Nanci Belle Lingenfelter

Nanci Belle Lingenfelter, 80, of Plainview, died Sunday, October 25, 2009 at Plainview Hospital after a long battle with cancer. Her funeral will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, October 29th at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Plainview. Visitation will also be held at the church from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, October 28th with Eastern Star service at 7:00 p.m. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery.

Nanci was born on January 14th, 1929 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nanci was the daughter of Congressman Robert Harrison and Mary (Sutton) Harrison. She was an only child. Nanci grew up and completed her high school education in Norfolk, Nebraska in 1945. She graduated in 1947 from Norfolk Community College and then attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln. She was recruited to become a member of Chi Omega Sorority because of her singing ability and she graduated in 1950 from UNL. On November 30th, 1952, Nanci married Raymond Manford (Mike) Lingenfelter, a Plainview area farmer. Mike and Nanci lived twelve years on a farm west of Plainview before moving to town in 1965. To this union there were five children; Robert Newton, Bruce Arthur, Beth Michelle, Brian Lee Harrison, and Burton Paul.

Through her life she was devoted to her children and grandchildren, attending an infinite amount of extracurricular activities - she was a devoted fan. Nanci thoroughly enjoyed “cheering on” her brood. Throughout her life, she was employed by a variety of school districts in northeast Nebraska. Education was a passion for Nanci. Her former students consist of multiple generations spanning six decades. She was in her third term on the Board of Governors at Northeast Community College, just recently resigning her position as board chairman. She was also a member of Legion Auxiliary, Eastern Star, and the State Board of League of Women Voters. Nanci loved to golf and served as an executive member of the Plainview Women’s Golf Association. She enjoyed playing cards, watching and listening to birds, and working and contributing crossword puzzles for publication.

She was an active member of her church, participating in every aspect of church family life imaginable, with a special ardor for the choir which she directed for approximately fifty years. Her last days were spent doing what she enjoyed most. She attended a granddaughter’s volleyball game on Thursday night, was admitted to the hospital on Friday night, and was disappointed to miss her grandson’s football game on Saturday. She passed away on Sunday with generations of family surrounding her. Nanci was preceded in death by an infant sister, her parents, her husband, and her daughter. Survivors include her four sons: Robert and Julie of Plainview, Bruce and Karen of Gig Harbor, Washington, Brian of Plainview, and Burt and Kim of Bloomfield; one son-in-law Sean Putnam of Lincoln and Brian’s special friend Deanna Mumgaard of Lincoln; twelve grandchildren: Sheree` (Jared) Stockwell, Newton (Megan) Lingenfelter, Rachel Lingenfelter, Andrew (Lindsey) Lingenfelter, Harrison Lingenfelter, Luke Lingenfelter, Michele Putnam, Sean Gorman, Mary Lingenfelter, Lula Rae Lingenfelter, Benjamin Lingenfelter, and Jacob Lingenfelter; two great-grandchildren: Samson Lingenfelter and Huxley Lingenfelter and two great-grandchildren expected soon. A very strong woman, Nanci would welcome her life-long friends and family members to celebrate her life rather than grieve her passing.

Memorials may be sent to First Congregational United Church of Christ in Plainview.