Services Are On Friday For Lillie Loftis

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, March 25, at First United Methodist Church for Lillie L. Loftis, 80, who died March 21, 1983, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair.

The Rev. Marion Loftis will conduct the services. Burial will be in the Herman Cemetery.

There will be a prayer service Thursday, March 24, at 7:30 p.m. at Campbell Funeral Home.

Lillie Leona Loftis was born April 5, 1902, to Peter and Olena Hansen Fransen. As a young girl, she lived in Kennard, later moving to the Herman area, where she attended the Hill Creek and New England Schools. She was confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Hill Creek School and was a member of the Blair Methodist Church at the time of her death.

On April 5 1922, she married Charles W. Chamberlain. They farmed in the Herman area, later moving to Nebraska City in 1936. He died September 20, 1956. She worked in cafes in Nebraska City for several years.

On January 30, 1974, she married Leonard L. Loftis, Sr., of Tekamah. They resided there until moving to Blair July 31, 1981.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, two brothers and a granddaughter.

She is survived by her husband, Leonard Loftis, Sr., of Blair; and a son, earl Chamberlain and his wife, Norma, of Nebraska City. Six grandchildren, ten great grandchildren; step-daughters, Barbara Loftis of Crowell Home; Mrs. Carl (Mary Helen) Launer of Omaha; Mrs. Dale (Betty) Finch of Casper, Wyoming; and Mrs. Larry (Ruth) Nelson of Arlington; step-sons, Thomas Loftis of San Pedro, California; Leonard Loftis, Jr. of Herman; and Alan Loftis of Seward, Nebraska; 21 step grandchildren; 20 step great grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Elna Merriman of Forest Grove, Oregon and Mrs. R. J. (Cleo) Connell of Tyrone, Nebraska; a brother, Clarence Christensen of Forest Grove, Oregon; several nieces and nephews and a host of friends also survive her.

Pallbearers will be Lyle Hansen, Allan Hansen, Linton Puffer, Lee Hansen, Virgil Prein and Wayne Hansen.

Bette Kirk will be organist. Shirley Schmidt and gene Loftis will provide the vocal music.

Campbell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for the services.

Note: Name on stone is Chamberlain.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~