Irvin and Matilda Meints Rickers, and numerous family members. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, March 28, 2015 at the Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Wymore with Reverend Rob Garton and Reverend Jerry Gilbreath officiating. Interment will be in the Our Saviors (St. John) Cemetery, R. Barneston. The body will lie in state Thursday from 1-9:00 and Friday from 9-9:00 at the Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home in Wymore with the family greeting friends from 6:30-8:00 Friday, and at the church one hour preceding the service on Saturday. A memorial has been established to the church with Loren and Maxine Trauernicht and Shirley Martin in charge. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 Saturday at the church. Sign Raeshelle's online guest book and watch her video tribute when completed at www.ghchapel.com. She will be deeply missed by all. These services have been entrusted to the Laughlin-Hoevet Funeral Home in Wymore.