Dolores Van Boening

D olores V an B oening of North Platte, NE, passed away February 15, 2025, at age 92.

Dolores was the first of four children born to Robert "Bob" and Irene (Derra) Hastings.  She was born December 20, 1932, south of Elsie.  She started grade school in Elsie and high school in Grainton then in 1946 the Hastings family moved to a farm northwest of Hayes Center.  Dolores attended Hayes Center High School, graduating with the Class of 1950, then graduated with a degree to teach elementary school and taught one year north of Grainton.

On June 11, 1949, Dolores met the love of her life, Dale Van Boening, and they married August 15, 1951.  They moved to their forever home on a farm 3 miles south of Wallace where they farmed together for 52 years and raised 2 sons, Steve and Stuart.

After the boys graduated high school, Dale and Dolores started traveling in the winter months, settling in Texas.  They had 30 winters in warmer climates before Dale passed away on March 27, 2004.  Dolores continued to live in the country until 2012 when she bought a home in Wallace.  In December of 2018 she moved to the Regency in North Platte.

Dolores was always active in whatever the guys in her life were interested in, so that included Boy Scouts, flying and motorcycles to name a few.  Both sons were in Boy Scouts so Dolores was a Den Mother and on the council leadership committee.  Stuart wanted to fly so all four earned their pilot's license then "Flying Farmers" took them across the United States and Canada.  Dolores was the Nebraska Flying Farmer Queen in 1980 and a member of the Flying 99s.  She was proud of the fact that she had a driver's license, a motorcycle license, and a pilot's license all at the same time!  She also belonged to an extension club, square dance clubs, and a couple genealogy groups.  Dolores loved to play cards, travel and work on the family genealogy.  She had lots of hobbies!

Along with her husband, Dale, she was preceded in death by their son, Stuart on November 26, 2024; her twin siblings, Wanda (Richard) Aldrich and Wayne (Joyce) Hastings; sisters-in-law, Rosalie Hastings and Rhonda Kramer; and her niece, Connie (Hastings) Tines.

Dolores is survived by her son, Steve (Betty) Van Boening of North Platte and children, Heidi Hassel and Eric Van Boening, and their children, Nora, Owen and Sutton; Stuart's wife, Lea Van Boening of Wallace and children, Jennifer (Glenn) Ledbetter, Joni (Michael) Kennicutt, and Sandy (Quinton) Pohl and their children, Jacob, Joey, Andrew, Emma, Austin, Derik, Brinley, Hudson and Harper May.  She also leaves behind her brother, Gary Hastings; brother-in-law, Arnold Kramer; as well as many nieces, nephews, other family, and lots of special cousins!

Services will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 22, at the Wallace Methodist Church with Pastor Shanon Williams officiating.  Burial to follow at Morning View Cemetery.  For those unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed through the Wallace Methodist Church Facebook page.

Visitation is Friday, noon to 6 p.m. and with family greeting from 4-6 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel in North Platte.  Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.  Memorials are suggested to the Wallace Methodist Church or the Wallace Legion Hall.  Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.