Velma Lorraine Knapp

Services for Velma L. Knapp age 92 of Neligh formerly of Orchard will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 19th, 2014 at the United Methodist Church in Orchard. Visitation for Velma will be from 5-8 PM. Wednesday at the Ashburn Funeral Home in Orchard with a Eastern Star Service at 8:00 PM. Burial will be in the Orchard Hill Cemetery.

Velma Knapp was born on February 13, 1922 in Hansen County, SD to John Richard and Esther Vera (Durkee) Alderson. Her family moved to Antelope County, NE on March 1, 1934. Velma attended rural schools and Orchard Public High School graduating in May 1939. She graduated from Ewing Public High School in May 1940 with a teaching certificate and taught in rural Holt County for 1 year. Velma married Wayne Lautenschlager on May 18, 1941 and they had two daughters, Jenelle and Carma. They lived on the Lautenschlager farm southwest of Orchard until 1966 when they moved into Orchard. They were divorced in 1975.

Velma kept the Orchard school board books from 1954 to 1984. She was the school secretary for Orchard Public School from 1966 to 1984.
Velma married Richard Knapp on August 15, 1980.

Velma was a 50+ year member of the Order of Eastern Star holding many different offices over the years, a member of Orchard United Methodist church since 1941 and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary for over 20 years. She enjoyed knitting and embroidery work, gardening, traveling, and watching the ball games, music programs, and other activities of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was very excited to have a great-great granddaughter, Lydia Twibell, in September 2013 allowing her to be part of 5 generations.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother S. Richard Alderson, and her husband Richard Knapp. She is survived by one sister, Sara Twiss, of Verdigre. Two daughters, Jenelle and her husband Terry Erb of Orchard, and Carma and her husband David “Kip” Shawger of Muncie, IN. A step-son, Scott Knapp and his wife Jane of Wichita, KS, and a step-daughter, Collen Zerr and her husband Marvin of Harvey, ND. She had 12 grandchildren, 13 great- grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter.