Lois Lelia Anderson, 83, of Gothenburg, died Nov. 26, 1998, at North Platte following complications from knee replacement surgery. She was born on July 11, 1915, near Orafino to Milo J. and Goldie E. Kilburn Nickerson.

Her grandparents, James H. and Clarissa A. Stevens Nickerson and James W. and Estella M. Konkle Kilburn, as well as all eight great grandparents were early pioneers in the Orafino area of Frontier County.

Mrs. Anderson grew up in the Orafino community, attending the local rural schools and Orafino High school. During the 1930s she worked as a waitress and as a housekeeper for various families.

She was married on July 11, 1940, to Lyle S. Anderson at Bird City, Kan. In 1945, the family moved to the old Charles Swift farm southwest of Gothenburg where she lived for the last 53 years.

In 1941, she obeyed the Gospel and has been constant and steadfast in her faith in the Lord. For many years she taught Bible classes at Church of Christ services. She loved little children and had a special gift for working with them.

She was a devoted wife, a kind and loving mother, a good neighbor and friend, and was always honest in all her dealings. She valued hard work and ambition above most things in life and set a good example for her family, rising often at four in the morning to get an early start on her work. She raised a large garden and canned much of the family’s food. She was not a joiner or a leader in community affairs, preferring to spend her spare time with her family and church work. She was a very good cook and made the best pies and cookies. She also loved flowers and planted as many as she could care for. She will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Survivors include a daughter, Joleen (Sydney) Kite of Gothenburg; a son, Gary L. of Missoula, Mont.; two sisters, Gladys M. (Gordon) Cross of Farnam and C. Maxine (John) Yakich of Denver; three grandchildren, Bryan E. Kite, Valene M. (Ryan) Roseke and Aaron L. Kite; three great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Lyle; her parents; a sister, Helen G. Sheffield and four brothers, Donald, Harold, Delmar and Gene.

The North Platte Telegraph, November 28, 1998