Linnaea C. Budke

Linnaea Charmaine (Trapp) Budke

Dec. 2, 1931 - Jan. 6, 2014

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Linnaea Charmaine (Trapp) Budke, age 82, of McCook, passed away Monday, Jan. 6, 2014, at her home.

She was born Dec. 2, 1931, in Beverly, Kansas, to Charles and Fairie (Neel) Trapp.

Linnaea grew up in Salina, Kansas and was a graduate of Sacred Heart High School and Brown Mackie Business College. She married James W. Budke at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Salina, Kansas, on Sept. 14, 1950. They lived in Salina and Ellsworth, Kansas; St. Helena, California; and McCook, Nebraska, where Jim and Linnaea owned and operated Budke Motors located in McCook and North Platte. To their union eight children were born: Shauna, Tongay, Stephan, Kevin, Taryn, Dion, Charlynn, and Kif.

Linnaea was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church of McCook.

When one of her grandsons was deployed to Iraq in 2002, she started what became an eight-year support of care packages to many soldiers. She has many scrapbooks of thank you letters and notes from soldiers who received over 1,000 boxes of more than 10,000 pounds of supplies she personally packed. She was awarded a U.S. Flag, Certificate of Appreciation from the U.S. Army Reserve 308th Transportation Company of Lincoln, Nebraska. She also received the U.S. Army Above and Beyond Award given to a civilian for her generous commitment of time, support, and inspiration to troops during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Linnaea was also named an Admiral of the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska by Governor Mike Johanns for her support of the American soldier.

Besides her passion for the American soldier, she delighted in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She very much enjoyed flowers, country music, especially by George Strait and Ray Price, and her precious dog, Pepper.

Linnaea was preceded in death by her husband, James; parents Charles and Fairie; sisters, Fairie Lea Koffman and Charlene Hutchison; daughter-in-law, Sharon Budke; and grandchildren, Trent Hoyt and Kendra Budke.

Survivors include her children, Shauna Stanton, Kearney; Tongay Epp and husband, Gale, Columbus; Stephan Budke and wife, Irma, North Platte; Kevin Budke, North Platte; Taryn Witt, and husband, Gregory, Thornton, Colorado; Dion Budke and wife, Vivian, Panama City Beach, Florida; Charlynn Hamilton, and husband, Lynn, Hayes Center; Kif Huffman, and husband, James, McCook. She is also survived by beloved niece, Thauna Wood and husband, Stephen, Minden; sister, Julia Waggoner and husband, Don, McPherson, Kansas; brothers, Louis Trapp, Larned, Kansas and Charles Trapp and wife, June, Derby, Kansas; brothers-in-law, John (Barbara) Hutchinson of Great Bend, Kansas and Edward (Betty) Budke of McCook; 23 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Memorials may be given in Linnaea's name to her family, which will be used toward the McCook Humane Society, Community Hospital Home Health and Hospice, or High Tech Wheel Chair for a Wounded Soldier.

Visitation will be 1-8 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m. to noon Friday, at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook. Friends may go online at www.carpenterbreland.com to extend condolences.

Rosary will be recited Friday, Jan. 10, 2014, 7 p.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014, 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in McCook with Celebrant Father Gary Brethour. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.

Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook is in charge of the arrangements.