Evelyn Marie (Kinney)Durner, 94, of Wellfleet passed on March 18, 2024 in North Platte, NE surrounded by her family.
Evelyn was born July 18, 1929 in Enders, NE to William and Hattie (Lee) Kinney. She was the second of five children. She joined brother Warren at home and was later joined by Mary Lou, Roberta, and Kenneth. She spent her childhood in rural Chase and Hayes counties. She attended Wauneta schools until her senior year. She was in the Hayes County High School graduating class of 1946. One memorable highlight for Evelyn in her early teenage years was going to the Canteen in North Platte with her mom and some other women. She couldn’t believe how many soldiers were there! After graduating high school, Evelyn got her teaching certificate at McCook College and spent time teaching in several country schools. One of her favorite stories to tell was during the blizzard of ‘49. She would get the stove going and teach until the wind started blowing. Then she would get them bundled up and ready to go home before the roads were drifted shut.
Evelyn married Merle Durner on July 27, of 1952. They made their home and raised their family on the ranch near Wellfleet, NE. Merle and Evelyn had two children, Roger and Nancy. Evelyn was a housewife and teacher spanning almost six decades. She even rode the bus to school when she was 80 years young!
In 2020, Evelyn was the Grand Marshal of the Wellfleet fall festival. Evelyn was a Cornhusker fan and is still mad about the infamous Texas game.
You could find Evelyn in the garden where she loved to spend time, tending to her chickens, in the kitchen canning, or maybe at her sewing machine. If she wasn’t there, she was at one of her grandkids’ events. It has been said that you could count on Evelyn to always be there for her many nieces and nephews. Memorials are suggested to the family. Online condolences may be shared at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home www.adamsswanson.com.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years; her parents; siblings, Warren, Roberta (Glen Coleman), and Marylou (Jack Smolik); her father and mother-in-law, John and Dorothy Durner; sisters in law; Joan (Jake) West, Jean (George) Elson; niece, Marilyn Cole.
Evelyn is survived by her son, Roger (Dee) Durner, and daughter, Nancy (Ron) Richardson; brother, Kenneth (Beverly) Kinney; sister-in-law, Isabel Kinney; grandchildren, Amy (Jerry) Durner- Faulk, Jason Richardson, Leslie (Mark) Brown, Brooke (Cody) Lee, Austin (Myriah) Durner, and Casey Durner; 11 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. The newest of which was Meadow Marie, named after her great-great-grandmother on March 14, 2024.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M., Friday, March 22, 2024 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home with Pastor Greg Boller officiating. Burial will follow at the Wellfleet Cemetery, Wellfleet, Nebraska. Visitation will be noon – 7, Thursday with family receiving friends from 5-7 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home who is the assisting the family with arrangements.
For those who are unable to attend the service will be live streamed on our website at www.adamsswanson.com .