Nila A. (Kitchen) Been

Nila A. (Kitchen) Been

Aug.3, 1927 - Sept. 2, 2018

McCOOK, Neb. — Nila A. (Kitchen) Been, 91, passed away Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook.

Nila was born Aug. 3, 1927, the daughter of Oscar and Maona (Blaisdell) Kitchen in Pierre, S.D. She moved with her family in 1929 to Sherman County, spending a year in Colorado Springs while her father worked on the Broadmoor Hotel. She attended schools in Ruleton and Kanorado, graduating from SCHS in 1945. She attended Fort Hays State College and received a teaching certificate, which she used for one year, teaching in a one-room school house in Sherman County.

Nila married Mac S. Been on Aug. 22, 1946. They had a garden wedding at her parent’s home. For the first few years, they had a dairy farm. Nila worked many jobs, at Duckwalls, cook at the Nue Hotel, assistant manager of ALCO, bookkeeper at ALCO, and at one time, was a bus driver for USD No 352. In 1970, Mac and Nila bought a farm east of Goodland, Kan., and raised milking cows and pigs. But her favorite job was being wife, mother and grandmother.

In later years, Nila, with good friend, Virginia Chatfield, spent many long hours in front of a quilting frame, hand quilting for many others. After Virginia passed away, Nila spent many hours by herself quilting. She was able to teach four of her grandchildren the love of quilting.

Nila enjoyed her six grandchildren, teaching each one how to cook, sew, crochet and craft projects. She enjoyed watching them at their sporting events and showing 4-H projects. She always had time for them. Many hours were spent playing gin rummy and Phase 10 with them. Reading was a lifetime passion of Nila’s.

Nila was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Lincoln Larks EHU, and widow of an Elks member.

Nila was preceded in death by her mother (1968), father (1981), brothers, Lawrence (1935), Joy (1983) and Orvine (2010), husband, Mac (2000) and son, Neal (1977).

Survivors include son, Kent Been and wife, Peggy of Indianola, Neb., and their daughters, Amy Bennett and husband, Brian of Tucson, Ariz., and Allison Domon and husband, Malcolm, children, Felicity, Malcolm Jr. and Adelaide, of Omaha, Neb.; daughter, Laura McClung and husband, Gary of Goodland, Kan., and their children, Ana Musial and husband, Mark of Colorado Springs, Colo., Jonathan McClung, Jonah McClung and Ashtin McClung, all of Goodland.

Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 6, 2018, at Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland from 5 to 7 p.m. MT. Funeral services will be Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, at 1:30 p.m. MT at the First United Methodist Church. Burial will be at the Goodland Cemetery.

Memorials may be designated in her name to the Goodland Public Library and can be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences for the family may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.

Funeral service arrangements have been entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.