Willa Jean "Jeannie" Fritson

Willa Jean “Jeannie” Fritson was welcomed into the heavenly place Jesus prepared for her on Thursday morning, July 15, 2021. Visitation will be held Monday, July 19 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Craig Funeral Home in Minden, NE. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20 at the Westminster United Presbyterian Church in Minden with Rev. Sharon Rees, Rev. Dr. Rick Carlson, and Rev. Marsha Dorn officiating. The service will be live streamed at https://www.facebook.com/wupcminden/ and will be shared to the funeral home’s Facebook page following the service. Interment will be held following the service at the Minden Cemetery, with cookies and beverage served afterward at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Craig Funeral Home in Minden is in charge of the arrangements. Jeannie was born the youngest of three children on April 4, 1930 on the family farm located 7 miles south of Minden, originally homesteaded by Jeannie’s grandparents, M.C. and Maren Bang upon arriving from Denmark. After attending Minden Public Schools, Jeannie was united in marriage to Herman “Bud” Fritson on February 8, 1948. During Jeannie’s youth, her family had moved to a farm in the Keene, NE area, which was across the road from the Fritson farm. This is how Jeannie and Bud met. To their union five children were born. The family made their home on farms southwest of Minden, where Jeannie was a hard-working farm companion, seamstress, cook, mother, and neighbor. After retirement, Bud and Jeannie moved to the McConnell Subdivision south of Kearney, where Jeannie resided until she sold her home. Jeannie was baptized and confirmed at Westminster United Presbyterian Church, and during her life was also a member and very involved in two other churches that she loved, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hildreth (now Trinity), and First Lutheran Church in Kearney. Jeannie’s involvement included circles, Sunday School/Bible School teacher, quilting, Bible studies, and most other church activities. Wherever she lived, Jeannie was always the neighbor who could be counted on to have “what you need” because she had an extra supply on hand, enjoyed trying new recipes, and was always quick to provide a meal or bed to any guest. Jeannie loved attending and hosting family and neighborhood gatherings, as well as loving her church, square dance and extended families. Those left to greatly miss her include: Children: daughter-in-law, Judy (Richard) Turner; daughters, Billy (Tom) Rayburn, Naomi Fritson (Dean Casper), Marilyn (Steve) Moseman. Grandchildren: Mark (Christa) Fritson, Matthew Fritson (friend Connie Bethel), Mary Olson (friend Kirk Petit), T.K. (Michele) Rayburn, Ivan (Kathryn) Rayburn, Sarah Casper (friend Darin Fischer), Andrew (Allison) Casper, Seth (Tiffany) Casper, David Moseman (fiancée Ally Michel). Great-grandchildren: Clayton, Caden, Carson, Mya, Sara and William Fritson; Carlie Jo Villar, Wyatt, Waylon, Weston, Amelia and Amos Rayburn; Brody and Noah Casper and father Brandon Berumen; Lucas, Ryan, Harrison, Alexander, Hunter and Dexter Casper; and many nieces and nephews, extended family, friends and neighbors. Jeannie has been reunited in Jesus with those who preceded her in death: husband, Bud; two sons, Michael & Bernard; one granddaughter-in-law, Jennifer (Wood) Fritson; parents, William & Frieda (Berndt) Bang; parent-in-laws, John and Katie (Dorn) Fritson; siblings, Robert Bang and Elaine Nielson/Nordhaus/Olson; all brothers and sisters-in-law, and two nephews. Tributes and memories can be shared with the family at www.craigfunerals.com.

Willa Jean "Jeannie" Fritson

April 4, 1930 - July 15, 2021