A Mass of Christian Burial for 85-year Loretta Henkens of Chadron, NE, will be Wednesday July 21, 2021 at 10:00 AM at St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Chadron.
Burial will follow at the Greenwood Cemetery in Chadron.
There will be a vigil Tuesday, July 20, at 4 PM , also at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Chadron.
A memorial has been established for St. Patrick’s and donations may be sent in care of Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970 Chadron, NE 69337.
Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Loretta Lliteras Osborn Henkens was born in Alliance, NE on January 7, 1936, to John “Lit” Manuel Lliteras and Olevia “Leva” Margaret Delsing. She passed away July 13, 2021.
Loretta was number 7 of 8 children, joining 5 brothers and 2 sisters. She attended elementary school in Hemingford, NE and St. Agnes Academy Boarding School in Alliance.
She graduated from Hemingford High School in 1954 and was active in cheerleading and held various offices in her class. She was elected Prom Queen her senior year.
Loretta married Donald Lee Osborn in 1955. Don enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp and they moved to California. They moved back to Chadron a year later with Don attending Chadron State College, where he played football and obtained a degree in education.
Donald and Theresa were both born in Chadron. A teaching/coaching job took Don and Loretta and the kids to Carson City, NV, where Jeannette and Stephen were born.
The couple divorced in 1962 and Loretta moved back to Chadron to raise her four children. She attended CSC for 2 years, pursuing a degree in education, but chose to leave school to take on cleaning and ironing jobs so she could care for her children at home.
Loretta opened her home to foster youth, gave food to those in need, and took care of the elderly – all while continuong her cleaning jobs.
While cleaning Henkens’ Equipment in 1975, she met Earl Henkens. They were married at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on January 19, 1977, and on December 17, 1979, Anna Marie was born. Loretta and Earl enjoyed Anna’s childhood and 4-H activities.
Loretta enjoyed years of tending to her gardens, lawn and maintaining her many rose bushes that beautified her home. She was a faithful member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.
Loretta was preceded in death by her husband Earl, daughter Jeannette, her parents, and siblings Harry, George, Robert, Mary, Jack and Carmen.
Loretta is survived by her children, Donald, Theresa (Don) Blausey, Stephen (Terri), Anna (Trevor) Schmidt, 14 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and younger brother, Earl.