Derald Lee Ferguson, age 72, passed away on January 25, 2020. Derald was born January 18, 1948 in Lincoln, NE, to Wilfred Ferguson of LeMars, IA, and Laura (Jurgens) Ferguson of Adams, NE. He graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School in 1966, having attended Bethany Elementary and Robin Mickle Junior High. Derald was a student at Nebraska Wesleyan University before transferring to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to obtain a bachelor’s and, soon after, master’s degree in Marketing, Business Management and Distributive Education in 1971. He taught distributive marketing education at Ralston High School in the 1970s and marketing and business at Southeast Community College during the 1980s. Derald shared his love of dancing by teaching disco classes to thousands of students of all ages during that same time. Derald was a longtime real estate landlord and remodeler whose career highlights include several national and state championships in Distributive Education Club Association (DECA) competitive events and being invited to lunch with President Carter. On Sept. 23 1988, Derald married Marlene (Summers) in (Lincoln, NE). His pride and joy were his three daughters; Tayler, McKenzie, and Maggie. His favorite activity was watching anything his daughters were involved in. His children and wife were, by far, his self-described greatest accomplishment. Derald is lovingly survived by his wife Marlene of 31 years; daughters Tayler, McKenzie, and Maggie; granddaughters Quinn and Emersyn.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, Jan. 30, at 10:00 a.m. at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home in Lincoln, NE.
