Delphine Luenenborg

D elphine L uenenborg, of North Platte, peacefully passed away at home on May 9, 2021, at the age of 95.

Delphine was born July 22, 1925, at Carl, Iowa, to Floyd and Iva Freeman. She grew up on a farm in Iowa, north of Prescott, and attended a one room country school where there was a total of 10 students but she was the only one in her grade for all eight years.

When it was time for high school, Delphine moved in with her grandmother so she could attend Richland High School, south of Fontanelle, and not travel so many miles back and forth. It was in high school that she was introduced to the sport of basketball. The coach, John Nolan, told her that if she stopped running after she got the ball (which is traveling) he would make a basketball player out of her, and that he did! Delphine gave it her best and enjoyed every minute of playing time. In fact she was selected as All County Guard at the District Tournament her junior year and her senior year ended with a perfect record for the girls as they won all their games (they're #1)!!

Delphine graduated high school in 1944 then worked in Omaha at Jubilee Manufacturing Company which made shells during the war and automobile horns after the war. Delphine continued with her job on the assembly then made out the employee worksheets when she was promoted to payroll clerk, which she did for eight years until her kids were born.

In 1946 Delphine married Wayne Luenenborg, of Papillion. They were blessed with three children, Gary, Gale and Gloria, and lived in a home that Wayne built in Papillion. After the children were born, Delphine worked as an Avon Representative, did baby-sitting, was Clerk Secretary for the Sarpy County Assessor, and Secretary for Bell Federal Credit Union.

In 1967 the family moved to North Platte when Wayne was transferred to Bailey Yards with the Union Pacific Railroad. Delphine went to work for the City of North Platte as a clerk typist for 11 years and after retiring she continued being active as a volunteer with RSVP since 1986, the hospital since 1997, and the Golden Spike when it first opened in 2008. Delphine was recognized for her volunteer contributions when she was awarded the North Platte Telegraph Volunteer of the Year Award in 2015.

She was active with the Shrine Auxiliary, where she served as Past President. Delphine was also Past President of Does Drove #109, Past Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star #114 Papillion, Past President of the Matron Club, and when the kids were young she was a Cub Scout Den Mother.

Delphine and Wayne loved dancing, especially the waltz, polka and jitterbug, but her love of basketball was unending. Delphine watched every game she could from high school girls state to college, U Conn and Coach Geno were her favorites, and even went to a Final 4 in Denver with her granddaughter, Kelly, and met Coach Geno.

Delphine had a strong Christian faith and was a member of the Lutheran Church for 75 years. She was a wonderful wife, mother and doting grandmother.

She is survived by her children, Gary (Joyce) Luenenborg, of Piedmont, SD, and Gale (Deb) Luenenborg and Gloria (Jason) Anderson, of North Platte; 12 grandchildren, Kelly Luenenborg, Wyatt (Melanie) Luenenborg, Garett (Brooke) Luenenborg, Jamie (Mark) Matson, Nickie (Chad) Keller, Emily Luenenborg, Craig (Cassey) Wieland, Annie (Geoff) Hughes, Chelsey (Charlie) Martin, and Logan, Kaitlan and Bradey Anderson; 13 great-grandchildren and two more on the way; as well as many other family members.

Delphine was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne; her parents, Floyd and Iva Freeman; and brothers, and sisters-in-law, Dale and Doris Freeman and Delmar and Doris Freeman.

Funeral service will be at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 17, at Odean Colonial Chapel. Burial will follow at 2:30 p.m. in Omaha at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery with Eastern Star Rites by Papillion Eastern Star Chapter #114. Visitation will be 1-6 p.m. Sunday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the NP Shrine Transportation Fund or Great Plains Home Health and Hospice.