Linnie R. DeGering

Linnie DeGering pioneer resident dies Sunday

Funeral service was being held this Wednesday afternoon for Mrs. Linnie DeGering, a pioneer resident of Niobrara County, who died Sunday in the Niobrara hospital. The service was being held at 2 p.m. at the Peet Mortuary Chapel with The Rev. Robert Boutwell officiating. Mrs. Judson Watson organist was accompanying Tim Johnson as he sang "How Great Thou Art" and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee".

Honorary pallbearers are all her old friends.

Casket bearers are Leonard DeGering, John DeGering, Milton DeGering, Ed Bryant, Jim Graves, Bennett Higinbotham, James Shillenn and Ted Chambers. Burial is in the Lusk Cemetery. Memorials to Lights of Love Christmas Tree and the Nursing Home and Historical Society have been established.

Linnie DeGering was born in Gretna, Neb., on July 23, 1892, the daughter of Louis and Margaret Wooley Peterson. She attended school in Gretna, then moved with her family to Omaha, Neb., where she graduated from high school. She worked as a telephone operator in Omaha and then attended normal college.

Mrs. DeGering came to Wyoming to teach school the fall of 1912, teaching at the Buck Creek School. At this time she met a cowboy (Ray DeGering) who was later to become her husband. She taught several schools in the county, including the Jones Boner School, the Sand-draw School, the student body of which was composed of twelve boys and the Jenkins-Brown School

Linnie Peterson and Ray DeGering were married in Papillion, Neb., July 22, 1914. They had a ranch in Niobrara County for 42 years, retiring to Lusk in 1956. They were the parents of two daughters, Margaret McCullough, Moorcroft, and Doris Thoelche, Kennewich, Wash., and a son Donald (Bud) DeGering, Billings, Mont.

Mrs. DeGering was involved in many community activities. She worked to raise funds for the proposed new nursing home. She has been a 30-year charter member of The Sage Brush Pals Extension Club, vice president of the Historical Society, long time member of the Cow-Belles, and the Lusk Woman's Club. She was a member of the Congregational Church.

She is survived by her children; a sister, Margery Prusha, Omaha, Neb.; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Ray in November 1972, her parents a brother and a sister.

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