| Mrs. Mary Abba Rodenbaugh was born
the fourth child of six children to Charles Giles Hall
and Mrs. Lillie Belle (Davis) Hall on January 11, 1901
at Orleans Nebraska. She departed this life Wednesday,
May 31, 1995, at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney,
Nebraska, where she had been a patient since May 26,
1995. Her age was 94 years, four months and 20 days.
Mary started school in Orleans and then attended the
Black Top Rural School District No. 49 south of
Stamford, Neb., and north of Long Island, Kan. She then
attended the Liberty Rural School northwest of Long
Island where she graduated from the eighth grade.
On September 20, 1916, Mary was united in marriage to
Hugh Cephus Rodenbaugh by Rev. Rice at Wray, Colo. To
this union eight children were born: Raymond, Ella,
Edna, Opal, Don, Alta Mae, Orin, and Mary Ann who passed
away in infancy.
The family resided on a homestead south of Yuma,
Colo., until 1918 when they moved back to a farm
northwest of Long Island, Kan. They moved to Smith
Center, Kan., in 1931 and then to Naponee, Neb., in
1933, returning to Long Island in 1939. Mary and Hugh
moved to Orleans in 1950. In 1976, Hugh preceded her in
death. Mary had most recently been employed by the
Senior Center in Alma, Neb., as a cook. On April 20,
1995, she became a resident at Christian Homes in
Holdrege, Neb.
While residing at Naponee, Mary became a member of
the Naponee Ladies Community Club.
In addition to her husband and infant daughter, she
was preceded in death by her father in 1935, her mother
in 1957; one son, Raymond, in 1980; a daughter, Ella
Williams, in 1991, one brother, Earl Hall; three
sisters, Marie Durnil, Gladys Vincent and Catherine
Howard; three grandchildren, Kenneth Ferguson; Ian
Molzahn and Kendra Berry; and two sons-in-law, Kenneth
Molzahn and Dean Groshong.
Mary leaves to mourn her passing two sons, Don and
wife Verla of Heartville, Mo., Orin and wife Crystal of
Overton, Neb., three daughters, Edna Ferguson and
husband Orval of Republican City, Opal Molzahn of
Naponee, and Alta Mae Groshong on Cambridge; one sister,
Blanche Howard of Salem, Ore., 29 grandchildren, 74
great-grandchildren; 34 great-great-grandchildren; other
relatives and many friends.
A memorial fund has been established to the Orleans
Rescue Unit.
Funeral services where held Monday, June 5, at 2:00
p.m. at United Methodist Church, Long Island, Kan., with
Pastor Tod E. Anthony officiating. Music was provided by
the vocal duet of Mrs. Pat Hammond and Mrs. Charlene
Ross, and organist Mrs. Loraine Thalheim.
Pallbearers were Louis Dietz, Bernard Hesemann, Don
Jardon, John Rhoades, Dale Vincent and Elden Vincent.
Interment was in the Long Island Cemetery. Banta-Torrey
Funeral Home of Alma had charge of arrangements. |
