Berdine L. Payne

Berdine L. Payne was born on December 16, 1929, in Harbine, KS, to I. Murrell (Tiny) and Marie (Behrens) Conzelman.  She left this world to be with our Lord on May 11, 2022.

Berdie had an amazing, long, happy life.  She often spoke of her childhood walking a mile and a half to country school in the snow with her brothers and sisters in tow. And how at age 12 she started “keeping books” for her dad’s busy blacksmith shop.  She was very proud of the fact that her dad went to welding college at Kansas State at the age of 13.  There he welded together a large chain that is still on display to this day.

She graduated high school from Byron, NE and went to school at Fairbury Jr. College for a year.  While in Fairbury she was with some friends driving past the J.C. Penney store when she saw a young man standing there in overalls, a straw hat, and bare feet.  Through friends, she met this man and on December 21, 1948, she married the love of her life, Joe. She moved to his hometown of Steele City and quickly made this town her forever home.

Joe & Berdie had three daughters: Jackie, Betty & Melanie Ann.  Berdie loved her family and was thrilled with every new family member. Especially her great & great-great-grandchildren.  When she spoke to people, she almost made it a contest to see who had the most grandkids.

She was an active member of the Steele City Presbyterian Church, Pythian Sister, the Fire Department, and the American Legion Auxiliary.  She helped Joe coach baseball, basketball, and volleyball.  They also set up an ice-skating rink in the backyard that many people remember.

After crushing her heel falling off a golf cart in the early 70’s (in which the doctors told her that she might not be able to walk normally again), she and Joe took up square dancing.  They travelled all over the country attending dances.  When they weren’t dancing, they were golfing, fishing, hunting, boating, swimming, ice skating, playing Bingo, or helping people.  Berdie was the first woman in Jefferson County to apply for a deer permit.  She filled that permit on the very first day with only one shot.  The story in the Lincoln Journal Star made mention that Mr. Payne had not yet filled his permit.

When Joe and his brother, Ralph, started the Fire Depart. in Steele City, Berdie was there to help.  When a report of a fire came in, she would call a list of men to go fight the fire.  If she couldn’t find enough men, she would drive the fire truck out herself.  She did this many times.

Berdie also sold Avon for nearly 60 years.  While doing this she rang a lot of doorbells and made a lot of friends.    Her granddaughters remember that every Christmas she would have a large box of Avon that they could go through and take whatever they wanted.  There was always plenty for everyone!

Berdie was tough!  In her life she battled broken bones, debilitating arthritis, heart attacks and cancer.  She fought each one with her strength, her wit and with a joke and a smile.  Even when she was almost 90 years old, she would meet a new doctor, nurse, or anyone else and say to them “Hi!, I’m a golfer! Do you golf?” And if they said no, she would say “Well, I’ll teach you!”

At 92 she has outlived most of her family.  And it seems that after living all these years and fighting all these health battles, that something as small as a fall would be the contributing factor that caused her end of life.  But she will have many happy faces to greet her on her journey to glory.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Joe, her daughters Jackie Nault and Melanie Ann Payne, parents Murrell and Marie Conzelman, sisters Shirley Davenport and Joann Garlock, brothers, Weldon & Mervin, brothers-in-law and sisters in law Leora & Clarence Iwohn, Marjorie & Tony Rende & Ralph & Rose Payne.

She is survived by daughter Betty and husband Butch Novotny of Endicott, grandchildren Greg & Chris Novotny, Marci & Simon York, all of Fairbury, Brenda & Brian Wilson of Clyde, KS, Richard & Pam Nault of Concordia, KS, Lisa Aytes of Hoisington, KS, 14 Great-grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Steele City, NE. Viewing and signing the book will begin Sunday from 2 – 7 at the funeral home. The family will greet friends on Monday evening from 6 – 7:30 at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Steele City Cemetery.  Memorials will go to the Steele City Presbyterian Church.  Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. www.gerdesmeyerfh.com