Alice M. Deterding

Alice M. Deterding, 90 Kearney resident Alice M. Deterding, 90, of Kearney, died Monday, May 11, 2015 at Mt. Carmel Keens Memorial Home in Kearney. Funeral services will be at 9:00am Thursday, May 14, 2015 at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home with the Pastor Stan Murdoch officiating. Interment will follow at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, NE. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00pm Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the International Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) or the Rebekah’s Lodge. Condolences may be shared online at www.osrfh.com. O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Alice Marie (Eklund) Deterding was born July 22, 1924 in Fort Dodge, Iowa to Carl V. and Signe Marie (Heggen) Eklund. Following her mother’s death when she was 9, Alice and her three younger siblings grew up in the IOOF Home in Mason City, IA. She received her education from Mason City High School, graduating in 1944. After graduation, she moved to Council Bluffs where she met her future husband, John Deterding, when she rented his bedroom from the Grant and Elva Deterding family while John was in the service. They were married on October 24, 1944, in Sioux City, Iowa. They were blessed with four children, Douglas, Gary, Sharon and Alan. Following John’s honorable discharge in 1946, Alice followed her husband many places throughout his woodworking and farming career, including Riverdale, NE, Englewood, CO, Nehawka, NE, and Long Beach, CA. They returned permanently to Nebraska in 1974 and made their home outside Kearney. They traveled the United States extensively, including wintering in Venice, FL, for seven years, to be near Alice’s sister and husband. They enjoyed reunions with Alice’s high school classmates and John’s fellow B-17 pilots and crews. A favorite vacation was taken in 1970, when they traveled to Sweden, Denmark, and England, to visit Alice’s relatives. Alice was a homemaker and very active in her children’s lives. She supported her husband, children, and grandchildren in all their endeavors. She was instrumental behind-the-scenes in helping establish Deterding’s in 1978 and she retired in 1996. Alice enjoyed sewing, crocheting, gardening, plants, cooking, baking, and playing cards and games. She was a longtime member of the Rebekah Lodge. Survivors include her sons, Douglas (Pamela) Deterding of Kearney, Gary Deterding and partner, Dee Filkins of Murray, Alan Deterding of Kearney; daughter, Sharon Cordes and partner, Dave Harris of Grand Island; grandchildren, Shannon (Cheryl) Knaub, Elizabeth (Marc) Bauer, Christine (David) Tighe, Anthony (Sharlyn) Deterding, Sarah (Jeff) Young, Emily (Craig) Beaman, Bethany Deterding; 15 great-grandchildren; her sister, Esther Richey of Dover, PA; her sister-in-laws, Margaret Deterding of Anaheim, CA, and Gladys (Edward) Jones, of Plattsmouth, NE. Alice was preceded in death by her husband, John Deterding in 2007; her parents; and two brothers, Melvin and Johnny Eklund.

Alice M. Deterding

July 22, 1924 - May 11, 2015