- Date Of Birth: July 3, 1928
- Date Of Death: December 14, 2017
- State: Nebraska
Velda Mae Simpson, the daughter of Mabel (Bell) and Benjamin Furman Coe, was born July 3, 1928 at Smith Center, Kansas. She departed this life on December 14, 2017 at the Heritage Care Center in Red Cloud, Nebraska at the age of 89 years, 5 months and 11 days.
Velda was raised on a farm near Stamford, Nebraska along with her four brothers. She was united in marriage with Dale Simpson in 1949 at Orleans, Nebraska. While living in Orleans, Velda worked for Coffey Transfer in Alma. It was in 1952, they lost their first children, Bobby, to complications at birth. In 1954, they moved to Arapahoe, Nebraska to begin a lifelong love of farming, which Velda loved. While in Arapahoe Dale and Velda had two sons, Terry and Craig.
In 1962, they purchased their first farm three miles west of Red Cloud from Elmer Gauge, a great man, who was generous in helping them get started farming, providing knowledge and support after selling his farm to them. The farming operation grew and soon they were engaged in all aspects of farming, raising crops, chickens, pigs, beef cattle and a dairy. They farm and her family were Velda’s love. She took great pride and joy in farming, particularly the dairy operation. She was known to be in the dairy barn at 4:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. almost every day.
Besides farming, Velda was active in her church, the Congregational Christian Church in Red Cloud. She taught Sunday School and was active in many committees as well. She took her faith in God seriously and tried to live Christian values throughout her entire life. She was known for her cooking and baking skills and many a local person looked forward to her cinnamon and caramel rolls. One could come to her house any time of the day or night, and there would be something delicious to eat. Cooking and baking for others was truly another great joy she had in life. Of course we can’t forget that Velda loved her sports. Whether it was the Red Cloud High School or the University of Nebraska, she knew her sports and was a huge supportive fan. She knew how every Nebraska team was doing and was always a loyal fan, win or lose.
Velda had a great sense of humor that was shared in the grocery store, church, her home, etc. No one was spared of her humor and she enjoyed the give and take of teasing those she loved.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband Dale in 2007, and son, Bobby.
Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Terry and wife Becky of West Palm Beach, Florida and Craig and wife Valarie of Mechanicsville, Virginia; four grandsons, Cory of Red Cloud, Lance of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, David of Richmond, Virginia, and Chris of Mechanicsville, Virginia; two granddaughters, Angie of West Palm Beach, Florida and Janie, a current student at UNL; three great grandchildren, Cale of Red Cloud, Makaela and Maddox of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, other relatives and a host of friends.
241 West 4th Avenue
Red Cloud, Nebraska 68970
402-746-2500
