Vera M. Vontz

Feb. 23, 1919--Dec. 7, 2010

HOLDREGE, Nebraska -- Vera M. Vontz, 91, died Tuesday (Dec. 7, 2010), at the Christian Homes Care Community in Holdrege.

She was born Feb. 23, 1919, in Russell County, near Bunker Hill, Kansas, the sixth of seven children born to John J. and Laura Agnes (Farrell) Chenoweth. She received her primary education in Concordia, Kansas and Pauline, Nebraska through the eighth grade and then graduated from Hastings High School in 1937.

In the 1940s, she was employed as a bookkeeper and secretary at Red Willow County Courthouse and at an attorney's office in McCook, Nebraska.

On Dec. 29, 1950, she was united in marriage to Raymond Joseph Vontz in McCook and to this union five daughters were born. The family made their home in Indianola, Nebraska. In 1959, they moved to McCook and in 1969 they relocated to Holdrege, where they were employed by Bethphage Mission in Axtell, Nebraska. She worked as a caregiver at Bethphage Mission until she retired in 1979.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Holdrege.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Raymond; one daughter, Barb Teel; three brothers, Marvin Chenoweth and wife, Minerva, Thomas Chenoweth and wife, June, Bill Chenoweth and wife, Geneva; three sisters, Melva Winchell and husband, Charles, Thelma Parker and husband, Glen, and Alma Kelso and husband, Josh.

She is survived by her four daughters, Jeanette Johnson and husband, Mike of Holdrege, Darlene Sweeney and husband, Mark of Holdrege, Diane Thee and husband, Mark of Kearney, Nebraska, and Rita Meier of Grand Island, Nebraska; son-in-law, Bill Teel of Indianola; 16 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services are Friday, 10:30 a.m., at First Baptist Church in Holdrege with the Rev. Darren Stroh and DeWane Dow officiating. Interment is in Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

Visitation is today until 8 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege with the family greeting from 6-7:30 p.m.

A memorial has been established in her memory and will be designated at a later date.

Condolences may given online at www.nelsonbauerfh.com.

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home of Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.