Ella VanEvery

Funeral Services for Ella VanEvery, age 97 of O'Neill, Nebraska will be 10:30 AM Friday, February 28, 2025 at the First United Methodist Church in O'Neill, NE. Burial will follow in the O'Neill Cemetery. Pastor Robert Wynn will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 PM Thursday, February 27, 2025 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill with a Prayer Service at 7:30 PM. Ella passed away on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at the West Holt Memorial Hospital in Atkinson, NE. Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Biglins Mortuary of O'Neill is in charge of arrangements.
Ella Delores Howard was born on December 3, 1927 near Verdigre, Nebraska to William and Maude (Vibbard) Howard. She was the last of 10 children; seven boys and three girls, so her mother was happy to have another girl. Growing up the family lives in several small houses that had nice barns. Ella graduated from Page High School. After high school, Ella worked as a hired girl for many local families helping with their daily chores. After World War II, she met James VanEvery at the Ash Grove Hall, he was introduced to her by her brother Fred. She liked him because he was happy to work and didn't drink as much as her other dates.
She married Jim on April 2, 1948 at the Methodist Parsonage in O'Neill, Nebraska. To this union six children were born, four girls and two boys. They lived north of O'Neill then moved to Niobrara before returning to the family farm shortly before the "blizzard of 1948-1949. It was a good marriage and they celebrated 70 years together. In August of 1962 they traveled with their five children and her mother to visit family in Idaho, then to California, and then home in two weeks. In her retirement she spent time in Omaha and in Hickman before covid hit and she moved into Parkside Manor in Stuart.
Ella kept busy canning from the garden, raising and butchering chickens for the freezer. She was also a sewing leader for 4-H and was the secretary for District 60 for many years. She helped with all the grandbabies; they all loved her even when she made them be good and told them she could take them down and sit on them if they weren't good. Ella and Jim loved playing cards and hosting the neighbors from out by the farm after moving into town, which they did when number 6 started high school. She would even play cards with the "ladies" in the afternoons. Ella traveled with the KBRX bus tours and she loved country music. She even got to take the bus to Nashville with her sister-in-law and her farm family.
Ella is survived by her children, Virginia Milne and husband, Fred, of O'Neill, NE, George VanEvery and wife, Nancy, of Collierville, TN, Linda Kizzire and husband, Curtis, of O'Neill, NE, Judy Francis of Omaha, NE, David VanEvery and wife, Louise, of O'Neill, NE, Tina Lindstrom and husband, Tim, of Hickman, NE; 14 grandchildren and 4 step-grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and 12 step great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William, and Maude (Vibbard) Howard; husband, James VanEvery in 2018; all of the brothers and sisters on both sides. She was the last of that generation.