Lila Hobson
Lila Hobson
Lila Hobson, longtime resident of Western Nebraska, died February 12, concluding a life of over 95 years. She and her husband, Bud, visited Niobrara County regularly over a period of 30 years in the home of their daughter and husband, Bevery and Jerry Walsh. She regularly attended concerts, ball games, graduations, and other school events in Lusk to watch her grandchildren, Chandra, Jason, and Adrienne.
Lila was born on May 21, 1911, in Allen, Kan. and was the first of four children. She attended elementary school there, and the experiences of her Kansas childhood later became favorite stories of her children and grandchildren.
In the mid 1920's she moved to Nebraska with her family and graduated from high school in Chappell, Neb. Her dream of becoming a teacher started at age 17 when she taught for a year immediately after graduating. She then attended college in Kearney, Neb. and later in Chadron, Nebraska. Her teaching career brought her to Lodgepole, Neb. in 1933.
In 1936, she married Jesse "Bud" Hobson and she resigned from teaching to become a wife, homemaker and mother of three children - Cherrill, Beverly, and Randall. The family lived on a farm just east of Lodgepole, Neb. for 38 years. Lila returned to her teaching in the 1950's and she and Bud moved to Lodgepole, Neb. in 1971 where they lived for 20 years.
In 1991, Lila suffered a stroke and the need for wheel chair access and special accommodations prompted their move to Sidney, Neb. Her faith, determination, and perseverance during a month in therapy in Cheyenne after her stroke made it possible for Lila to live a fulfilling life in spite of multiple physical challenges and extremely low vision. After Bud died in 1995, she continued to live independently in her Sidney home until she entered Memorial Extended Care in 2005 at the age of 94.
Lila enjoyed being with children throughout her life and continued to share stories about the "olden days" as a guest in Sidney, Neb. classrooms. She loved to make things and refused to allow her disabilities to prevent her from sharing with families and friends. She will be fondly remembered by her family (including 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren), her relatives and friends and by the many students whose lives she touched.