Belva L. Aspedon

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Belva LaRue Aspedon

Nov. 5, 1924 - Aug. 9, 2012

ARAPAHOE, Nebraska -- Belva LaRue Aspedon, 87, of Arapahoe, formerly of Beaver City, Nebraska, died Thursday (Aug. 9, 2012), at C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Arapahoe.

She was born on land homesteaded by her grandfather near Wilsonville, Nebraska on Nov. 5, 1924 to Virtus and Joycie (Vise) Helton. In 1937, the family moved to Beaver City and opened a restaurant. She graduated from Beaver City High School in 1941, at age 16, and started teaching school in rural Furnas County precincts.  She married Fred Aspedon Feb. 20, 1943, in McCook, Nebraska.

The couple bought their farm south of Beaver City in November 1944 and made it their home for the next 50 years. She had earned a B.A. in Elementary Education in 1963 and her Master's in 1967. She taught school for 52 years, including at Hendley, Beaver City and Norton, Kansas, before retiring in 1998 at age 74.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred in 1994; parents, Virtus and Joycie Helton; sisters, Vivian Harding Goins and Bonnie Strickland; brother, Vaughn Helton; brother-in-laws, Don Adams, Clifford Strickland, Verle Harding, James Goins; and a son-in-law, Robert Hewitt.

Survivors include her daughters, Connie Hewitt of West Des Moines, Iowa and Crelyne Warner of Round Rock, Texas; sons, Aries Aspedon of Lincoln, Nebraska and Dr. Arden (Dr. Mary) Aspedon of Weatherford, Oklahoma; sister, Lila Adams of Arapahoe; seven grandchildren; one step-granddaughter, eight great-grandchildren and one great-great grandson; and many nieces and nephews.

Burial is at the Aspedon family plot in Riverton, Iowa, Saturday, Aug. 11, 10 a.m.

Visitation is today, Aug. 10, at the Wenburg Funeral Home in Beaver City until 7 p.m.

Any memorial contributions can be made to the Eisenhower Elementary School library in Norton, Kansas, for use in promoting reading and literacy.

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

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