Edna Mae Casper

Dec. 21, 1912-Oct. 7, 2007

ALMA -- Edna Mae Casper, 94, died Sunday (Oct. 7, 2007), at Harlan County Health Systems in Alma.

She was born Dec. 21, 1912, near Alma to Clarence Arthur and Elsie Laura (Kirts) Bear. She attended rural school near Naponee, later moving to Alma where she finished grade school and attended two years of high school. She was baptized in the First Christian Church in Alma. After her education, she was employed as a waitress at the Harlan Hotel and at Petrey's Cafe in Alma.

On June 30, 1930, she married Frank Herman Casper in Phillipsburg, Kan. They lived on a farm south of Alma. After a fire in 1939, they moved to a farm on Prairie Dog Creek. In 1951 they moved to a farm south of Alma and moved to their home in Alma in 1959. The couple operated Edna's Cafe in Alma for a couple of years. She also was employed at the Alma Locker Plant, worked as an officer manager at the Alma Swimming Pool. She worked as a waitress at Bud's Cafe and Vaughn's Cafe and was employed at B&D in Holdrege as an assembly line inspector for 10 years. After retiring she worked as a cook at the Harlan County Senior Center. She moved to Colonial Villa Aug. 23, 2007.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband on Aug. 24, 1992; two brothers, Earl and wife, Ollie and Archie Bear; a sister, Evelyn Goldie Neid and husband, George; a brother-in-law, Deloss Gipe; three daughter-in-law, Lillian Casper, Belle Casper and Billie Casper; a grandson, Stephen Duane Casper; and a great-grandson, Curtis Casper.

Survivors include seven sons, Donald Casper, Raymond Casper and wife, Rita, Richard Casper and wife, Bea, all of Lake Havasu, Ariz., David Casper and wife, Alida of Mannford, Okla., Robert Caster and wife, Judith of Lancaster, Calif., Ronald Casper and wife, Kathy of McCook and Larry Casper of Leander, Texas; five daughters, Barbara Porter and husband, Max of Phillipsburg, Linda Vincent and husband, Loyal of Omaha, Sharon Crawford and husband, Douglas of Alma, Shirley Casper of Republican City, and Cathy house and husband, Douglas, also of Republican City; a sister, Nola Gipe of Kansas, City; 19 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren and numerous step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Friday, 2 p.m., at the United Methodist Church in Alma with the Revs. Melanie Adams and Raymond Casper Jr. Interment will follow at the Alma Cemetery.

Visitation is Wednesday and Thursday from noon-8 p.m., at Banta-Torry Funeral Home in Alma and Friday prior to the services at th church.

Memorials may be made to the Harlan County Health System, the Colonial Villa Good Samaritan Center or the Harlan County Senior Center.

Banta-Torrey Funeral Home in Alma is in charge of arrangements.