Alberta Elizabeth Porter

Funeral Services for Alberta E. Porter age 88 of Neligh, Nebraska will be Monday, June 3, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Calvary Bible Church in Neligh with Pastor Peter Sample Officiating.  Burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Neligh.  Visitation will be 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Sunday, June 2, 2024 at Beyer Snider Memorial Funeral Home in Neligh.  Alberta Honeywell Dunn Porter passed away on Tuesday morning 28 May, 2024 at Community memorial Health Center in Burwell, Nebraska beside her beloved husband of 35 years.  Beyer Snider Memorial Funeral Home is handling the arrangement.  Condolences may be directed to the family at www.beyersnidermemorialfh.com

Funeral will be live steamed at https://www.youtube.com/@calvarybiblechurchneligh7220

 

     Alberta was born near Elgin, Nebraska to Albert and Hazel (Smith) Honeywell: descendants of Nebraska’s historic homesteading families. Alberta graduated from Neligh-Oakdale High School and attended Grace College of the Bible, Bethel College, and Wayne State. Immediately upon graduation, she officially commenced her calling as an unforgettable educator in the Antelope County country school system. From the beginning, Alberta attracted friends and students alike with her ability to talk, laugh, and enjoy life.

     After months of letter-writing between Rev David Dunn, she moved to Omaha to teach and ultimately marry David in 1959. This union brought three children; Doreen, David, and Denise. Alberta continued her educational training and teaching throughout all grades over the years. As mother, teacher, and pastor's wife, Alberta followed her husband in ministry to Omaha Heights, NE; Holdrege, NE; Belmond, IA; Brewster/Taylor, NE, Sargent, NE and then Westerville, NE.  In Nebraska the Dunn family began welcoming foster children, and they became part of the family.

     After Rev Dunn's passing, Alberta married Lawrence Porter in 1989. Lawrence had 5 adult children from his first marriage. Alberta and Lawrence continued to care for foster children. All the while, Alberta continued to work as a teacher around the Bartlett area. After a few years they joined Lawrence's sister, Sophia Porter, in the Turkana Desert of Kenya. Later they relocated to Kampala, the capitol city of Uganda. The couple impacted schools teaching and maintaining the property. They found their particular niche as they took in African orphaned children during those 14 years. Today those adult Africans still consider Alberta and Lawrence their parents.

     Alberta exuded an amazing gift for music. Throughout her lifetime, she sang harmony with many, taught her children and others to play the piano, and accompanied her family at church and home. Almost every night her children would go off to sleep to the sounds of a beautiful piano recital. At 82 Alberta retired from teaching children. The remaining years she dedicated to Lawrence, her parrot, and her cat. During these last years, Alberta also enjoyed talking, laughing, and walking, especially walking with her granddaughter as they hunted for coins and other treasures left behind by others.

     Alberta Porter was preceded in death by her parents Albert and Hazel Honeywell, her sister, Inez Hamill, and her first husband, David Dunn. She was also preceded by Lawrence’s three oldest children: Ernest “Skip” Porter, Dwight Porter, and Kim Wagner.

     She is survived by her husband Lawrence Porter; her children Dr Doreen Dunn, David (Jan) Dunn, and Denise “Harmony” Hennes-Dunn; Lawrence’s two youngest children, Galen Porter and Janelle Porter; foster children Yvette Dunn, Richard Buxton, Rodney Buxton, Dodie Fieldgrove; and African children Samson Lowapa, Samuel Ekiru, Timothy Ekidor, Grace Asimit, Rachel Akol, Mary Nachuch, Sarah Ibongon, Deborah Apua Porter; grandchildren DJ Hennes, Daniel Hennes, Abby Jenee Dunn, Trenton Dunn, Wyatt Dunn.