Leona Josephine Hughes

Leona Josephine Hughes

Aug. 13, 1919 - Dec.. 14, 2011

CAMBRIDGE, Nebraska --Leona Josephine Hughes, age 92, of Cambridge, Nebraska, died at the Cambridge Manor on Wednesday, December 14, 2011.

She was born near Brule, Nebraska, on August 3, 1919, to Teresa Spoenaman. Leona grew up in Ogallala, Nebraska. She received her first communion on August 15, 1927, and graduated from Ogallala High School in 1937 as the class salutatorian. She worked as a clerk for a short time for a company that built the Kingsley Dam and the Tri-County Irrigation Canals.

On Sept. 28, 1939, she was united in marriage to Earl Raymond Hughes at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Ogallala with Father J. P. McMahon officiating. He preceded her in death on March 1, 1995. The couple made their home on a farm near Maywood, Nebraska, in 1940. Upon retirement in 1993, the couple moved from the farm to Cambridge to be near family. In March 2009, Leona moved to the Cambridge Manor due to declining health. 


Leona was active in the Altar Society at St. William's Catholic Church at Wellfleet and at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cambridge. While on the farm, Leona was a 4-H leader, a member of the Happy Homemakers, and the Extension Club, all of Wellfleet.

Leona loved being a "mom," opening her home up to foster care for many children. She enjoyed her family and grandchildren. Leona was known for her bread baking, especially for making her own whole wheat flour for baking. Leona volunteered at the Cambridge Thrift Store in Cambridge, operated by the Hospital Auxiliary. 


Leona was preceded in death by her mother; husband; a daughter, Caroline and a son-in-law, Bernie Behrmann.

She is survived by her two sons: Harold "Howie" and wife, Carmen of Visalia, California, and Marvin "Butch" and wife, Bernadine of Hastings, Nebraska; as well as her two daughters: Eleanor Behrmann of Encampment, Wyoming, and Barbara Langley and husband, Mike of Cambridge, Nebraska; as well as 16 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. 


Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Cambridge, Nebraska with Father Robert Barnhill and Father Robert Chamberlain officiating. Rosary will be held at 9:30 a.m. with Mass to follow at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery in Cambridge.

Friends may leave on-line condolences at lockenour.com. Memorials may be left in Leona's name at the Lockenour-Jones Mortuary in Cambridge to either the Frontier County 4-H Council or the Ascera Care Hospice.

Lockenour-Jones is in charge of arrangements.