Ruth L. Neal

Ruth L. (Kreiling) Neal, age 93, of Gering, formerly of Melbeta, died Sunday, January 16, 2011, at Heritage Estates in Gering. Her funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 19, 2011, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff with Pastor Willie Coop officiating. Interment will be in East Lawn Cemetery at Minatare. Friends may visit from 1:00 to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff. A memorial has been established to Ruth Neal Memorial Fund to be designated at a later date. Ruth was born October 31, 1917, in Hastings, Nebraska to Harris E. and Zilpha I. (True) Kreiling. She moved to Minatare with her family in 1925. She attended school in many country schools in the Minatare area. She graduated from the Minatare High School in 1936. Ruth married Alois W. Neal on May 26, 1941, at Harrisburg, Nebraska. They made their home in Minatare until 1948, when they moved to Melbeta. In 1952, they became owners of Al’s Service and Café in Melbeta which was in continuous operation until 2008, when she was forced to retirement by an injury. She moved to an apartment upon retirement and enjoyed catching upon her reading and especially visiting with her many quests. She was a member of the Melbeta Women of the Fire Department and Minatare Church of Christ. Survivors include her daughter, Gayle Grimm of Minatare; son, Bill (Marian) Neal of Gering; eight grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and brothers, Munroe (Peggy) Kreiling of Minatare, and Daryl (Joyce) Kreiling of Scottsbluff. She was preceded in death by her husband, Al of 51 years in 1992; parents; son, David; one granddaughter; one sister; and nine brothers.