Elta Verna (Kracke) Whitney, age 85, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on June 7, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Center in Auburn, Nebraska. Elta was born on August 6, 1938 in a car on the way to the hospital in Pawnee City, Nebraska. She was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith. Elta graduated from Humboldt High School in 1956. After high school, she attended Commercial Extension in Omaha and worked at Western Securities in Omaha. Elta was united in marriage to Gary Whitney and farmed with him north of Humboldt until his death in 2010.

In 2010, Elta moved to Auburn, Nebraska and resided at Longs Creek Village and later Good Samaritan Nursing Home. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Humboldt and later Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn, serving on several committees at the church over the years and the prison ministry. Hobbies included making crafts, raising various pets/animals, attending farm sales with Gary, working in her enormous gardens and with her flowers, farming, and tending to the livestock. She was a member of the Fiddle Faddle, Golden Rule, and the Bluebird Association clubs. Elta adored and was devoted to her family, loved seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren – often marveling at their talents and laughing at their antics, and especially enjoyed spending time feeding and watching birds.

Elta was preceded in death by her parents, Henry “Hank” and Lena (Meyer) Kracke; husband, Gary Whitney; brother, Ervin and sister-in-law, Elsie Kracke; sister, Eileen and brother-in-law, LaVerne Woltemath; brother-in-law, Donald Johnson; and daughter- in-law, Dora Whitney. She is survived by her two sons, Byron (Lori) Whitney and Todd Whitney; one daughter, Sheila (Randy) Boden; grandchildren, Megan (Tommy) Bakken, Larissa Whitney, Logan (Miranda) Whitney, Bryce Boden, and Lauren Boden; great grandchildren, Kendra Whitney, Lucas Bakken, Alice Bakken, and Annalee Whitney; sister, Laura Johnson; brother-in-law, David Whitney; sister-in-law, Jan (Lyle) Larsen; nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

We would like to extend special thanks and appreciation to all of Elta’s family, brothers and sisters in Christ, and dear friends (too many to name) who gave of their time and talents to assist mother over the years, as well as much gratitude to the caring staff of the Longs Creek Village, Good Samaritan Society and St. Croix Hospice. You all touched our hearts and enhanced mother’s quality of life – thank you and may God richly bless you all!

Mother, your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure. You are loved beyond words and will be missed beyond measure. Until we meet again.

Funeral Services were held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 11, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn with Pastor Brent Berg officiating. The service was also live-streamed on the Hall Funeral Chapel Facebook page for those unable to attend. Pallbearers were David Johnson, Daniel Johnson, Ken Rieken, Jim Hoemann, Roger Woltemath, Brian Kracke, Terry Whitney, Shawn Semin and Tom Zerull. Sandy Wilson, organist, accompanied congregational hymns, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” and “How Great Thou Art.” Vocalist, Carol Rieken sang, “Just A Closer Walk With Thee.” Interment was in the Humboldt Cemetery, Humboldt, Nebraska. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Trinity Lutheran Church in Auburn, Nebraska or your local Lutheran Family and Social Services chapter in Elta’s memory. Condolences may be left online at www.hallfuneral. net. Hall Funeral Chapel in Auburn was in charge of arrangements.