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Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, November 16 at First Methodist Church in Blair for Alice McKibben Laaker who died November 13, 1990 at Memorial Community Hospital at the age of 81. Dr. Howard Bailey will officiate. Private burial services will be held immediately following at the cemetery in Arlington.

Alice McKibben Laaker was born in Blencoe, Iowa October 13, 1909, the youngest of ten children of Henry Lee and Addie Ohlson McKibben. While still an infant she moved with her family to Arlington where she attended elementary school and graduated from Arlington High School.

On October 10, 1934, she married Allen W. Laaker of Arlington, where together they operated the Laaker family store. Except for several years during World War II, the Laakers remained in Arlington until 1951 when they began a ten-year term as superintendents of Crowell Memorial Home in Blair.

In the fall of 1961, she was named Dean of Women at Dana College and she and her husband moved into the head resident’s apartment in Mickelsen Hall on the Dana campus. For the next ten years they served as houseparents to hundreds of Dana students.

Following her husband’s death in 1972, she remained as a member of the Dana College staff, serving as resident hostess in Elk Horn Hall until her retirement in 1985. At that time she moved to Park View Manor in Blair, where she resided until the time of her death.

She was an active member of a variety of Nebraska religious, educational, cultural and civic organizations including First Methodist Church of Blair, where she served as a Sunday School teacher and member of the official board, the Blair Board of Education, Monday Afternoon Club, PEO, Royal Neighbors, Blair Community Theatre, Blair World of Entertainment, the Omaha Symphony, Omaha Community Playhouse and Tuesday Musical. She also had a special interest in and was involved with the work of Christmas Seals and UNICEF.

Among the numerous honors accorded her were the 1989 Blair Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award, the Campus Hostess Emeritus designation at Dana College in 1985 and the 1975 Dana College Community Service Award.

She is survived by one son, David of Fremont; one daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and James Risser of Menlo Park, California; two grandsons and their wives, David and Vicky of Newport News, Virginia; and John and Kirstin of Boulder Creek, California; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family requests no flowers. Memorials may be directed to Dana College, First Methodist Church of Blair and Memorial Community Hospital.

Campbell-Aman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for the services. # 2 - - from an unnamed source.

(This obituary was much like the previous one, except for the following paragraphs, added here:)

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Most importantly to Crowell Home, Alice spent many hours with the residents each week. she led the popular Literary Club where she read the bits and pieces of various magazines, devotional books and newspapers. She shared her joy and thoughtfulness with personal visits and remembrances to the residents throughout the Home.

She believed in Crowell Home and its mission and graciously consented to serve as co-chairperson of the recent fund raising campaign to provide for a new addition and renovation of the existing Home. Alice wholeheartedly supported this expansion as a way to make life better for those who reside at Crowell Home.

For many years Alice has been a very visible and important part of Crowell Home. She will be missed by the residents and staff alike. Somehow, it won't be the same without her.

#3 Funeral Leaflet

A Celebration of Life for Alice McKibben Laaker, Friday, November 16, 1990 10:00 a.m. First United Methodist Church, Blair, Nebraska.

Prelude: Clare Cowing, Organist. Call to Worship: “Almand” by Brade, The Dana College Brass Ensemble. Michael Anderson, conductor. Pat Mallory, trumpet; Heather Austin, French horn; Kevin Wass, tuba; Steve Lemon, trombone. Greetings and Declaration of Faith: Dr. Howard Bailey, Pastor First United Methodist Church. Hymn #698 “God of the Ages”. Scripture Reading: Psalm 118 Father Dan Galas, Pastor, St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church. “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”-First United Methodist Chancel Choir, Karen Gengenbach, Director. Scripture Reading Psalm 90 and Prayer: Rev. Russell L. Terman, Pastor, First United Methodist Church. Hymn #57 “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing”. Meditation: Dr. Howard Bailey. Anthem “America The Beautiful” Chancel Choir. Scripture Reading: Psalm 23 Rev. Linda C. Walz, Pastor, Dana College. Hymn #110 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”. Benediction: Dr. Howard R. Bailey. Musical Blessing: “Sonata from Hora Decima no. 14 by Pezel”, The Dana College Brass Ensemble. Recessional: Clare Cowing.

Pallbearers are representative of the community in which Alice lived and worked: M. Stanley Jensen, Mayor of Blair. Phillip A. Pagel, Dana College Vice President. Janell Pemberton, representing Blair High School and MYF. Cheri Smetana, President, PEO. Everett Holstein, President, First United Methodist Administrative Board. Marilyn Gentry, representing First United Methodist Women.

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

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