Mabel Caroline Osborn

Mabel Caroline Osborn

Mabel Caroline Osborn was born May 14, 1901, at Thurman, in Rock County, Nebraska to Ernst and Martha (Dyson) Bussinger. She passed away March 17, 2000, at the Niobrara County Hospital in Lusk at the age of 98 years. A funeral service was held on Monday at the Cicmanec-Pier Funeral Home in Lusk, with Pastor Tom Strock officiating. Interment followed in the Lusk Cemetery.

She married Lue E. Osborn December 7, 1916, in Ainsworth, Neb. They had five daughters: Geraldine "Jerry", Lola "Billie", Wyoma "Omey" Joy and Donna Kay.

Mabel and Lue farmed in Springview, Neb. until 1921 when they moved to Niobrara County and purchased the farm north of Lusk which was the homestead of her mother Martha. They lived for a time at Lance Creek and later full time at Hat Creek They moved to Oregon for 18 months and were happy to come back to wonderful Wyoming after the blizzard of '49.

Mabel was a very talented lady. During W.W. II she helped the Red Cross make mattresses. She was a wonderful seamstress, making the clothes of her daughters. As a 4-H leader she taught many young ladies in the county to sew.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church for 63 years, later a deaconess of the church. She was a life long Democrat. She was proud of her heritage. She was a descendent of John Donaldson, a neighbor and friend of George Washington and Edmond Jennings, a governor of Virginia. She joined the Luke Voorhees D.A.R.

In 1949 Mabel was appointed postmaster of the Hat Creek Post Office and retired May 31, 1971. She looked forward to mail days when the neighbors came to pick up their mail and stayed for coffee and a visit.

Many found shelter at the Osborn home during blizzards. At one time eight people were stranded with Mabel for four days before the roads were opened. After W.W. II many stopped for food. No one left without food or what they needed.

The Osborn grandchildren loved to take their turn staying with grandma and grandpa where they learned to drive, ride a horse, gather eggs, sew and play cards.

Mabel was preceded in death by her husband Lue of 64 1/2 years, daughter Lola "Billie" Lewis, her parents, sister, half brother and half sister.

Mabel is survived by six generations: her four daughters; Geraldine Williams of Lafayette, La., Wyoma (James) Seamans of Houston, Texas, Joy (Donald) Hartung of Casper, and Donna Kay (Robert) Weiss of Arvada, Colo. 12 grandchildren; Lue Laske, Georgeann Wagnor, Christie White, Dr. Sandra Seamans, Linda Cavin, Carol Sado, Joe Swanson, James Belcher, Jill Deaver, Michael Weiss, Michelle McCallum and Camille Palmeri, 21 great-grandchildren, 11 great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great-grandson.

A memorial has been established to the First Baptist Church of Lusk or the Niobrara Senior Center of Lusk.

Cicmanec-Pier Funeral Home was in charge of the funeral arrangements.

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