Ida Mae (Neale) Fransen, age 90, a former resident of North Platte, NE, died Friday, May 20, 2016, in Chandler, Arizona.

Ida Mae was born December 12, 1925, to Clifton and Ada Neale in North Platte where she grew up. She graduated from North Platte High School in May 1943 then went to work immediately for Northwestern Bell Telephone.

On December 12, 1946, Ida Mae married Virgil Fransen in North Platte. After their marriage, Ida Mae continued her work with Northwestern Bell Telephone and her husband worked as an electrician for Snell Electric. They later moved to Southern California where they spent most of their married life and Ida Mae continued her career with Pacific Bell and AT&T. During this time she headed the AT&T exhibit at Disneyland as one of her work adventures for about three years. She eventually retired from Pacific Bell as a second line Middle Manager.

Ida Mae and Virgil were worldwide travelers and enjoyed their time together. They retired to the Phoenix, Arizona, area where she lived until her death. She took up oil painting at a later age and was most proficient in this area. Ida Mae enjoyed her activities at the Country Club where she loved to play games such as Dominoes and Hand and Foot. She was most active in her church, heading up the Prayer Chain for several years. Ida Mae was immaculate in her dress and her home.

She is survived by several nieces, Charlene (Lowell) Berg, Toninette Swanson, Judy (Tom) Matthews and Sandra (Harvey ‘Buddy’) Mynott; great-nieces and nephews; great great-nieces and nephews; and great great great-nieces and nephews.

Ida Mae was preceded in death by her husband, Virgil; her parents, Clifton and Ada Neale; sisters, Mary Margaret Mendenhall and Ruby Viola Baumbach; and brother, Raleigh Neale.

Graveside Funeral Service will be 1 p.m. Thursday, June 2, 2016, in Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to the Sun Lakes Community Church, 25811 South Country Club Drive, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248.