Charlotte Runyan

Grand Island , NE- Charlotte O. Runyan age 83 of Grand Island formerly of Mason City died Saturday April 9, 2011 at the Grand Island Veterans Home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday April 16, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Ansley with Reverend Michael Laing and Reverend John Lewis officiating. Inurnment will be held on Sunday at 2:00 PM at the Mason City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday 8 AM to 8 PM at Govier Bros. Mortuary in Broken Bow and Saturday 11:00 Am until service time at the United Methodist Church in Ansley. The family prefers that memorials are given to the United Methodist Church in Ansley or the Homeward Trail Bible Camp at Mason City, both were very important to Charlotte. Charlotte Orcelia Davis Runyan was born September 5, 1927 at the home of her parents Clarence and Mary Edith (Hogg) Davis on the Burdick place North of Broken Bow, NE. She went home to be with the LORD March 9, 2011. Charlotte graduated from grade school at South Happy Hollow Rural School District. She graduated from Mason City High School in 1945. She wanted to go into nursing but since money was tight and she had Normal Training classes in High School she taught school for one year at a country school east of Westerville, NE. She married her High School Sweetheart, Dillard Runyan June 9, 1946. She stayed with her parents while Dillard was serving in the Army. After Dillard’s release from the military, they made their home on the Emery Runyan farm. Charlotte became the farmhand when Dillard contracted polio in 1948. She was not only Wife and Mother, but also tractor operator, fence fixer, cow wrangler, and jack-of-all farm work. She also took care of the needs that Dillard couldn’t do for himself. She was a member of the Mason City Methodist Church until it dissolved, and then moved her membership to the Ansley Methodist Church. She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, sang in the choir, led Bible Classes, and helped cook at Homeward Trail Bible Camp near Mason City. She has also been a member of the Mason City Auxiliary, Rebekah’s and Mason Mixers. After Dillard’s death Charlotte did many other jobs. She worked though the Green Thumb Project as an Aide at the Mason City School, she was a companion for some elderly people in the Mason City and Ansley Area who needed some to help with personal care needs they couldn’t do for themselves. She moved from her home on the farm where she had lived for over 60 years to Husker Homes in Ansley in October 2009. She became a resident of the Grand Island Veterans Home after her stroke in November 2010. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She leaves to celebrate her Home Going, 2 Brothers: Cameron and wife Carol (Bobbie) of Junction City, KS, and George Davis of Salone, IA. 2 Sisters: Janet Claire Johnson of Kearney, NE and Wilma and husband Arlin Rowse of Chambers, NE. 3 Sons: Delson and wife Elaine of Mason City, NE, Lyle and wife Emma Jean of Sargent, NE, and Sidney and wife Kay of Colorado Springs, CO; 1 daughter Edith and husband Patrick of Kearney, NE, 12 Grand Children; 29 Great-Grand Children; and 9 Great-Great Grand children. She is preceded in death by her Husband, Dillard; her parents Clarence and Mary Edith Davis, her step mother Martha Roberts Davis, 1 Granddaughter, and 4 Great-Grand Children.