Ruby Augustine

Ruby Damrow Lehmann Augustine was born December 12, 1919 in Beatrice, NE to Thomas and Marie (Kechley) Damrow, during a 3-day blizzard, and died October 14, 2026, in Lincoln NE.

She was baptized and confirmed in St John’s Lutheran Church in Beatrice. Ruby attended the same rural school south of Beatrice her parents had attended. In 1937 she graduated from Beatrice High School, with a Normal Training Teaching Certificate. Due to the great depression and the ongoing drought, she did “live in house work” until a teaching position opened near Clatonia, NE, where she taught for two years.

Ruby married Walter E. Lehmann on June 30, 1940, in Beatrice. The couple lived first in Beatrice, then toward the end of WWII, in Ventura, CA, returning to Beatrice after the war. In 1950, they moved to Kearney, NE, and in 1956, to Grand Island, NE. Walter died September 16, 1969. Ruby was an Avon representative from 1956 to 1968. She worked as a receptionist for the Nebraska Job Service from 1968 to 1979.

In 1979, she married Web Augustine in Grand Island. They spent part of most winters in Green Valley, AZ. Together, they enjoyed traveling in the U.S. and abroad. They were fortunate to travel to Russia and China on two different People to People tours. Web died in 1997 and Ruby moved to Lincoln in 1998 to be closer to family.

Ruby was active in the Church Women’s Association, taught Sunday School and Bible School, and served on the Church Council. She was also a Boy Scout Den Mother, a member of the Shrine Auxiliary, a volunteer for the Red Cross Blood Mobile, a volunteer for Tabitha Health Care Services, a volunteer for Newborns in Need and a member of PEO. Ruby was also interested in family history. She enjoyed bible study, crafts, china painting, piecing quilts, various card games and traveling.

She was preceded in death by both husbands; her parents; brothers, Rev. Thomas Damrow and wife, Evelyn and Franklin Damrow and wife, Betty; sister, Esther Chermak and brothers-in-law Alvin Knispel and Charles Chermak; brothers-in-law Harlan Overbeck and Harold Epp; and 1 grandson.

She is survived by sons, Warren (Mary) Lehmann of Las Vegas, NV and Bruce (Jane) Lehmann of Lincoln, NE; grandchildren, Tom (Judy) Lehmann of Las Vegas, NV, Greg (Cristin Clark) Lehmann of Mechanicville, NY, Kelli Lehmann of Lincoln, NE, Brian Lehmann, of Lincoln; great grandson, Michael Lehmann of Mechanicville NY; sisters Kathryn Overbeck of Kalispell, MT and Marjorie Epp of Beatrice; and many nieces and nephews; and a host of extended family and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, October 24, 2026 at the First Lutheran Church, 1551 S. 70th St, in Lincoln. Burial will be at the Evergreen Home Cemetery in Beatrice. The body will lie in state at the church one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the family for future designation.

In honor of Ruby's life, we invite you to share your memories and upload photos to her memorial page at www.ghchapel.com, as well as view her video tribute. Your tributes will serve as a comforting reminder of the love she had for her family, friends, and community.

These services have been entrusted to Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.