LILLIAN A. RENARD, 97

Former Arlington resident Lillian A. Renard, 97, of Salt Lake City, Utah, died June 23, 2001.

Funeral services were June 30, at Grace United Methodist Church in Lincoln with the Rev. Roger Casteel officiating. Interment was at the Arlington Cemetery.

Lillian Angeline Wallingford Renard was born June 27, 1903, on a farm three miles south of Arlington to Jesse and Laura Wallingford.

When Mrs. Renard was only three years old, her family bought a home in Arlington, so that the children could attend a better school. She graduated from Arlington High School in 1920, then went to Omaha University for two years. After completing a course in primary education, she taught first and second grades in Arlington for three years.

From an early age, she loved to sing, and sang her first solo when she was six years old at a children’s day program at the Methodist Church.

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Elsner, trained musicians, recognized this talent. Mrs. Renard’s aunt, Mrs. Elsner, gave her voice lessons during her high school years. She was a member of the choir and was a soloist.

Mrs. Renard continued her music studies at the University of Omaha, was a member of the University chorus, and soprano in the college mixed quartet.

On June 2, 1925, she married Otto Renard. The couple lived on the family farm, five miles from Arlington.

In 1956, the couple bought a farm in Minnesota. Mrs. Renard taught first grade in Pine Island, Minn., for 14 years. During that time, she attended night classes and summer school. She graduated from Winona State College in 1963 with a degree in elementary education.

Mrs. Renard retired from teaching when she was 65. Her husband also retired, and they rented out their farm land. The couple traveled in their camper during the winter, returning to the farm in the summer.

In 1974, the couple bought a mobile home in Apache Junction, Ariz., where they lived for 20 winters. While there, Mrs. Renard was a member of the Presbyterian Church choir.

Following her husband’s death in 1985, Mrs. Renard continued to live in Apache Junction for six years. She later moved to Autumn Wood.

She is survived by a daughter and son-in –law, Rita and Dr. Ralph Paul of Lincoln; a son and daughter-in-law, Maurice and Nancy Renard of Anchorage, Ak.; four grandchildren and eight great-granchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Otto A. Renard, one brother and one sister.

Memorials are suggested to Grace United Methodist Church in Lincoln.

Butherus, Maser & Love Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.