Edith Mae (Palmer) Whitbeck

Edith Mae (Palmer) Whitbeck, age 89, of Arapahoe, Nebraska died on November 19, 2019 at the C.A. Mues Good Samaritan Center, in Arapahoe, Nebraska. She was born November 15, 1930 on a farm south of Indianola Nebraska to Lyle and Marie (Darrow) Palmer. During her early childhood she lived on various farms in Nebraska and in Jose, Colorado. She attended school at the Union Country School south of Arapahoe and graduated from Arapahoe High School with the class of 1947. She was baptized at Arapahoe Christian Church. She married John A. Whitbeck on January 6, 1948 in Holdrege Nebraska. They were married for 53 years until his death in 2001. They settled in Arapahoe operating a feed store and creamery, starting in 1949. During this time their son Larry and daughter Cathy were born. They lived in Cambridge while John was working for the Bureau of Land Reclamation. Then moved to Utah from 1953-1954 while John worked on the Wanship Dam project. In 1955 they took over operation of the family farm south of Arapahoe. Their daughter Lisa was born while they lived on the farm. They farmed and were breeders of registered Black Angus Cattle. Because of health issues they sold the farm and moved to town in 1973. In 1975 they purchased the Rock Inn in Arapahoe. After remodeling, they opened as the Shady Rest Motel. She continued to operate the motel following John’s death in 2001. She loved animals, especially horses and dogs. She and her daughter Lisa loved riding their horses in the Arapahoe area and Edith Mae would occasionally go with Lisa to the dog shows. She was also passionate about music. She played the piano and organ for Arapahoe Christian Church for many years. She also played for many special occasions and events in Arapahoe. She also enjoyed watching birds and squirrels, even having feeders outside her windows at the Care Center. Edith Mae is survived by her son Larry and wife Joy Whitbeck of Lincoln, Illinois, daughter Cathy and husband Glen Meyers of Exira, Iowa, son-in-law Darrell Ohrman of Arapahoe, Nebraska, grandsons John Robert Whitbeck of Floyds Knob, Indiana and Paul Meyers of Lansing, Kansas. Great-Grandchildren Grace, Bailey, Treton, & Madilyn. Sisters Erma Hanson and H. Jean Tigner, both of Kearney, Nebraska. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband John, daughter Lisa Ohrman, infant brother and brother Roger and wife Connie Tigner, and sister Iva Ruth Palmer, Visitation will be held on Thursday November 21, 2019 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Wenburg Funeral Chapel, 652 Main Street, Arapahoe, Nebraska. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Friday, November 22, 2019 at 10:30 am at Arapahoe Christian Church, Arapahoe, Nebraska with Pastor Kirk Einspahr, officiating. Interment will follow at the Arapahoe Cemetery, in Arapahoe, Nebraska. Wenburg Funeral Home of Arapahoe, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements. Condolence or personal reflections may be left at wenburgfuneralhome.com