Loretta Hascall

Loretta (McKee) Hascall, age 90, of Gering left this life on Tuesday, December 09, 2014 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, December 12, 2014 at Central Church of Christ in Gering with Pastor Lyle Hinebauch officiating. Inurnment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff. Memorials are suggested to Panhandle Humane Society to honor her kitty friends or the Legacy of the Plains Museum. Dugan-Kramer is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.dugankramer.com.

Loretta was born November 19, 1924 near Potter, Nebraska to Charles and Helen (Mitchell) McKee as the 6th of 7 children. Her siblings were Charles, Mary (Tomlinson), Melvin, Peggy (Sauders), Merle and a younger brother Eddie. The family moved to Gering, where Loretta attended school and graduated from Gering High School in 1943.

Loretta met Bob Hascall, of Banner County, when she was working in a diner and even though he stood her up for their first date, they were married on October 24, 1945 in Junction City, Kansas, where Bob was in the army at Fort Riley. Loretta graduated from beauty school in Denver, Colorado and enjoyed a cosmetology career working in her home to earn income while her two daughters were growing up.

In 1967 Bob and Loretta moved to Apple Valley, Minnesota, where Bob worked as district manager for Mack Trucks and Loretta managed several Hallmark Card and Gift Stores. When they moved back to Scottsbluff to be near family, Loretta began an 18 year career at K-Mart, first in the accounting office, and then fifteen years as personnel manager.

Loretta’s trip of a lifetime was to Ireland in 2000 where she traveled with her daughters and niece, Bonnie McKee, so they could trace their Irish roots and meet ‘new’ relatives before she “turned to vapors.”

Loretta was never able to sit still and watch others work. She loved to cook and sew clothes and household accessories. She took adult education courses to learn to expertly upholster furniture, tailor, make hats, and decorate cakes. She was co-leader for her daughters’ 4-H Club and taught Sunday School for many years, hosted countless family dinners and welcomed guests to stay overnight and spend time at their Lake Minatare Cabin. She also served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Trail Museum Association.

Loretta lived at Northfield Villa for twelve years, where she loved making new friends, greeting old friends, and making herself useful; celebrating her 90th birthday there November 22.

Loretta always said she had a great mother, who was the rock of the family. Loretta learned from this example and was the foundation for her own family, including drawing her nieces and nephews and their family’s into her embrace.

Loretta is survived by her two daughters Pat (Peter) Stolberg of Sarasota, FL and Judy (Bob) Tupper of Columbus, NE; grandchildren Josh (Leila) Stolberg, Jason (Denise) Stolberg, Sarah (Wade) Tupper Sears, Zachary (Steph) Tupper, Zane (Katie) Tupper, and twelve great grandchildren Asher and Xander Stolberg, Sidney and Maia Stolberg, Parker and Sawyer Sears, Ali, Joe, and Annabelle Tupper, Will, Cole, and Leo Tupper, and a legion of friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bob in 2003, her parents, and her brothers and sisters.