Margaret Jane Keating Hartman

1929 - 2009

Margaret Hartman, 80, passed away on June 24, 2009, surrounded by her family at home in Gering following a lengthy illness. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, June 29 at First Presbyterian Church in Scottsbluff, with the Reverend Brad Gustafson officiating. A memorial has been established to First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 1438, Scottsbluff, NE. 69363-1438. Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff is in charge of arrangements. Condolences to the family may be left at the church or at www.dugankramer.com.
Margaret was born on Feb. 10, 1929 to Grace Diantha (Work) Keating and Francis John Keating in Loveland, Colo., the youngest of four Keating siblings. She had three older brothers: Joseph, John, and Paul. Margaret grew up and attended school in Loveland, graduating from Loveland High School in 1947. She attended and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado A&M University in Fort Collins, Colo.
Margaret met and fell in love with Gene Hartman while at Loveland High School. Margaret and Gene were married in Loveland on Sept. 10, 1950, while they were both still in college. Following their college graduations, they lived in Fort Collins for a time. They moved to Torrington, Wyo., and lived on the University of Wyoming Experiment Farm while Gene was pursuing a post-graduate degree in Agronomy. They subsequently moved to Laramie, Wyo., and lived on the Experiment Farm there for the same purpose, during which time Margaret taught Home Economics and English at Laramie High School. They eventually moved back to Torrington and lived there for many years, finally moving to Gering in 1970. They have lived in Gering ever since. In later years, Margaret entered the real estate profession and worked with several real estate companies in the valley, most recently Century 21 Bitner-Warner Realty and then Century 21 Home Team Realty. Margaret was a devoted daughter to her parents, and a beloved sister, wife, mother, and grandmother.
She is survived by her husband Gene of Gering, son Scott and wife Margo (Koehler) of Scottsbluff, son Kent of Hudson, Colo., daughter Jane Heimbouch and husband Brian of Gering, son Jeff and wife Donna (Swaringen) of Thornton, Colo., and daughter Kathleen Shiverdecker and husband Donald of Colorado Springs. She is also survived by her much-loved grandchildren: Katherine Heimbouch and fiancé Eric Tuttle, Andrea Hartman, Paul Hartman, Susanna Heimbouch, Jacob Hartman, Thomas Heimbouch, Adam Hartman, and Benjamin Hartman. Her surviving siblings include Joseph S. Keating (Mary) of Baytown, Texas, John F. Keating (Barbara) of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Paul C. Keating (Patricia) of Winnie, Texas.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and two Keating nephews.