Venita “Gayle” Obermeyer

Venita Obermeyer HARTINGTON — Venita ‘Gayle’ Obermeyer, 97, died peacefully May 18, 2024, at the Compassionate Journey Assisted Living Center, Evanston, Wyo., of natural causes.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., June 5, at the First Congregational Church, Hartington, with Joyce Cook officiating. Burial will be at the Hartington City Cemetery.

The family will receive friends and relatives one hour prior to services at the church.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington.

The Urn-bearers are Gayle’s grandchildren, Mickey Harrison, Misty Jensen, Mandy Erickson, Megan Hopson, Melisa Janssen, Brendon Ehlers, Brady Ehlers, Beau Ehlers, Abbey Ehlers, Brock Ehlers, Tiffany Pinkelman, Travis Pinkelman and Tina Heard.

Gayle was born Aug. 16, 1926, to Axel and Sylvia (Russell) Anderson in Concord. She was the oldest of three girls, Lila Mae (Martin) and Vandalyn (Junck). As a young girl, she spent time working on the family farm. At the age of 8, she experienced a huge loss as her father Axel died due to a brain tumor. At the age of 14, her mom married Earl ‘Joe’ Anderson. Gayle was very excited when her only brother, Larry, was born. She loved her step father, “Daddy,” dearly and enjoyed spending time with him and later in life with his wife, Florence. Gayle graduated from Hartington High School in 1945. She married Russell Erickson and they were the proud parents of a baby girl, Jacqueline Sue. In April 1949, tragedy struck again as Gayle’s husband, Russell, died in a car accident. Seven months later, she was blessed with a baby boy and named him Russell Leland, after her deceased husband. In 1953, Gayle married Lawrence Obermeyer at the Methodist Parsonage, Yankton, S.D., and he too became a parent to her children. Later, the young couple became the proud parents of three more children, Byron Lee, Ronald Eugene and Vickie Jo. Together, they raised the happy family as one, always including and supporting all three families. The children grew up thinking they were special because they had three grandmas and three grandpas. In 1987, Gayle suffered more heartache when she lost her daughter, Jackie, to cancer and six months later, her son, Rusty, in a car-related accident. Although she had her share of difficult times, she remained strong, kept her faith, looked ahead in a positive direction and did not dwell on the past, knowing that someday they would be together once again. In February 2013, Lawrence and Gayle celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They were located in the Assisted Living at the Arbor Care Center when Lawrence died in 2015. Gayle moved to Evanston, Wyo., in 2022, to be with her daughter and family. Currently, she enjoyed living at the Compassionate Journey Assisted Living where she was happy to meet new friends and care providers. She will be remembered for her kindness, quick wit, great cooking, strong work ethic and willingness to help others.

Gayle was a homemaker. She also enjoyed providing child care, waitressing, selling Avon, and later, held various positions at the Arbor Care Center in Hartington for many years.

She was an avid reader. She enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking, canning the vegetables grown in the family garden, visiting with friends and neighbors on the front porch and dancing to Polka music.

Gayle was an active member of the First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, Hartington. She was a Sunday School teacher and served on various committees. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary for the VFW Post 5283 where she served on committees and volunteered for many activities.

Gayle is survived by three children, Byron Obermeyer, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Ron, San Clemente, Calif.; and Vickie (Scott) Ehlers, Evanston, Wyo.; 13 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Gayle was preceded in death by her two husbands, Russell Erickson and Lawrence Obermeyer; daughter, Jackie (Erickson) Harrison; son-in-law, Jerry Harrison; son, Rusty Erickson; daughter-in-law, Barbara Pinkelman; parents, Axel and Sylvia Anderson; step father, Earl ‘Joe’ Anderson; and brother, Larry Anderson.