Ellen D. (Miller) Ringenberg

Friday, January 30, 2009

Jan. 7, 1930 - Jan. 29, 2009

Ellen D. (Miller) Ringenberg, 79, died Thursday (Jan. 29, 2009) at her home in rural Elwood.

She was born Jan. 7, 1930, in Dawson County on a farm northwest of Gothenburg, to Henry J. and Dora L. (Rathe) Miller. She was baptized, confirmed and married in the Zion Lutheran Church north of Gothenburg. She attended rural School District No. 90 and later Gothenburg High School. She then attended the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture and Kearney State Teachers College.

She taught country school in Custer, Frontier, Lincoln, Dawson and Gosper Counties. On June 6, 1954, she married Don Ringenberg of Elwood. They lived in Rapid City, S.D., where Don was stationed in the U.S. Air Force until his discharge. They then moved to the Ringenberg family farm southwest of Elwood, where she lived until her death.

She was a past worthy matron of the Eastern Star and a past president of the Pioneer Division club of past worthy matrons, Tri-County Shrine Auxiliary, Pleasant Hill Country Club, Morgan Phiffer American Legion Auxiliary and District No. 9 American Legion Auxiliary. She was also the secretary of the United Methodist Women.

She was preceded in death by her parents; five brothers, Henry, Siebelt, Alfred, Reinhold and Harold; a sister, Mildred at age 3; sisters-in-law, Doris, Marge, Ileen and Beverly Miller and Virginia Wheeler; and two brothers-in-law, Max Ringenberg and Sheldon Wheeler.

Survivors include her husband, Don of Elwood; children, Mark and wife, Mary of Fremont, Carol Lea of Lincoln and Kurt and wife, Denise of McCook; brother, Richard Miller of Foster; sister, Emma Miller of Castle Rock, Colo.; sisters-in-law, Dorothy and Evelyn Miller and Phyllis Ringenberg; five grandchildren; and 23 nieces and nephews.

A private burial will be at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell.

There is no visitation, her body was cremated.

Condolences or personal reflections may be left at elwoodfuneralhome.com.

Memorials may be given in her name to Little Angels Daycare, PO Box 31, Elwood NE 68937.

Elwood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.