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05/11/2009 - Gordon Lyle Redfern
Funeral Services for Gordon Lyle Redfern, age 95, of Chadron will be Monday, May 11, 2009 at 2:00 PM at the United Methodist Church in Chadron with Pastor Seth Leypoldt officiating.
Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Chadron.
Memorials have been established for the First United Methodist Church, Chadron or Pioneer Manor in Hay Springs, Troy Rickenbach Memorial Scholarship at Chadron State College. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, P.O. Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.
Gordon Lyle Redfern entered his final rest May 7, 2009 in Hay Springs, Neb. with his devoted wife of over 71 years holding his hand.
Gordon was born Oct. 5, 1913 near Auburn in Nemaha County, Neb., to C.A (Al) and Ona (Moore) Redfern, he was the youngest of ten children.
The family moved to Dawes County in 1918 when Gordon was four years old and the Redfern family settled on a farm on Little Bordeaux Creek five miles east of Chadron. He was educated in a rural school and was the only Redfern son to graduate from high school, which he did in 1932 from Chadron High School. As a young man he helped build Chadron State Park with the Civilian Conservation Corp. After his parents’ deaths, Gordon stayed on the family farm east of Chadron and farmed with his brothers.
He married Helen Dobbins on Feb. 20, 1938. To this union, five children were born: Marilynne (Richard) Rickenbach; Sandra (Spurge) Watford; Ken (JoAnn Chamberlain); Sharon, (Robert) Rickenbach; and Linda Redfern. He and Helen raised their children on the farm. During the time his children attended school he served on the rural District 7 school board until it merged with District 3.
He was active in The Nebraska Farm Bureau, Wheat Growers Association, 4-H and the Nebraska Stock Growers. He received the Dawes County Farm Bureau “Most Persistent Farmer” award in 1995. A Master Mason, he was a fifty-plus year member in The Samaritan Lodge #158 in Chadron. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Chadron for over fifty years and helped build the current church in 1952. He valued education, hard work, fairness, humor and generosity. He loved his family, the land, and animals (especially horses). His mantra was “if you take care of the land, it will take care of you”. He taught all his children to ride horses and many of their cousins and their friends. He loved babies and was happiest when a grandchild or great grandchild was sitting on his lap. He encouraged and supported his children and grandchildren in their college educations and careers.
Immediate Survivors:
Wife-Helen
Four daughters, daughter-in-law, nine grandchildren, Brad, Brent and Brian Rickenbach and families, Rodd and Todd Rickenbach and family, Nicole Redfern and Shauna Sheets and family; Andrea Cruz and Julie Stewart and families. Great Grandchildren-18 Nieces & Nephews- Several Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.
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