Mina Lydia West

Lydia West, 91, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Saturday, December 29, 2007, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. She was born June 3, 1916, at Arlington, Minnesota to Carl Wilhelm and Elizabeth K. (Letzrik) Wirth. Lydia moved with her family to the Scottsbluff/Gering area when she was just a baby, moving to Lexington in 1929. She was united in marriage to A. Ernest West on May 21, 1939, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington. Three children were blessed to this union; Albert Ernest, Jr., Carl Wilhelm and Elizabeth Katherine. Lydia worked as a housekeeper for several families in the Lexington area; including, the Roland Smith, Joe DeFilipps, and Melvin Huss families. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, past member and past president of the Home Extension Club, past president of the Navy Mothers, past Chairwoman of the Eagles Auxiliary, a member of the Dawson County Historical Society, the VFW Auxiliary and a past Cub Scout and Brownie leader. Lydia enjoyed growing flowers, scrapbooking, genealogy, baking and decorating cakes and visiting with family and friends. Survivors include two sons: Albert Ernest, Jr. (Sharon) West of Long Beach, California Carl Wilhelm West of Lexington, Nebraska One daughter: Elizabeth Katherine Mae Loescher of Genoa, Nebraska One sister: Edna Nickal of Sterling, Colorado Eight grandchildren: Chad, Kate, Joe, Michele, Chris, Cassandra, Kim and Lorrie Eight great-grandchildren. Lydia was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ernest; five sisters; two brothers; and one great-grandson. Services will be held Thursday, January 3, 2008, at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington, Nebraska with Pastor Michael Gruhn officiating. Burial will be in the Greenwood Cemetery at Lexington. Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 2, 2008, from 3-7 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements.