Carrie Leona Bannister

Carrie Leona Bannister, age 90, of North Platte, formerly of Hershey, NE, went to her eternal home on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at Centennial Park Retirement Center in North Platte.

Carrie was born October 21, 1925, to Henry and Rosa Steinke at Loup City, NE. She grew up around Carroll, NE and attended country school then started high school in Clarks, NE. The family later moved to Central City, NE where Carrie finished school, graduating with the Class of 1943, and worked at Wilders Cafe.

On September 22, 1944, Carrie married Robert Bannister in Omaha, NE, and to this union their son, Terry, and daughter, Gracia, were born. Carrie and Robert farmed near Central City before moving to Gibbon, NE in May of 1960. Then in 1967 they settled in Hershey where Carrie worked in the lunch program at Hershey School. She was also a member of the Hershey United Methodist Church and taught Sunday School for many years. Carrie enjoyed volunteering for the Red Cross and Home Health.

Carrie loved her family and having family dinners but her greatest joy was her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed crocheting, camping and tending to her flower garden. Carrie and Robert were members of the Lake Maloney Ski Club for many years and enjoyed their trips in the mobile home to Yuma, AZ for 10 years. In 1998 they were named Grand Marshals of the Hershey Fall Festival. In the Fall of 2005, they moved to North Platte then to Centennial Park Retirement Home in August 2013. Carrie and Robert had celebrated nearly 72 years of marriage together.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Robert, and their children, Terry (Barbara) Bannister and Gracia (Larry) Kennedy, all of North Platte; grandchildren, Misty (Todd) Armstrong and Marcy Kennedy, of Omaha, and Micah (Danielle) Kennedy, stationed in Petaluma, CA with the U.S. Coast Guard; great-grandchildren, Tristan Armstrong, Kiptyn Kennedy, Lilli Hamilton and Adalynn Kennedy; a sister, Genivie Harris, of Central City; sister-in-law, Arlene Steinke, of Oklahoma; and many nieces, nephews and other family.

Carrie was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Rosa Steinke; five sisters, Lillie Perce, Marie Perce, Deloris Gustafson and Dorothy and Alice Steinke; two infant brothers; three brothers, Walter and wife, Bernice, Emil and wife, Donna, and George Steinke; and brother-in-law, Mike Harris.

Cremation was chosen. Memorial Service will be 3 p.m. Saturday, April 2, 2016, at the Hershey United Methodist Church with Pastor Kola officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Riverside Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed at odeanchapel.com or from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore which is in charge of arrangements. Memorials are to the Hershey United Methodist Church.