19 January 2000

Loraine Inez Nichols was born to Rheinhardt Albert Edzards and Otilla Warnke Edzards on June 27, 1919, at Crete and passed away Jan. 8, 2000, at Fillmore County Hospital Long Term Care in Geneva at the age of 80 years. She was one of seven children in the family.

Loraine grew up in a happy household with three brothers and three sisters on a farm east of Crete. Following graduation from Crete High School in 1937, she moved to Omaha to live with her older sister, Ruby, and to look for a job. She found one with the Thad Nichols State Farm Insurance Agency.

Thad (known to everyone as Nick) and Loraine were married on August 30, 1941. They had two daughters, Nancy Lee born in 1943, and Bonnie Dee born in 1944. The insurance agency was sold and they purchased a farm adjacent to her parent's farm in Saline County. Farming and operating a Grade A Dairy occupied a great deal of time.

A career opportunity with a farm equipment manufacturer prompted a move to Kansas City in 1953. Loraine loved Kansas City and was sad to leave when a job transfer moved the family to Lincoln. Once there, she made many new friends and was active in the Sheridan Blvd. Baptist Church and Christian Women's club.

Becoming weary of the travel involved in his work, Loraine and Nick decided that they wanted to buy an equipment dealership.

A move to Beatrice was made in 1962, to gain knowledge and experience in this type of business and to wait for a dealership to become available.

In 1966, they purchased a dealership from Chaney Brothers in Geneva. Loraine enjoyed working at Nick's Farm Store and remained active until her retirement in 1985.

Loraine loved spending time with family and friends. Her love of fun and adventure made family get togethers memorable. She loved riding roller coasters and horseback rides which made her a hit with her grandchildren, Shelly and Scott. Her five great-grandchildren also gave her much pleasure.

God was at the center of Loraine's life and she focused on the spiritual well being of those she loved. Listening to Bible stories and learning about God's plan of salvation are special memories of the grandchildren.

She had been an active member of the Geneva Congregational Church for some time. In recent years, she attended the Evangelical Free Church. She was active in Christian Women's Club and a member of Rebekah Lodge. The friendship of the members of the Junior Geneva Township Extension Club was enjoyed for over thirty years.

Loraine loved to travel and made several group bus tours across the United States. She especially liked her Washington, D.C. trip.

Loraine enjoyed the friendship of Wayne Churchill for several years. Her favorite outing with him was going to Chances R Restaurant for a chicken dinner every Saturday night. Popcorn and diet Pepsi were also part of her evening routine for as long as anyone can remember.

Loraine was preceded in death by her husband Thad (Nick) Nichols; daughter, Bonnie Dee Nichols; parents, Rheinhardt and Otilla Edzards; sisters Gladys Morse, Ruby Yokel and Esther Edzards; brothers, John Edzards, Edwin Edzards, and Marvin Edzards.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Nancy and Larry Eichelberger; granddaughter and grandson-in-law Shelly and Conley Kennel; grandson and granddaughter-in-law Scott and Jenny Eichelberger; and by great-grandchildren Jamey and Justin Kennel and Rebecca, Nicholas and Elizabeth Eichelberger.

Funeral services were conducted from the Evangelical Free Church in Geneva on Wednesday, Jan. 12,2000, with Rev. Curt Coddington officiating.

Susan Kleinschmidt accompanied Delwin V. Myers who sang "How Great Thou Art" and "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" and the congregation who sang "Count Your Blessings."

Casketbearers were Winston Morse, Charles Braun, Loren Ahlrichs, Ron Edzards, Rodney Yokel, Conley Kennel and Scott Eichelberger.

Interment was in the Riverside Cemetery in Crete with Farmer & Son Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.

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The family of Loraine Nichols wishes to express our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who helped us in anyway these past several months. We wish sincerely to thank the excellent staff at Fillmore County Long Term Care Facility for their supportive care and compassion. We would also like to express our gratitude to Rev. Curt Coddington for the beautiful service and for the months of uplifting visits and prayers. Our thanks to those who. came to help, bring food, to those who sent flowers, and memorials, who sent cards, and telephoned and to those who visited. We would also like to thank Delwin Myers and Susan Kleinschmidt for the beautiful music during the service, the Evangelical Free Church Women's Group for the lunch, and Farmer & Son Funeral Home for their caring concern. We will always cherish these many acts of kindness and God's Blessings to all of you.

LARRY AND NANCY EICHELBERGER,

CONLEY AND SHELLY KENNEL AND FAMILY,

SCOTT AND JENNY EICHELBERGER AND FAMILY