Melba Ann Ortegren

Melba Ann Ortegren, 91 of Hastings, formerly of Palmer, died Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at Mary Lanning Healthcare in Hastings, Nebraska.

Services will be 10:30 A.M. Monday, January 29, 2018 at Faith Lutheran Church - 837 Chestnut Avenue in Hastings.  The Reverends Paul Dunbar and Josh Davis will be officiating.  Interment will be 2:00 P.M. Monday at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Palmer. 

Visitation will be from 4-6 P.M. Sunday, January 28, 2018 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Palmer and one hour prior to services on Monday at Faith Lutheran Church in Hastings. 

Greenway Funeral Home in Palmer is in charge of arrangements. 

Memorials are suggested to St. John's Lutheran Church in Palmer. 

Melba was born on May 30, 1926 to J. Otto & E. Laura (Stach) Wilshusen in Polk, Nebraska.  She received her education at the Parochial Immanuel Lutheran School in Polk, graduating in 1943.  She taught school at District 94 in Hamilton County and then District 14 in Polk County. 

She was united in marriage to Raymond R. Ortegren on October 18, 1946 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Polk.  The couple lived in Aurora, then moved to a farm south of Aurora.  A few years later, they moved to a farm near Chapman, then to a farm near Archer, prior to moving to Palmer. 

They enjoyed camping and traveling.  They traveled to all 50 states except Florida, 13 foreign countries, all provinces in Canada, except for 2.  She was a childcare provider.  Melba enjoyed sewing, gardening and raising flowers.  She loved cooking and baking pumpkin pies.  Her grandchildren loved her cinnamon rolls and sugar cookies. 

Melba was a former member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Palmer and a current member of Faith Lutheran Church in Hastings. She belonged to various clubs. 

Survivors include her husband, Raymond of Hastings; sons and daughters-in-law, Jack and Marg Ortegren of Johnson Lake; Gail Ortegren of Hastings, Bruce and Pat Ortegren of Omaha; daughters and sons-in-law, Janet and Kurt Rump of Rochester, MN, Nancy and John Knapp of Grand Island; Lynette and Dave Wojahn of Hastings; 14 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren.

Melba was preceded in death by her parents; daughter-in-law, Jackie Ortegren; 2 brothers; and 1 sister.  

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