Cheryl Rains

C heryl R ains was born January 5, 1944, in North Platte, Nebraska where she was raised. She later moved to Colorado, where she was when she peacefully passed away on April 26, 2025, at age 81. Cheryl lived a life marked by love, service, and devotion to faith, family, and community.

Cheryl was an avid reader, movie-goer, music enthusiast, passionate collector, and devoted animal lover, with a particular fondness for cats.  She supported many animal welfare organizations such as World Wildlife Fund, Audubon Society, W.O.L.F Sanctuary, Ocean Conservancy, Best Friends Animal Society, Humane Society of US, and Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg where she enjoyed spending time watching the animals, talking with the founder, and sponsoring a Bolivian lion.

One of Cheryl's most memorable traits was her personality - especially the sarcastic banter with friends and family. A faithful member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Thornton since 1983, Cheryl served on the church council, outreach ministry, altar guild, and coordinated funeral meals for many years.

Prior to her move to Colorado, she was a lifelong member of First Evangelical Lutheran Church in North Platte, NE. Her life was a testament to Christian values, through acts of service and kindness, including support of Lutheran Campus Ministries.  Cheryl also cherished the friendships she built as a longtime member of Beta Sigma Phi, a social sorority that brought her decades of connection and joy.

She was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease about five years ago. Although this was a significant struggle for her she kept her spirits up and loved going for drives. She spent the last 1.5 years at Northglenn Heights Memory Care where she was lovingly cared for by the staff.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald J. Rains; her parents, Clifton and Lora Hiltabidel; and her granddaughter, Kenna M. Quinn.

Cheryl is survived by her sister, Sandra (Jerry) Stoll; her daughters, Angela (Lorr) Quinn, Stephanie (Ryan) Ross, and Grace (Shawn) Helgeson; her grandchildren, Ashley (Austin) Velasquez, Andrew and Alexander Ross, Conor (Angel) Quinn, Christina and Steven Helgeson; her great-grandchildren, Bradley and Clarke Velasquez; and many other cherished family and friends.

A memorial gathering will be held in North Platte, NE, on Saturday, May 31, at 2:00 p.m. at First Evangelical Lutheran Church. Services were also held in Colorado and can be viewed at: https://boxcast.tv/channel/pfkbbclyjpgbsb4pgcgn?b=ktz8nwpw7rzfpxnxzmgm

Cheryl will be interred with her husband, Ron, at Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Maxwell, Nebraska.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: Alzheimer's Association, The Wild Animal Sanctuary, or the Kenna Quinn Fund (check payable to Thompson FFA – or venmo to Angela).

Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.  Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is assisting family with arrangements.