Marlene J. Russell

Marlene Joyce Russell was born on July 8, 1938, to parents Jeanette (Marsh) and Lawerence Russell in Stuart, Nebraska. The family moved a few times through the years before eventually settling down in Hay Springs, Nebraska.
Marlene attended and graduated from Hay Springs High School. Her dad was the night watchmen for the City of Hay Springs where Marlene would often visit when he was on duty.
She married Ed Anton Serbousek, also of Hay Springs. Together they built a new home just outside of Hay Springs. They began their family welcoming daughters Nicolette, Roseann and son Russell Joel. As the family grew, Marlene always said that love never decreases, it only increases. Marlene and Ed were foster parents for several children. Eventually, they decided to expand their family even more by adopting three more children, Troy, Natalie and Tony.
In addition to raising a family and helping Ed manage and run the farm, she worked as a clerk in the courthouse in Rushville. She then worked as a dispatcher for the Sheridan County Sheriff's Office for a few years.
After she and Ed divorced, she began her career as a police officer. She was hired as the first female officer for the Gordon Police Department in the late 1970s. She received her training as a certified law enforcement officer through the Grand Island Law Enforcement Academy becoming one of the first certified female police officers in Nebraska. In addition to Gordon, she worked at other agencies including Crawford PD and the Dawes County Sheriff's Office.
She married Lyle Fernau. They then moved to Stuart NE where both worked as police officers. Lyle was the Chief of Police there but stepped down after a few years due to health reasons. Marlene was then promoted as the Chief of Police in 1990 becoming one of the first female chiefs at the time in Nebraska.
Marlene and Lyle adopted daughter Shaeleen Sue during their time in Stuart. After Lyle's death in 2004, Marlene moved to Butte and worked for the Boyd County Sheriff's Office as a deputy for a brief time. She then retired from law enforcement and moved back to Chadron for several years to be close to family and friends in the area. In 2017 she returned to Butte to be near her daughter Shaeleen, where she resided until the time of her death. During her last 5 years she was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with her Grandchildren Westyn & Amiya where they made countless memories that will be cherished forever.
Marlene is survived by her Daughter Sue (Darrin) Liewer of Butte, son Tony Serbousek of Abilene, KS, Daughter Nicolette Horn of Hay Springs, Son Russell Joe (Kari) Serbousek of Hay Springs, Hunka Son Andrew Amiotte of Chadron, Stepchildren Scott (Rebecca) Fernau of Chadron, and Steve Fernau of Atkinson; 15 Grandchildren, 13 Great Grandchildren, 7 Great Grandchildren; a sister Sharon (Richard) Fischer of Lindsey, OK, and a brother Elwin (Stella) Russell of San Antonio, TX.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lyle, Daughter Natalie Fernau, son Troy Serbousek, daughter Roseann Scherbarth, Grandchildren Cody Ruegge and Michael Fernau, and Daughter-in-law Connie Fernau.