Betty J. Trauernicht

Betty J. Trauernicht, 85, of Beatrice died in a Lincoln hospital on Tuesday morning, Dec. 24, 2013. She was born on Oct. 21, 1928 at rural DeWitt, graduated from Beatrice High School in 1945 and then the University of Nebraska in 1968. She married Eldon Trauernicht on May 29, 1929 at the St. John Lutheran Church of Beatrice. She taught in rural country schools District 34, 101, 105 and 16 for 15 years and at Cedar Elementary School for 21 years, retiring in 1990. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church of Beatrice where she a member of the Ruth Circle and volunteered for the food pantry. She was also a member of BARTA and Beatrice Education Association, NSEA and the NEA. She was a former member of the Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority and volunteered at the Bargain Box in Beatrice.

Survivors include her husband, Eldon of Beatrice; two sons, Kenneth Trauernicht and wife Jana and Ronald Trauernicht and wife Jodee all of Lincoln; two daughters, Diane Baird and husband Marvin of Gaffney, SC and Sandi Waldon and husband Mike of Lincoln; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one brother, Roger Mahloch and wife Monica of Charlottesville, VA; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, August and Lillian Roschewski Mahloch; one grandson, Andrew Trauernicht; one brother, August Mahloch, Jr.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 30, 2013 at St. John Lutheran Church of Beatrice with Pastor Greg Gabriel officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Home Cemetery of Beatrice. A family prayer service will be held at 10 a.m. at the church on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the Community Food Pantry with Marilyn Brolhorst and Paul Baehr in charge. The body will lie in state at the Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice from noon Friday until 9 p.m. Sunday and at the church one hour preceding the services. The family will meet and greet friends and relatives on Sunday, Dec. 29 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the funeral home. A guestbook for signatures and messages of condolence is available online at www.foxfuneralhome.net. Fox Funeral Home of Beatrice in charge of arrangements.