Memorial services for 53-year old Natalie Serbousek Fernau, a former resident of Chadron, NE, and Hay Springs, NE are Sat Feb 25, 2023, at 10:30 CT at Seger Funeral Home in Atkinson, NE, with the Rev. Joan Alexander officiating.
Burial will be at a later date in the Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD.
Visitation precedes the funeral starting at 8:00 am.
Lunch at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Atkinson will follow the services.
Online condolences may be left at segerfuneralhome.net
Natalie Ilene Serbousek was born on Oct 4th, 1969, in Pine Ridge, SD. She passed away Feb 14th, 2023, at Faith Regional Hospital in Norfolk, NE.
Natalie was adopted shortly after birth by Marlene (Russell) & Ed Serbousek and grew up on a ranch near Hay Springs, where she was the 5th of 6 children in a home full of love.
Most of her younger years she spent in the Hay Springs-Chadron area. She married Scott Fernau in 1985 and welcomed her first child, Shaeleen Sue, into the world later that same year. Son Michael Shane followed in 1987.
Natalie and Scott divorced a few years later, then met Larry Ruegge and sons Tyler Lee (1989) and Cody Alan (1991) were born. She primarily lived in the O’Neill-Atkinson area, working various jobs where she always made friends and tended to be quite the jokester.
Natalie always had an “off-colored” sense of humor – joking, laughing and making people smile. She knew how to just enjoy life and lived by the phrase, “tomorrow is a new day.”
Natalie never knew a stranger. She was always willing to chat with anyone on her walks around town. Her idea of a perfect day was a nice sunny day listening to country music with a fishing pole in one hand and a drink in the other.
She enjoyed cooking, quoting movies and listening to music. She had a soft spot in her heart for a cute dog, always carried chapstick and never took life too seriously.
Natalie leaves to mourn her mother Marlene Russell of Butte NE; children Shaeleen Sue (Darrin) Liewer of Butte, and Tyler Fernau of Mitchell, SD; siblings Russell Jo (Kari) Serbousek & Family and Nicolette Horn & Family, both of Hay Springs NE; and Tony Serbousek of St Francis, KS.
She is also survived by brother-in-law Jim Scherbarth & Family of Hay Springs; grandchildren Westyn & Amiya Liewer; Tayzen, Tahayna & Tahzaya Fernau; and Sage, Cole & Willow Fernau; many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews; and the many friends she met along the way.
Natalie was preceded in death by her father Ed Serbousek; step-father Lyle Fernau, sons Michael Fernau and Cody Ruegge; siblings Roseanne Scherbarth and Troy Serbousek; stepbrother Stan Fernau, and her paternal and maternal grandparents. Seger Funeral Home of Atkinson is in charge of arrangements for Natalie Serbousek.