Esther M. Needham

Sept. 1, 1923-May 19, 2011

CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska -- Esther Mae (Offner) Needham, 87, passed away Thursday, May 19, 2011, at the Tri Valley Hospital in Cambridge, Nebraska.

She was born Sept. 1, 1923, in Imperial, Nebraska, the daughter of the late Paul and Marie (Wind) Smith. In 1924, the family moved to McCook homesteading north of McCook where the Air Base was located. She graduated from rural school near McCook.

On June 14, 1941, Esther married Francis Offner and they made their home in McCook where they owned and operated the Champion Pool Hall. Esther later worked in the junior high cafeteria until retiring.

She was an avid quilter all her life. Her husband preceded her in death on March 7, 1996.

Esther married Jim Needham on July 3, 1998, in Imperial and they made their home in Imperial befoe moving to Cambridge in 2000.

Esther was preceded in death by one great-grandson, Daniel Allen; four brothers, Raymond, Allen, Clifford and Tony Smith; and two sisters, Pauline Bradley and Margaret Meguire.

She is survived by her husband, Jim of Cambridge; one son, Clarence Offner and wife, Ginger of Palm Bay, Florida; one daughter, Charlene Young of Cambridge; two step children, Debra Sims of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Linda Leibar dt of Imperial; six grandchildren, Jeff Thomas, Lisa K. Hansen and husband, Jay, Chris Allen and wife, MacKenzie, Devin Allen, Stephanie Allen and Sarah Allen; eight great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mary Goelz of Aurora, Nebraska, and Lucille Folwer of Oberlin, Kansas; and relatives and friends.

Funeral services were today at Herrmann Memorial Chapel in McCook with Terry McCorkle officiating. Interment is in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials may be given in her name and left at the funeral home.

Herrmann Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.