Lewis Torrey

Lewis J. Torrey, 89, of Kearney died Saturday, November 12, 2011 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, November 18 at the First Baptist Church in Kearney with Rev. Stan Murdoch officiating. Interment will be in the Kearney Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 5-7 PM, Thursday at the O'Brien - Straatmann - Redinger Funeral Home in Kearney and will continue one hour before services at the church. Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church in Kearney, the Evangelical Free Church in Kearney, Gideons International Kearney Camp or donor's choice. Online condolences or personal reflections may be submitted at osrfh.com. O'Brien - Straatmann - Redinger Funeral Home of Kearney is in charge of arrangements. Lewis John Torrey was born the first child of two children to Herbert “Bert” Torrey and Mrs. Ida Emma Bertha (Greutman) Torrey on September 29, 1922 thirteen miles north east of Overton, Nebraska. He departed this life Saturday evening, November 12, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. His age was 89 years, one month and three days. Lewis attended grade school at Rural District No. 43 in Dawson County Nebraska, north east of Overton and high school at Miller, Nebraska where he served as class president his senior year and graduated with the class of 1941. Following high school, Lewis resided with his parents on the family farm 8 ½ miles south of Miller until his marriage. On December 21, 1947 Lewis John Torrey was united in marriage to Miss Arlys Marie Saathoff at the First Christian Church in Kearney, Nebraska by Pastor W.C. Rishel. To this union four children were born, twins, Kay Marie and Keith Lewis, Barbara Louise, and Douglas Lynn. They observed their 60th wedding anniversary in 2007. Following their marriage for one year, Lewis became employed and resided on the Murl Patterson farm south west of Kearney in the Elizabeth Valley. Later he rented and farmed the Stamm farm northwest of Elm Creek, Nebraska. From 1950 until 1953 they moved to and farmed the Ralph Schellhase farm south east of Sumner, Nebraska. In 1953 they moved to the D. Holliday farm north west of Miller, Nebraska where they resided until 1956. After his father’s death in 1955, they purchased and moved to the “Bert” Torrey farm south west of Miller in Dawson County until 1964. In 1955 Lewis organized farmers in the area and secured a telephone exchange. Two lines were built from Overton serving thirteen farm families. While residing on the family farm, Lewis served as a 4-H club leader. In 1964 the family moved to Elm Creek where they resided until 1971. During the winters when the mills were not operating, Lewis was employed with Leo Schroeder Electric wiring homes and farm buildings for the Rural Electric Association and was also employed by the Spelts Lumber Company in Kearney. In 1971 the family moved to Kearney where they have since resided. Lewis became employed with the Archer Daniels Midland and the Allied Alfalfa Mills at Elm Creek where he was employed for fourteen years. In 1971 Lewis purchased a farm and pasture land at Riverdale, Nebraska. He later purchased pastureland north of Odessa. Lewis and Arlys visited every state in the union with the exception of Oregon. They also traveled to various points in Mexico, the Caribbean, Finland, the British West Indies and Canada. Lewis’s Swiss blood gifted him with the ability to repair clocks, china, as well as the ability to build many parts for his machinery. He received the Ak Sar Ben award at the Dawson County fair in 2010 for his ownership of the Torrey ranch/farm, which has been in the family for 101 years. Lewis accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal savior in 1957 at the Evangelical Free Church in Sumner, Nebraska. In 1962 he was baptized at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Kearney. After moving to Kearney, he became a member of the Gideon’s International camp at Kearney where he served as memorial chairman for several years. He enjoyed visiting area churches and distributing bibles. Lewis was an avid reader and had read the Bible in its entirety several times. Lewis was a former member of the Kearney Evangelical Free church. He had attended the First Baptist Church in Kearney for the past several years. Lewis served as a delegate of the Nebraska Republican Convention and was a current member of the Republican National Committee. Lewis and Arlys were privileged to attend the Republican Rallies for President Reagan and were personally invited to the inauguration of President Reagan. They attended the rally for President Bush in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Lewis was also a member of the Miller Senior Citizens and the Farm Bureau. Raising cattle was one of Lewis’s primary passions. He also enjoyed collecting knives. He loved his chocolate. In his earlier years, he and his father “Bert” played for barn dances. Lewis played the mandolin and his father the violin. He also enjoyed Nebraska football and Royals baseball. He enjoyed playing pool and horseshoe and was adept at both. He lived a full life and most recently thoroughly enjoyed his 89th birthday celebration at his daughter Katie’s home in Lincoln that was attended by all of his family. He was preceded in death by his father on July 23, 1955; his mother in February 6, 1974; his sister Dorothy Abels and her husband Harland; one grandson Jon Jackson and one great grandson Kobie Jackson. Lewis leaves to mourn his passing his loving and devoted wife, Arlys of Kearney; two sons, Keith and his wife Toni of Alma and Doug of rural Kearney; two daughters, Katie Bruner and Barbara Clegg and her husband Stephen all of Lincoln, Nebraska; ten grandchildren, Jana Maddox and her husband Robb of Lincoln, Janel Lorenz and her husband Rick of rural O’Neill, Nebraska, Joseph Torrey and his wife Dusti of Alma, Tyler Jackson and his wife Audrey of Lincoln, Segrid Torrey of Gibbon, Nebraska, Shane and Ashley Clegg of Lincoln, Tristin and Cullen Torrey of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida and Paden Torrey of rural Kearney; a granddaughter-in-law Mrs. Jon (Christie) Jackson; eight great grandchildren, Fayth Jackson, Sydney and Jadyn Maddox, Cooper and Sophia Jackson, Emmett and Nia Torrey and Leyton Torrey, all at home with their parents; many other relatives and a host of friends. The greatest joy of his life was his wife and family. He was the patriarch of his family and what he brought to them will be forever cherished.

Lewis Torrey

September 29, 1922 - November 12, 2011