Laoma Grube

Laoma Ann Nelson was born the 1st child of Chris and Mae (Witters) Nelson on a farm along Lovely Creek, east of Franklin on April 9, 1922. She had 4 siblings, LaVern, Arlene, Lorrayne, and Barbara. When she was a small child the family moved to Minden where she attended school. When she was 11 years old her mother passed away and Chris moved his family to his parents farm north-east of Franklin. He then went to Oregon to find work in a saw mill. His parents, William and Elizabeth Nelson, along with his sisters, Marie, and Anna and his brother, Fred, cared for Laoma and her siblings. When Laoma was 13 her father was killed in a saw mill accident. Laoma helped care for their younger sisters. Her Aunt Marie became a mother to the children and was a very great influence in Laoma's life.

On July 5, 1942 Laoma and the neighbor's son, Albert E. Grube, went to Smith Center, Kansas, and started their married life which lasted 51 years until his death on February 28, 1994. The couple lived with his parents, Eldy and Anna Grube until they purchased the Kleen farm north of the Grube Homestead. After Albert's death, Laoma moved to Franklin. Born to this union were Crystal, Steve, Dick, Stan, Wes, and Bill.

Albert and Laoma worked hard to support their family. Laoma raised a huge garden and canned foods for winter during the summer. She was a helper to Albert in doing the chores, helping irrigate and move pipe and picking corn. Laoma loved flowers and always had a bunch planted in her yard both on the farm and in town. Her favorite was roses. She also loved animals, especially cats, and dogs, and always had pets on the farm. She missed the cows when she moved to Franklin, but not always sure she liked them so much during the winter months when they were milking them. After she moved to Golden Living Center in May of this year, the highlight of visits from her great grandson, Isaak, was when he brought his dog, Sami, to visit. She would sit and hold Sami the whole visit.

Laoma made sure that her children participated in baseball during the summer months taking time to take them to practices and games. She also took them to Sunday School and Church. For many years they went to Riverton to church. Then in 1956 the family joined the Macon Methodist Church. Laoma was a Sunday School and Bible School teacher and a member of the M.A.W.S. After she moved to Franklin, she attended services at the Missionary Church.

The family enjoyed many picnics and fishing trips. She enjoyed going to square dances every week with Albert. He played the fiddle in the band and Laoma danced many square and round dances. Her children grew up sleeping behind the piano until the dance was over.

Family dinners and get together's were important to Laoma. Many people, family and friends, enjoyed the many delicious meals that were served from her kitchen. Laoma was a good cook and always prepared plenty. She "adopted" many people who had limited or no family in the area and they became part of the family at these gatherings.

When Albert retired from farming he and Laoma traveled to many states visiting family and friends. She traveled with him to attend old fiddler's contest. The last year of Albert's life, she cared for him while he was suffering from cancer. After his death she bought a house in Franklin and moved. She kept busy visiting people, going to the Senior Citizen's Center for meals and playing cards. She and her cousin, Alverna Brown, and other friends visited, ate meals at her house, and played cards. She would go out to the nursing center and visit and help with Bingo.

Her children and grandchildren were always important to her and she took an interest in all they did. She especially enjoyed her great-grandchildren. Proverbs 17:6 says "Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged", and Proverbs 13:22 says "Good people leave an inheritance to their grandchildren." Laoma loved all her grandchildren deeply and has left them an inheritance. She left them a legacy of love and caring. A legacy of knowing how to treat people and being a good citizen.

Laoma was called to her heavenly home by her God and Savior on the morning of October 19, at the Golden Living Center. Preceding her in death besides her husband, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, were her brother, LaVern, and sister, and brother-in-law, Arlene and Paul Rust. Left to mourn her are her children, her 17 grandchildren and 31 great-grand-children, her sisters, Lorrayne and Delwyn Dunkin, of Barstow, CA; and Barbara and Mel Solomon of Lincoln, CA, her cousins, Alverna Brown, many nieces, nephews, and friends. She will be missed by all, but will rejoice with us when we join her in heaven.