Kathren "Kate" Irene Henry

Kathren (Kate) Irene (Crow) Henry, 92, of Callaway, Nebraska passed away February 24, 2025 at Burwell, Nebraska.

She was born October 9, 1932, to Leslie A and Sophia N.J. (Beyer) Crow, at their farmhouse 5 miles south of Arnold. Kathren was the fifth child of seven.

The Crow family moved to Mills Valley where Kathren attended grade school until her parents purchased a farm 2 1/2 miles east of Arnold. She then attended Arnold grade school and graduated from Arnold High School with the class of 1950. The first summer after high school graduation she worked at the Arnold Café. However; when she graduated she also had credentials to teach school for one year so she taught that fall at Custer School #246 near Callaway. Kate took classes in the summer of 1951 at Nebraska State Teachers College in Kearney to teach one more year at Custer.

 On March 16,1952 she was united in marriage to Duane B. Henry of Callaway, Nebraska at the Callaway Evangelical United Brethren (E.U.B.) Church. They first noticed each other at a Husking Bee held at her sister and brother-in-law; Helen & Bill Hickenbottoms. At a neighborhood card party they finally met and eventually went on a first date to a Callaway vs. Ansley football game. To this union two daughters were born, Phyllis and Pamela.

Kate and Duane started their married life at the Henry homeplace southeast of Callaway; then owned and occupied by Duane’s Grandfather Birt (B.G.) Henry. They lived there three years with Grandpa Birt before moving to the Young/Boblitts Ranch for two years. They moved back to the Henry homeplace after purchasing the farm from Duane’s Uncles Wayne and Eldon Henry and Father Melvin Henry. Kate was a farmwife and worked alongside Duane in the fields raising corn, alfalfa, soybeans, sunflowers, wheat, milo, and cane. They also milked cows, raised sheep, chickens, hogs and cattle. 

Kate was a substitute school bus driver for Duane which turned out to be a full-time job Kate held for 27 years. She enjoyed driving the school bus and getting to know all the kids on her route and visiting with many of them years later. She always held a soft spot in her heart for kids who rode on her bus. 

Kate was a member of the Rural Neighbors Club, Quilter’s Dozen, United Methodist Women’s Quilters, Red Hat Society, a United Methodist Church Co-Chairperson Committee member for funeral dinners and was a member of the United Methodist Church of Callaway. Kate enjoyed a lifelong hobby of sewing. She began sewing many outfits for her daughters and herself and later discovered a love of quilting. Her attention to detail and great eye for colors produced exquisite quilts that are treasured by her family members. She had the vision and talent to oversee remodeling of their house more than once and didn’t hesitate to start the demolition process.

Kate’s family was the most important part of her life as demonstrated by 65 years of marriage and always being there for her family. She loved hosting the family Christmas dinner every year; sharing time with everyone then and throughout the year. If there was a new card game or board game, she was the first to learn how to play. She would encourage and help the rest of the family to learn how to play too; especially the “Joker” game. She was a very hard working, wise, honest, loving, talented, caring, gentle, and supportive woman that will be deeply missed by her family.

Upon retirement Kate and Duane became snowbirds and wintered several years in Port Aransas, Texas where they met many new friends and camped with old friends from Nebraska. In 2002, they celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary with treasured family and friends present. In 2017 their 65th Wedding Anniversary was a joyous event with many cards, calls, and gifts received. 

Kate was preceded in death by her loving husband of 65 years; Duane B. Henry; her parents; Les and Sophia Crow; parents-in-law Melvin A. and Mabel L. Henry; brothers, Bob and Darrell Crow; sisters Helen Hickenbottom Dorris, Eloise Walker Hayward, Burdette Deterding; brother-in-laws, Bill Hickenbottom, Gerald Dorris, Glenn Walker, Bill Hayward, Stanley Deterding, LaMoyne Johnston, and John Leonard; and sister in-laws, Mona Crow and Pat Crow.

She is survived by her daughters, Phyllis (Lee) Bruns of Callaway, and Pam (Shale) Woodward of Alliance; grandchildren Duane (Carla) Kimball of Callaway, Amy (Kevin) Tinley of Bennington, Blake (Rachel) Woodward of Aberdeen, S.D., Cole Woodward of Lincoln and Ashley (Tom) Heimbouch of Gering; great-granddaughters, Emily (Court) Kaelin of Sumner, Lucy Kimball of Callaway and Ella and Sophia Tinley of Bennington; Harper Heimbouch of Gering; step grandsons Barry Bruns of Gretna and Jason (Jessica) Bruns of Lincoln; sister Sharen Johnston Leonard of North Platte; sister-in-law Norma Jean Henry of Broken Bow; and many relatives and friends.

Funeral Services will be on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 10:30 am. at the Callaway United Methodist Church with Pastor Karla Sheffy, officiating. 

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 28, 2025 from 5-7 p.m. at Timm-Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Callaway.

Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery at Callaway.

Memorials are kindly suggested to the family for later designation.

Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com