Oral L. May Kniep

June 12, 1916-March 21, 2011

BEAVER CITY, Nebraska -- Oral L. Kniep, 94, died Monday (March 21, 2011), at the Beaver City Manor.

She was born June 12, 1916, at Beaver City, to Bert and Minnie (Wolfe) Shellenbarger. She was a life long resident of Furnas County, Nebraska and attended schools in Beaver City.

On March 9, 1933, She married Merl B. May at Phillipsburg, Kansas. They farmed the May homestead north of Beaver City until 1950, then moved into Beaver City. To this union four children were born, Joan, Karen, Bill and Iona Ann. Merl died July 5, 1976.

On Dec. 5, 1977, she married Edwin Kniep at North Platte, Nebraska. They lived in Beaver City. He died Dec. 10, 1995. She moved to the Beaver City Manor in November 2007.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Beaver City, joining April 9, 1939. She joined the Rebekah Lodge in 1940 and was a charter member of the Furnas County Genealogical Society.

She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; and two daughters, Joan in 1947 and Iona Ann in 1954.

Survivors include her son Bill May and wife Shirley of Evergreen, Colorado; a daughter: Karen Fehrenbach of Stratton, Colorado; two grandchildren: six great-grandchildren: and one great-great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be Thursday, 11 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church in Beaver City, Nebraska with co-Pastors Ivan and Joyce Dean officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Beaver City.

Visitation and viewing will be Wednesday at Wenburg Funeral Home in Beaver City, from 1-8 p.m., and prior to services Thursday at the church.

Condolences or personal reflections can be left at www.wenburgfuneralhome.com

Wenburg Funeral Home of Beaver City, in charge of arrangements.