Leona Lucile Hoatson, of Hershey, NE, passed away at the age of 86 on Friday, January 19, 2018, at Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte, NE.
Leona was born at home, north of Hershey on the Birdwood Table, on December 7, 1931, to Benjamin Frank and Loretta Josephine Arensdorf Ross. Leona attended District #95 country school and graduated from North Platte High School in 1949.
On December 23, 1952, Leona was united in marriage to John Wesley Hoatson at the home of his sister, Monetta and Marion Quinn, on the Birdwood Creek. After John entered the army, the couple moved to Waynesville, MO, then Leona returned home with their son, Russell, to live with her parents while John served in Korea and during this time their daughter, Roxanne, was born.
Following his discharge, John returned home to the family ranch and farm, north of Hershey on the Birdwood Table, and the couple welcomed two more sons, Rodney and James. They were married for over 50 years when John passed away in 2003.
Leona was a member of the Birdwood Extension Club, Birdwood Busy Bee Club and a volunteer for Bethesda Care Center in Sutherland then when all the kids were all in school, Leona went to work at Bethesda, Hershey Public School and the Hershey Jack & Jill before returning to Bethesda where she was the Housekeeping-Laundry Supervisor. Leona was also a member of Episcopal Church of Our Savior in North Platte.
She is survived by her sons, Russell (Deanna) Hoatson, Rodney (JoAnne) Hoatson and James (Tami) Hoatson, all of North Platte, and daughter, Roxanne (James) Neese, of Wray, CO; 16 grandchildren, Benji (Tonya) Hoatson, Julie (Kris) Howe, Michelle (Justin) Krumwiede, Westley Hoatson, Kaitlyn Hoatson, Trevor (Crystal) Neese, Justin Neese, John (Katie) Harders, Jennifer (Evan) Williams, Jennifer (Adam) Daake, Justin (Kelsey) Harders, Jayce (Jon) Gapp, twins, Jeffrey and Janelle Hoatson, Hunter Hoatson and Alexandria Hoatson; 14 great-grandchildren; her sister, Bertha Fischer, of Hershey; as well as her nieces, nephews, other family and special caregiver, Sara Zogg.
Along with her husband, John, Leona was preceded in death by her parents, Benjamin and Loretta Ross; infant brother, Benjamin, Jr.; brother-in-law, Keith Fischer; and sister-in-law, Monetta Hogue.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 25, 2018, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Father Jeffrey Nelson officiating. Burial will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with family greeting friends from 4-6 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to either the Hershey or Sutherland Volunteer Fire Departments. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.