Marla K. Bruder

Marla was the youngest of four children born to Harold and Blanche (Stauffer) Schneider. She was born on June 5, 1960, in Cozad, Nebraska. On February 19, 1961, she was baptized at Parkview United Methodist Church in Cozad and became a member of this church May 19, 1974. Raised on the family ranch outside of Cozad, she learned early the values of hard work and care for others—qualities that remained evident throughout her life. She attended elementary school at Country School #69 and graduated from Cozad High School in 1978.

From her youth, Marla embraced ranch life and the responsibilities that came with it. She worked cattle, participated in barrel racing, and was a 4H member. She was honored to be a Lexington Rodeo Queen and earned recognition as a Showmanship Champion with her favorite horse, Peppy.

In 1980, Marla met Mark Bruder, and they were married on June 13, 1981, at Parkview United Methodist Church in Cozad. Together they made their home in rural Crete, Nebraska, where they raised their two girls. She spent many years working in the surplus section of the Department of Corrections for the State of Nebraska.

Marla enjoyed hunting deer with Mark and loved doing 3D hunts together. They and their daughters enjoyed going to tractor pulls and helping a family friend. She was a devoted and loving mom to her daughters. As a family, they looked forward to weekends out west to Marla's hometown to spend time with family. She and Mark always attended their daughters' school and sporting events.

She was a very proud grandma and went to her granddaughters' concerts, honors nights, church and sporting events and spent as much time with them as possible with sleepovers and grandma time; never wanting to miss a minute of anything that involved them. Even if they didn’t play in the ballgame, she felt it key that they knew they were important to her to be there. Marla would arrive very early to the school events; not just to get a good parking spot but to watch warm-ups, too.

Though Marla could not attend, she fought hard to watch the ceremony on video the night her granddaughter Makenna was inducted into the National Honor Society. She loved that Maliyah was an all-star softball player and was able to watch her first home run. She was always the loudest one cheering for Marley even though it was just a T-ball game. She loved those girls with her entire heart.

It became routine for Marla to stop once or twice a day to the Scooter’s in Crete, where employees knew her order without asking: a Super Skinny Kit Kat. Her chocolate lab, Ellie Mae, always rode shotgun and would get her pup cup, too. In these small, familiar moments—as in the larger milestones of life—Marla’s kindness and steadfast presence were unmistakable.

Marla was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Blanche Schneider, her father- and mother-in-law, Ronald and Kay Bruder, brother-in-law John Slack and great-nephew Isaac Neal Schneider.

Marla's legacy will be carried on by her devoted husband, Mark and their two daughters, Mandy Bruder of Wilber, Nebraska, and Melissa (Jordan) Pedersen of Friend, Nebraska. She is also survived by three granddaughters, Makenna, Maliyah and Marley Pedersen. Brother Randy (Cindy) Schneider and sisters Vicki Schneider of Cozad and Paula Slack of Central City, Nebraska. She will also be missed by aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends left behind.

A visitation with family present will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S 14th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Monday, May 11, 2026, at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home.

The family requests casual dress for celebrating Marla's life. They also ask in lieu of flowers, that memorials be given to the family for future designation.