Sophie Jean Eldhart

Pierce - Funeral services for Sophie J. Eldhart, 87, of Pierce will be held Wednesday, November 9, 2016, at St.John’s Lutheran Church, Pierce. She died Saturday November 5, 2016, at Bergan Mercy Hospital, Omaha. Rev. Lucas Miller will officiate at the 10:30 a.m. service. Music will be I’m but a Stranger Here, Amazing Grace, Abide With Me, The Great Storm is Over, and - for her dearest treasures, her great-grandchildren - Jesus Loves Me. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 8, 2016, at Stonacek Memorial Chapel, Pierce. Interment will be at Prospect View Cemetery, Pierce. Casket bearers will be: Thomas Richmond, John Richmond, Jason Ray, Paul Forinash, Doug Vyhlidal, and Bill Vyhlidal. Honorary casket bearers will be: Edwin Marks, Kenneth Marks, Doug Marks, Fred Marks, and Scott Marks. Sophie J. Eldhart was born April 27, 1929, to Joseph and Cora (Heller) Vyhlidal. Baptized May 1929 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Pierce, Confirmed October 9, 1939 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Pierce. She attended rural Pierce schools and graduated from Pierce High School in 1946. She married Holgar D. Eldhart on March 31, 1948. They had two children. Holgar died February 1, 1987. Following their marriage the couple lived and farmed south of Carroll, Nebraska and near Howells, returning to farm east of Pierce in 1956. In 1973 they move into Pierce where she resided until her death. Sophie worked for General Wholesale (now Affiliated Foods) before her marriage, was a farm wife, worked at the Pierce Manor, and worked in the Pierce County Clerk’s office for 27 years before retiring in 1998. She served as secretary of the Pierce Old Time Threshers’ Bee for 33 years. For many years, she was the secretary of the Pierce Historical Society. Sophie was a member of Pierce Rescue for over 18 years. She was a 4-H Club leader and taught Sunday School for over 10 years. Teaching children was so important to her. She wished she could have gone to college but she continued learning and teaching her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, encouraging them to be all they could be and was so proud of each of them. As an example, she lived her faith and walked with Christ her entire life and witnessed for Jesus at her death. She was a member of Zion East, rural Hoskins, until August, 2008, when that congregation merged with St. John’s Lutheran Church where she remained a faithful member. She was the recipient of the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Good Neighbor Award in 1991, and was presented the Outstanding Pierce Alumni Community Award in June, 2014. She worked tirelessly to help save the Carnegie Library building by making her famous caramel corn and Pies for Preservation; researched to save a section of the old Meridian Highway east of Pierce. She set the example of giving and caring by sewing beautiful clothing for her children, grandchildren and others. She delivered meals on wheels. Sophie will be remembered as the “soap lady”, demonstrating her talents at threshers’ bees around northeast Nebraska. Her memory for history made her the person to seek for answers – “Go ask Sophie”. She was a friend to all and adopted grandmother of many. She will be missed by those whose lives she touched. She is survived by one daughter, Marion and husband Don Richmond, Kearney, son, Donald and wife Betty Eldhart, Boulder, Colorado; grandchildren, Sarah and husband Paul Forinash, St. Edward, Thomas and wife Mikaela Richmond, Kearney, John and wife Cammie Richmond, Kearney, Emily and husband Jason Ray, Superior, Cora Eldhart, Boulder, Colorado, Teresa and husband Michael Bauer, Hansen, Idaho, step-grandchildren, Tanya Gibbs, and Ian Gibbs; great-grandchildren, Sophie, Madison, and Jacob Reeves, Olivia and Luke Richmond, Logan Brower-Richmond, Jack Ray, Katrina Macdonald, C. Wyatt Gibbs; and sister Patricia and husband Louis Herbolsheimer, Hartington; and brother, Arthur and wife Judy Vyhlidal, Randolph; sister-in-law Donna Vyhlidal, North Platte; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 38 years; brothers, Joseph, Bernard, and Dale, in infancy; sister, Jean Jenkins; sisters-in-laws, Mary Meyer, Marie Daum, and Donna Mae Vyhlidal; brothers-in-law, Leo, Olaf (Larry), Carl Eldhardt, and Elton Jenkins; step-great-grandchildren, Derek Pettit and Linda Macdonald. In lieu of flowers, Sophie strongly desired any gifts be designated for the spiritual and educational nurture of others. Memorials are suggested to St. John’s Lutheran Church or Pierce Community Foundation. Condolences may be expressed online at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com

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Sophie Jean Eldhart

April 27, 1929 - November 5, 2016