Vera A. (Dein) Mathieson

Vera Anna Achtemeier, daughter of William and Anna (Wegele) Achtemeier was born on October 1, 1920 on a farm East of Jansen, NE. She was the fourth child of seven. In the Spring of 1929 the family moved to a farm East of Alexandria, NE. Vera attended rural school in Jansen then later at District 77 in Jefferson County. On April 4, 1944 she was confirmed into full membership at the Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, NE
Vera was united in marriage to Bernard Dein on August 12, 1942 at Salina, KS. To this union two daughters were born, Linda Kay and Peggy Lee.
Results of an auto accident Bernard passed away on December 3, 1958. Vera and her daughters moved to Hebron, NE where she worked 31 years until she retired on April 15, 1989. Her first job in Hebron was working for Bob Stutz at the Long Branch Cafe from June 1959 till February 1961 then went to work for Jack Kutlas at the Lincoln Ave Cafe until December 1961. She was asked to come work at the Hested Store where she worked at until February 1977. She managed the store for several years through several owner changes and eventually became Ben Franklin. She managed that store until she left in February 1977. During the time she worked at the store she still did cafe work for Russell & Frances Prentiss at Ells Cafe from November 1962 through December 1968. After leaving Ben Franklin Vera started working for Reinke Mfg. Co in Deshler until August 1977 when there was a company layoff. It was in January 1978 that she began working for Dr. John Butler O.O.P. through September 1981. It was in then that Vera took an extended vacation in California returning to Nebraska August 1982. Upon her return she went back to work at the Legion Club. Vera spent 22 years working at the Legion Club - March 1967 until April 1989. When she retired from the Club they made her a Lifelong member of the American Legion Auxiliary #180.
April 18, 1989 Vera married Donald Mathieson of Caldwell, ID where they made their home. November 4, 2002 they moved back to Hebron. Donald passed away unexpectedly on July 4, 2003.
Vera remained in her own home until shortly after her 97th birthday. Her favorite pastime was crocheting doilies for herself and family, making afghans, cross-stitching and watching baseball.
Vera is preceded in death by her parents William & Anna (Wegele) Achtemeier: husbands Bernard Dein and Donald Mathieson; siblings and spouses Harry and Minnie Achtemeier, Lillian (Achtemeier) and Arley Boley, Edna (Achtemeier) and Harry Eden, Vernon and Lois Achtemeier, Marie (Achtemeier) and Wilmer Davidson; brothers-in-law Frank (Bud) Bedlan and George Dein;brother-in-law and spouse Melvin and Edna Dein; sister-in-law Lois Dein; sister-in-law and spouse Carol (Dein) and Jerry Harlan; sons-in-law Orin (Whitey) Quandt and Dale Lipps.
She is survived by her daughters Linda (Dein) Quandt of Lincoln, NE; Peggy (Dein) Lipps of Rio Verde, AZ; Step-daughter Donna and husband Joe Lam of Boise, ID; Step-son Edward Mathieson of Bellevue, WA; grandchildren Carrie and husband Gary MacDonald of Denton, TX; Bryan and wife Jennifer Lipps-Dein of Scottsdale, AZ; Kendra and husband Mitch Coffee of Mountain Brook, AL; step granddaughters Danae Overman of Corvallis, OR; Lurinda Lam of Eagle, ID; Lisa Lam of Boise, ID; great-grandchildren Taylor Hogeland of Denton, TX, Dylan Hogeland of Lincoln, NE, Payton and Sydney Coffee of Mountain Brook, AL; Madison Lipps of CA, Jacob and Lillie Lipps Dein of Scottsdale, AZ; great-great-grandson Oliver Hogeland of Denton, TX; sisters-in-law Donna (Achtemeier) Bedlan of Hebron, NE and Edna (Candy) Dein of Fairbury; numerous nieces and nephews.