Eva Felzien

Friday, June 3, 2011

June 21, 1925-June 2, 2011

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Eva June Felzien, 85, passed away June 2, 2011, at Heritage of Wauneta in Wauneta, Nebraska.

She was born at the family farm north of Parks, Nebraska on June 21, 1925, to William and Olive Morrison. She was baptized and confirmed in the Zion Lutheran Church in St. Francis, Kansas in 1949. Eva attended District 39 country school and high school in Parks, Nebraska where she graduated with the class of 1942.

After high school, Eva worked for Jess and Ollie Littlefield in Benkelman, Nebraska as a bookkeeper for the Nash Garage. For a year during World War II, Eva went to Virginia and worked in Washington, D.C. for the FBI then returned to Nebraska to work for Littlefield's again. She also worked at Howard Ochsner's Pontiac Garage and Dan Owens Law Office along with being a dedicated farm wife.

Eva met and married Ward Felzien from St. Francis on Feb. 22, 1948. They lived on a farm near St. Francis until moving to the Doane Community in Dundy County, Nebraska in 1950. Here their four daughters were born: Marla, Marcia, Myra and Murleen.

In 1957, they moved to the District 66 community north of Benkelman. On March 4, 1974, they moved into Benkelman and enjoyed the following years with continued farming and many trips in their motor home even if it was only for a day or a month. Before health wouldn't allow more travel, Ward and Eva were able to visit 44 states, Canada and Mexico. In 1998, they moved to McCook to be closer to family.

Eva was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ward; brothers, Wilfred, William, who died in infancy, and Howard; granddaughter, Cassie Bellinger; parents-in-law, Edward and Eva Felzien; brothers-in-law, Jim Felzien, Garfield Ochsner, Stuart Vrooman and O.C. Markle; and sister-in-law, Leota Morrison.

She is survived by her four daughters and husbands, Marla and John Wilkinson of Curtis, Nebraska, Marcia and Ken Mortensen of Junction City, Kansas, Myra and Joey Large of Wauneta, Nebraska, and Murleen and Dennis Bellinger of Waverly, Nebraska; her special nephew, Steve Lovett and wife, Brenda of Orlando, Florida; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Elva Markle of Centerville, Virginia, and Dean and Esther Erdman of Haigler, Nebraska; two sisters-in-law, Ilene Ochsner of Tribune, Kansas, and Iva Lovett of Orlando; two brothers-in-law, Tom Felzien of Marsing, Idaho, and Ned and Helen Felzien of Park City, Kansas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A private graveside service is at a later date.

Memorials may be given to the McCook Public Library, and mailed to Myra Large at P.O. Box 511, Wauneta, Nebraska, 69045.