Ladonna Irene (Bell) Southwick

LaDonna Irene (Bell) Southwick, 87 of Fairbury, NE went home to be with her Savior on February 22, 2017 at Bryan East Hospital in Lincoln. She was born November 15, 1929 to George Dewey and Florence Irene (Rist) Bell in Beatrice, NE.

LaDonna married Gail, the love of her life, on September 14, 1947. This September would have marked their 70 years of sharing life together. The love of her family and friends stood throughout her life as a testimony of her abiding love for her Lord Jesus.


Following in his footsteps she left to her family and all who knew her the legacy of a servants heart. She was an engaged conversationalist, enjoyed a good pinochle game and had a special affinity for babies and young children. She especially cherished her eleven grandchildren and twenty-three great grandchildren. After choosing Fairbury to raise their family in 1952, LaDonna became involved in the life of the schools and community.

She was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Fairbury for 65 years, serving in many capacities including managing the children's’ nursery and hosting the bible study group that met for many years in their home. While raising a family of four children, she was the Southwick Conoco family business office manager, and provided Fairbury families with child care services who would drop off their children at her home. She volunteered for the local Red Cross blood drive, worked at the election board for over 50 years and was a member of the Gideons’ Auxiliary.

She loved hosting family gatherings in her home and in the city park and lavished all with wholesome meals, often serving homemade ice cream and German potato salad. Her loving warm smile and her wry sense of humor will long be remembered along with her caring ways that blessed her friends and four generations of her family.

Survivors are husband Gail Murray Southwick of Fairbury, sons Merlin (Betty) of Jamaica Plain, MA, Ronald (Bonnie) of Fairbury, Rex (Judy) of Valley, NE and daughter Gayla (Southwick) Bahm of Lincoln, NE, grandchildren Amanda (& Dana) Martens of Dilworth MN,
Luke (& Crystal) Southwick of Fayetteville NC, Mary Southwick of Washington DC, Edie (& RJ) Crandall of Beatrice, Mike (& Amy) Southwick of Beatrice, John (& Tara) Southwick of Beatrice, Nate (& Susan) Bahm of Lincoln, Jay (& Tiffany) Bahm of Lincoln,
Andy (& Tausha) Bahm of Lincoln, Jesse (& Hilary) Southwick of Boston MA, Zachary (& Liz) Southwick of Boston MA, 22 great-grandchildren + one on the way.

She was preceded in death by her parents George & Florence (Rist) Bell, brothers Daryl & Loren Bell, sister Beverly Robinson and son-in-law Kenneth Bahm

Services will be Saturday, February 25, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Fairbury with Pastor Kyle Bendorf officiating.
Memorials will go to the First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Fairbury Cemetery. The family will greet friends on Friday from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home in Fairbury.