Lolita Mae Biehl

Lolita M. Biehl, 86, of rural Lexington, Nebraska, died Thursday, July 11, 2013, at the Golden Living Center in Cozad. Lolita was the third of seven children born to W.E. “Edd” Riley and Grace Harriett Davis at Trenton, NE on March 26, 1927. She attended Trenton Public Schools all 12 years, and graduated as salutatorian of the class of 1944. She was baptized and raised in the Trenton Congregational Church. Lolita had taken the Normal training courses in high school and following graduation she taught in a rural school in Hitchcock County. Before WWII was over she took training in Omaha, learning teletype and was sent to Dayton, Ohio and worked at Wright-Patterson Airbase. In 1949, she accepted a teaching position at Dawson County District North 17 where she taught all eight grades. Lolita was united in marriage to Jerold “Jerry” Biehl on August 20, 1950 in the Trenton Congregational Church. They started their married life in Augusta, Georgia, as Jerry served in the U.S. Army. While living there, their first child was born, Cathy. In 1952, they returned to Lexington to farm with Jerry’s parents. Two more daughters were born to this union, Nancy and Cheryl. They fed cattle and farmed, expanding the operation through the years. She was preceded in death by her husband in 2007, continued to live on the farm until 2009 when she would reside at the Golden Living Center in Cozad. She was an active member of Farm & Fireside Extension Club, serving in all the offices. She served on the Dawson County Extension Club Council and Extension Board. Lolita was a 4-H leader for many years. She served as a mentor for the HOSTS program in the Lexington Schools. Lolita was a member of the Buffalo Grove Presbyterian Church, she enjoyed teaching Sunday school, vacation Bible school, youth fellowship, leading Bible studies, and serving the women in all capacities, including Presbyterian Women. Lolita loved being a part of women’s groups, especially PEO Chapter HV. Lolita liked to do all kinds of crafts, sewing, knitting and crocheting. She collected poetry which she put into scrapbooks. Lolita loved her family and enjoyed family gatherings, hosting many at her home. She will be greatly missed. Survivors include her daughters and their husbands: Cathy and John Hanson of Lexington, NE, the Revs. Nancy and Lance Isaacson of Jackson, Minnesota, and Cheryl and Steve Roberts of Omaha, Nebraska. Two sisters and a brother and sister-in-law, LaVerna Amann of Atwood, Kansas, Linda and Gary Wooters of Ponca City, Oklahoma, and a brother and sister-in-law, Lynn and Sharon Riley. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Jennifer and Mike Cumming, Brian and Sarah Hanson, Mark and Heather Hanson, Jay and Samantha Roberts, Jana Roberts and Brett Colburn, John Isaacson, and Maddie Isaacson. Six great-grandchildren, Adah, Boden and Spencer Cumming, Graden Hanson, and Griffin, Wyatt and Quinn Hanson, and one more coming this year. Lolita was preceded in death by her husband Jerry, her parents, W.E. "Edd" and Grace Riley, her in-laws, William "Bill" and Rose Biehl, sisters and brothers-in-law, brother, Paul D. Riley, sisters, Edna and Floyd Fricke, and Nedine and Bill Skinner, brother-in-law, Hugh Amann, unborn infant children, and grandson, Timothy Hanson. The Memorial Service will be held Monday, July 15, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. at Buffalo Grove Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Lance Isaacson, officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday, July 14, 2013, from 4-7 p.m. at Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Private Burial will be prior to Memorial Service at Buffalo Grove Cemetery. In Lieu Of Flowers, Memorials are suggested to the American Cancer Society or Lexington Community Foundation. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family through: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com