Sue Horner Johns

Sue Horner Johns, 84, of Melbeta, died Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at Heritage Estates in Gering. Her funeral will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 30, 2009 at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff with Pastors Ken Maldonado, Juan Espinoza, Richard Melano and Bev Russell officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park. Eastern Star Rites will be conducted by Minatare Chapter No. 270, Order of the Eastern Star. Memorials have been established to Prairie Haven Hospice or to the donor’s choice. Sue loved the color red, anyone who would like to wear red to her funeral, please do so. Friends may call at the funeral home between 1-6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and from 9:00 a.m. until service time Monday. Sue Horner Johns was born to Vernal and Grace (Hartranft) Horner at Crawford, Nebraska on February 4, 1925. She attended school in Chadron, Nebraska through the third grade and graduated from the eighth grade in Crawford, Nebraska. The family then moved to Idaho where she attended high school through the tenth grade at Notus and Parma, Idaho. They then moved to Gering, Nebraska where she graduated from high school in 1943. While attending Gering High School, she met Walter Johns in history class. Because this was during World War II, and many of the men were gone to war, there was a shortage of farm help. Therefore, the school dismissed during harvest so the students could pick potatoes. Sue held a record of picking 209 bushels in one day. After graduating from high school, she went on to work at the office of the canning factory in Scottsbluff, Nebraska doing the time cards and running errands. Walter and Sue were married June 7, 1944 in the Kimball, Nebraska Methodist Church. Most of her life was spent raising their three sons: Leroy, Robert, and Rodney. Their home was always full of the neighborhood children. She was active in school, church, and community activities. She was assistant leader of Campfire Girls, organized and was leader of Bonnie Bells 4-H Club, and also of Melbeta Blue Birds. She was involved in making a number of floats for Oregon Trail Days, Minatare and Melbeta schools, and Melbeta Methodist Church parades. Sue was a member of the Melbeta Methodist Church for 59 years and a member of the Scottsbluff Seventh-Day Adventist Church for 5 years. She was a Sunday school teacher for several years and helped with the Junior Choir. Sue joined Minatare Chapter #270 Eastern Star in 1947 and served in most stations. Walter and Sue were Worthy Patron and Worthy Matron in 1961. She was appointed Grand Representative, Massachusetts in Nebraska 1966 - 1968. Then as Grand Electa of Nebraska 1968 - 1969. She served 32 years as secretary of Minatare Chapter O.E.S. She was a member of Rebecca Lodge since 1952 and a Past Noble Grand of Minatare Rebecca Lodge in 1958. She belonged to the International Grand Representatives Association for many years, and Grand Representatives of Nebraska. She took part in their marches in Washington D.C.; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Denver, Colorado; Pierre, South Dakota; Missoula, Montana; Orlando, Florida, and Portland, Oregon. Sue was past President of the Rose Association of Nebraska in 2001, was assistant Grand Warder in 2003, and Past President of Nebraska Grand Representatives in 2004. She was president of Past Matrons in Gering for five years and District President of Past Matrons. Sue was Home Representative for Masonic Eastern Star Home in Fremont and served on the nominating committee for Nebraska Grand Representatives. In 1991, Sue was Vice President of Half Century of Gering Oregon Trail Days. She was elected Vice President of Old Settlers in 2001 and helped with the registration of Old Settlers for many years. Sue felt greatly honored to be named as Admiral of the Great Navy of the State of Nebraska in 1991 and again in 2002. The 2002 award was presented to her by then governor, Mike Johanns. Walter and Sue enjoyed traveling and visited all states in the United States with the exception of North Dakota. They also traveled to other countries including: England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Monte Carlo, Liechtenstein, Spain, France, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Egypt, Israel, Africa, Mexico and Canada. Other hobbies included: making 26 quilts, all of which were different - some embroidered and some appliqued. She collected dolls, collector plates and spoons. She had 337 spoons from every state and country she had gone to. She is survived by her husband, Walter of Melbeta, Nebraska: Sons, Leroy (Karen) of Keenesburg, Colorado; Robert and Rodney both of Alliance, Nebraska. Also surviving are 8 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, June Busch and Ruth Shelbourn, and grandson Jefrey Dean Johns.