Edwina Ethel Hegr, age 96 of Columbus formerly of Pilger, died Saturday February 15, 2020 at Brookstone Acres in Columbus. She was born February 12, 1924 in Stanton County, Nebraska the daughter of Gustav and Anna (Simerel) Mohnsen and grew up on the family farm.
Edwina had whooping cough as a baby and this was before babies received preventative shots, her mother hauled her by horse and buggy every day from some time to Dr. Eby in Leigh for treatment. She gave her mother credit for the persistence to go for medical treatment and for saving her life.
In school she participated in spelling bee at Stanton County Courthouse as an 8th grader, Emily Daniel was her teacher. Previously Hyacinth Harsch was her teacher at Stanton County District #56. She was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Leigh.
She remembered the dirty 30's when there was no rain. The children would herd a cow along the ditch so they would have milk to drink. They raised a large garden and carried water from the well their father would "witch" and then he dug by hand. In winter the moisture came as snow with 6 foot snow banks. She remembered the grasshoppers flying in and eating everything in sight, she forgot her canvas shoes outside the house and those grasshoppers ate the shoes, so she had no shoes for school that fall.
Edwina's mother and father raised geese and ducks to sell and trade in the fall at the grocery store Hrabak's grocery store in Stanton. They would purchase Christmas presents for the children. One year while purchasing those presents, the parents bought dolls for Eldorna and Edwina, but they had only one white doll. So Winnie received a black doll as her gift. She threw the doll down and never played with it.
On May 14, 1946 Edwina married Robert Hegr at the Colfax County Courthouse in Schuyler, the moved to farm south of Clarkson. They rented it from 1947 until 1964 when they purchased it. She was very proud of the farm because they purchased the land with no financial help. The previous owner, Joseph Jonas, they claimed was kinder to them than either of their parents had ever been.
During the time the couple was married Bob had several jobs, at Wagner Mills in Schuyler, at Vacin's in Clarkson and at Maple Valley Coop in Leigh, while Edwina cared for the livestock which included cattle and hogs. She did chores most of the day because she could not drive a tractor. She was an excellent herdswoman. She cleaned the stalls and cement floors with a pitchfork and shovel. She would assist the Veterinarian, and she tried very hard to save the lives of sick calves and pigs.
She worked equally hard in the home keeping the house clean and preparing delicious meals. She like to make fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, pork chops, scalloped potatoes, carrot gelatin salad, angel food cakes, fruit pies and dill pickles. Her grandson, Justin, still claims that she made the best tasting kolaches.
She raised an excessively large garden to share the tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, radishes, etc… When someone would drive down the hill she would get a basket and start picking.
Her favorite hobbies were walking, especially the ½ mile driveway to get the mail, then reading the Norfolk Daily News. In later years she quilted. She was a member of Stanton United Methodist Church, a former member of Pilger United Methodist Church and former member of New Zion Presbyterian Church in Clarkson.
Survivors include her daughter Bonnie and Frank Cech of Clarkson; grandson Justin and Cassie Cech of Lincoln; 2 great grandchildren Aaron Wade and Hensley Nicole. Edwina enjoyed all children. She and her husband were godparents to Nancy Wagner and Robert Wiese. She adored her grandchildren Aaron and Justin. Later when Cassie, Aaron Wade and Hensley Nicole joined the family, she was ecstatic and loved them very much.
Life proved very difficult for Winnie first when Robert died in 1997 and second when her grandson Aaron died in 1999 and last when her sister Anna (Mohnsen) Travis died in 2000. She really needed her Christian faith to help her continue living. She was also preceded by her parents, brothers Gus, Edward, Leo and Harvey Mohnsen; her sisters Mamie Severa, Anna, Eldorna Wiese, Jenna Joroska and baby Tina.
In 2002 she moved to Pilger where she found friends and a welcoming church, that is until the tornadoes hit Pilger and she had to leave her damaged house behind. In December 2018 Winnie went to live at Brookstone Acres where she remained until her passing.
Funeral Service Information:
Funeral Services: United Methodist Church - Stanton, NE
Date: Saturday February 22, 2020 - 11:00 A.M.
Interment: Leigh Cemetery at Leigh, Nebraska
Visitation: 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m Friday at Shultz-Vogel-Johnson Mortuary - Stanton, NE
Officiating: Reverend Neil Gately
Music: Organist: Dorothy Fuller; Soloist: Reverend Neil Gately "Amazing Grace"; Congregational Singing "Rock of Ages" "How Great Thou Art"
Pallbearers: Justin Cech, Gary Spenner, Alan Phillips, Larry Mohnsen, Robert Wiese, Michael Mohnsen
Honorary Pallbearers : Cassie Cech, Marilyn Spenner, Susan Phillips, Karen Schmode, Lana Thun, Marlene Wiese, Mabel Moore, Nancy Wagner
Questions please call 402-439-2109.
FOR STANTON: If you wish to order flowers FOR STANTON LOCATION - FLORISTS, call 402-644-8361 (THIS WILL SAVE YOU AN EXTRA WIRE CHARGE, CHARGED BY THE NATIONAL FLOWER CENTERS). Floral Expressions will accept most major credit cards and may bill you directly, Floral Expressions has dedicated service to Stanton, delivery in Stanton before and after services, providing an extra layer of service for our Stanton residents and our client families.
FOR RANDOLPH: If you would like to order flowers and avoid a wire charge call RANDOLPH's local florist, they will take visa/mastercard or bill direct, (THIS WILL SAVE YOU AN EXTRA WIRE CHARGE, CHARGED BY THE NATIONAL FLOWER CENTERS) Randolph Florist: Main Street Flowers 402-337-1004; has dedicated service to Randolph, delivery in Randolph before and after services, providing an extra layer of service for our Randolph residents and our client families.
Cemetery ServiceLeigh Cemetery
56395 822 Rd
Leigh NE 68643
VisitationFriday, February 21, 2020
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Shultz-Vogel-Johnson Mortuary
804 Jackpine Street
Stanton NE 68779
United States
402-371-3330
director@homeforfuneralsinc.com
ServiceSaturday, February 22, 2020
11:00 PM
United Methodist Church - Stanton
1003 10th Street
Stanton NE 68779
United States
402-439-2127
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