Nellie E. (Jackson) Johnson

Nellie (Jackson) Johnson was born to R.A. (Dick) and Josephine Maye (Wheeler) Jackson on a farm southeast of Ainsworth, NE on May 3rd, 1929 and passed away March 15th, 2024 at the Sandhills Care Center.

When Nellie was about two years old, they moved to Ainsworth where she attended school and graduated in 1946. On June 26th of that same year, she was married to Lloyd R. Johnson and they started their married life on the Johnson Ranch 16 miles south of Johnstown, NE. This is where Beverly and Cynthia were born. They lived there until 1950, then moved into Grandma Myrtle Wheeler’s basement in the Buffalo Flats area for three months, before renting Guy Anderson’s farm ten miles northeast of Ainsworth. In 1952, they purchased 400 acres of land from Elmer Allen and made this their home for the next 29 years. This is where Michael was born. In 1981, they built and moved into a new home six miles north of Ainsworth on the Sand Draw.

In 1969, Nellie began working as a substitute mail carrier for Jack Claussen on Route 2 for 19 years. Nellie also enjoyed working with wood and made lots of crafts. She and her husband, Lloyd started making wooden banks with post office fronts after their daughter Cindy gave Lloyd his first one. After Lloyd passed away, she continued making banks for her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and even great-greatgrandkids, totaling approximately 60. At Christmas time Lloyd and Nellie would decorate their house on the Sand Draw and even won the Christmas lighting contest. Nellie would say that even though she was a city girl, there wasn’t anything she couldn’t do on the farm. Farmers and ranchers appreciated Nellie calling into the radio station to give the rain report for the Sand Draw, until she moved into Cottonwood Villa in 2022. Nellie also made many wedding cakes, starting with her daughter, Bev’s in 1965. Her last one was for her granddaughter, Kandra in 2007. She also loved to play cards and played with several different groups and card clubs over the years.

Nellie was a member of the Ainsworth Congregational Church. She served in many organizations including being a 50+ year member of the Bethany Chapter #113 Order of the Eastern Star where she was once a Worthy Matron, Does Drove #54 being a flag attendant for many years and the Rebekah’s until they disbanded. Nellie was also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and a lifetime member of the Brown County Foundation.

Nellie is preceded in death by her father, Dick (1978); husband, Lloyd (1994); mother, Maye (1996); siblings, Delmar (1978), Ellen (2005), Robert (2012); and daughter, Cindy (2021).

Survivors include daughter, Beverly (Dean) Painter of Ainsworth; son, Mike (Wanda) Johnson of Ainsworth; son-in-law, Jerry Quadhamer of Hildreth, NE; sister-in-law, Doris Bauman of Raymore, MO; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and other family members.

Funeral Services were held Thursday, March 21, 2024 at Hoch Funeral Home in Ainsworth, officiated by Pastor Gary Graesser. CD selections of “The Old Rugged Cross” and “I Want to Stroll Over Heaven With You” by Alan Jackson, and “Just Beyond the Moon” by Tex Ritter were played within the service. Special memories of Nellie and tributes were given by Rick Buoy, Tammy Painter and Courtney Leeds. Casketbearers were Brandon Painter, Austin Painter, Bo Painter, Dusty Dillon, Matt Dillon and Tate Dillon. Honorary Casketbearers were Marty Painter, Terry Quadhamer, Brad Quadhamer, Nick Auwerda, Mike Trentman, Chad Quadhamer, Ryan Leeds and James Dillon. Organizational rites were given by Bethany Chapter #113, Order of the Eastern Star, and Ainsworth Does Drove #54. Interment followed in the Ainsworth Cemetery. Memorials were suggested to the family in Nellie’s name for future designation. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth was in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome. com.