Delmira Oatman

Delmira Oatman age 89 of Broken Bow, NE formerly of Ainsworth passed away January 13, 2022, at the Brookestone View in Broken Bow.

Memorial services will be Thursday, January 20, 2022, at 10:30 am the United Methodist Church in Broken Bow with Pastor Phil Sloat officiating. Inurnment will be at 3:00 pm in the Ainsworth Cemetery in Ainsworth, NE. Memorials are suggested to the Broken Bow United Methodist Church. A register book may be signed at Govier Brothers Mortuary. Govier Brothers Mortuary are in charge of arrangements. An online guest book may be signed at www.govierbrothers.com.

Delmira Irene Peterson was born March 7, 1932, the oldest child of Delmer and Rachel (Lux) Peterson.  Her early years were spent south of Valentine on the Snake River, then later moving to the Bassett area, where she graduated from Rock County High School in 1949.

Delmira met Dale Oatman while in high school. She was working at the Buechel ranch helping to feed the hay crew. Dale lived on the neighboring Moon Lake ranch. The couple was united in marriage on May 13, 1949, and moved to a ranch north of Basset where Dale worked for the Arrowsmith ranch. Born to this union is Dean Rollin Oatman, July 1, 1950, Dayle Enid Oatman Sanford, December 2, 1952, Donalee Ann Oatman Lamb, August 21, 1954, and Davey Michael Oatman, December 31, 1964.

In the mid 1950's they moved to Spokane, Washington where Dale worked in a lumber mill and for the railroad. Delmira worked for the telephone company.

In 1958 they moved to Ainsworth. Two adults, three young children, a miniature dachshund and a trailer hitched to the back of the family car, through the mountains in March, Delmira was afraid of falling off of the road and kept telling Dale to move over until he offered to let her drive.

Dale and Delmira provided temporary foster care to a number of children removed from their families.  They lived 10 miles out of town and the local Child Protection Services felt that they were ideal as the families would not be able to locate their children. They were very active in the Ainsworth United Methodist Church, both became Lay Speakers and traveled to other churches to speak several times a year.

They worked on the ranch and Delmira took a job in Ainsworth as a secretary in a law office. After the ranch was sold in 1979, they moved into Ainsworth where Delmira continued working as a paralegal in the Cassel Law office. Dale worked as a carpenter.

In November 1986 the couple moved to Elkhorn, NE. Delmira worked as an accountant and then a paralegal for several firms over the years. She always seemed to follow her favorite lawyer, Ron Parsonage, from firm to firm. She continued to do some estate trust work even after she finally retired. She found it hard to retire and continued taking short term jobs when a firm need help to fill in.

Dale and Delmira both worked for Habitat for Humanity for a number of years. Dale as the construction foreman and Delmira on the Board of Directors.

In Elkhorn just about the first thing Dale and Delmira did was join the Elkhorn United Methodist Church. At that time the church was meeting in a former bar in a strip mall. That soon changed and Dale was the head of the building committee to build the new church. He was also the construction foreman when the church built the education wing using volunteers from the congregation.

Delmira was on most of the various church committees and was very active in the United Methodist Women. She attended the State church conference and the National United Methodist Women's conference. She taught high school Sunday School for several years

Dale passed on July 2, 2001. In 2013 Delmira moved to Broken Bow. She became a member of the Broken Bow United Methodist Church. In 2018 Delmira moved to Brookestone View care home she passed away on January 13, 2022.

Delmira is survived by her children Dean (Linda) Oatman of Trinidad, CO, Dayle (Roger) Stanford of Omaha, Donalee (Dave) Lamb of Anselmo, and Dave Oatman of Omaha, six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, two brothers, and a sister.