Mary Ann Clinger

North Platte, NE- Mary Ann Clinger age 89 of Ansley, Ne, died Saturday March 5, 2011 at her son’s home in North Platte, after a brief and courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held Friday March 11, at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church in Ansley with Rev. Robert Hughbanks and Rev. Bill Ragan officiating. Burial will be in the Ansley Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday March 9th 8 AM to 8 PM at Govier Bros. Mortuary in Broken Bow with the family greeting friends 5 PM to 8 PM. A Praise Service will be held Thursday evening at 7:00 PM at the Calvary Baptist Church in North Platte with Rev. Dave Logsdon officiating. Memorials are suggested to the First Baptist Church in Ansley, the GPRMC Hospice in North Platte or the donor’s choice. Mary Ann Clinger was born to Arthur Carl Mattson and Myrtle (Carlson) Mattson at home in Phelps County near Elm Creek, NE, on April 23, 1921. She weighed only 3 lbs. at birth. She attended Snow Ball Country School until 1929 when the family moved to Edmond, KS. She attended country school thru the eighth grade and then went to Edmond her freshman and sophomore year. In 1939 her family moved to North Platte, NE where she graduated from High School in 1941. Mary Ann committed her life to Christ when she was 14 years old. She was baptized in the North Platte Baptist Church. She married Melvin Clinger who was the love of her life on January 25, 1945. They farmed near North Platte until 1950 when they moved to Ansley, NE, where they farmed. In 1991 Melvin and Mary Ann bought a home in Ansley, where she lived until health issues forced her to reside at her son’s home in North Platte. Born to this union were six children. Mary Esther Focken Chalupa and husband Max of Scottsbluff, NE, Sandra Ann Goodwater of Ansley, LeRoy Arthur Clinger and wife Vera of Kearney, Orin Mark Clinger and wife Becky of Kearney, Calvin Carl Clinger and wife Pat of North Platte, and Melvina Delores Bundy and husband George of Ansley. Mary Ann loved the Lord and tried to set an example and to be a Christian witness at all times. She was active in her church where she served as the Choir director with her love of Christian music. She was an active member of her missionary group and attended multiple Bible studies which she continued to do even after she moved to North Platte. She was preceded in death by her husband Melvin in 1998, brothers, Virgil Mattson, and SeVern Mattson, sisters, Sarah Sleffel, Sylvia Nelson, and Farrel Adkins Broeder, a son-in-law Clarence Focken, and a grandson Christopher Chalupa. She is survived by her six children, 25 grandchildren, 61 great grandchildren and 18 great great grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother-in-law Harold Clinger and wife Nelda, of Oregon, sisters-in-law Laura Bending of North Platte and Myrtle Clinger of Nevada, special friend Harold Burrow, and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.