Henrietta Mae Blue, 97, departed from this life on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at Highland Park Care Center in Alliance, Nebraska.
Henrietta Mae Blue was born October 7, 1926, in Sutherland, Nebraska, the daughter of Ira and Florence (VanMeter) Huffman.
Henrietta attended rural school District 8 in Arthur County through the eighth grade. She attended Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis for her first two years of high school and then attended North Platte High School, where she graduated in 1944. She was employed with several businesses, including Ely-Hoppe Lumber Co. in North Platte from 1949-1952. In 1952, Henrietta was chosen as Miss Buffalo Bill Rodeo Queen at North Platte.
On October 19, 1952, Henrietta was united in marriage to Roy B. O’Mara. The couple resided on the Spade Ranch near Ellsworth, Nebraska, where they were employed by Lawrence Bixby. In February 1953, they moved to the Swan Lake Ranch in Arthur County. A few months later, they moved to the east part of Swan Lake Ranch and resided on the Parsons, located in McPherson County. They were there until December 1957, when they returned to Swan Lake. Four children were born to Roy and Henrietta: Connie, William, Patrick, and Randy.
After Roy passed away in July of 1978, Henrietta continued to manage the ranch until 1988 when she then moved to Ogallala, Nebraska. After moving away from the ranch life, she was employed as a housekeeper for Lowel “Buck” Barrett and then later on as a cook for Haythorn Land & Cattle Company at Ackley Valley from 1989 to 1991.
On June 6, 1992, Henrietta was united in marriage to Kenneth Blue and was married for 24 years. In January 2017, Henrietta moved to Alliance to be closer to her family. She continued to live by herself in an apartment until July 2023, when she moved to Highland Park Care Center.
Ranch life was Henrietta’s greatest desire, working both in the home and outdoors. She enjoyed cooking as well as all the duties involved with ranch life. She especially loved her milk cows and chickens. Henrietta loved helping and taking care of people.
Henrietta attended the Methodist Church in North Platte, Arthur Baptist Church, Ogallala St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Alliance Methodist Church, and Lakeside Church. Henrietta was a member of the Helping Hand Club and Does Drove #252.
Henrietta loved following her grandchildren, Megan Messersmith and Rory de Ganahl to their school activities and later following her great-grandchildren in their school and 4-H activities.
Preceding her in death were her parents, both husbands, brother Marvin Huffman and wife Loree, sister Emma Melvin and husband DeWayne, son William (Dr. Bill), nephew Wayne Melvin, niece Carol Moran and nephew Jim Huffman.
She is survived by her daughter Connie (Chris) de Ganahl of Lakeside Nebraska, son Pat (Pam) O’Mara of Glendale, Arizona, and son Randy O’Mara of Mitchell, Nebraska. Grandchildren: Megan (Tyler) Messersmith of Hayes Center, Nebraska, and Rory (Kelsey) de Ganahl of Lakeside, Nebraska. Great grandchildren: Ava, June, Paige and Brooke Messersmith, Margot and Roger de Ganahl, and all her special nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held on Monday, November 20th, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. at The Arthur Baptist Church in Arthur, Nebraska. Pastor Greg Reed of Lakeside Methodist Church of Lakeside, Nebraska, and Rev. Blake Wilkes of Arthur Baptist Church of Arthur, Nebraska will be officiating.
Inurnment will take place on Monday, November 20th, 2023 in the Arthur Cemetery in Arthur, Nebraska.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be sent to Connie de Ganahl at 1753 304th Trl, Lakeside, NE 69351 for a cause to be designated later.
Online condolences may be left at www.drauckerfh.com.
To watch the service please visit www.drauckerfh.com.
Draucker Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.