05/27/2009 - Cora Leetch

Funeral Services for Cora Leetch, age 92, of Crawford will be Wednesday May 27, 2009 at 10:00AM at the Methodist Church in Crawford with Pastor Marsha Stauss officiating.

Burial will be at the Crawford Cemetery.

Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, P.O. Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.

Mrs. Leetch died Friday May 22, 2009 at the Chadron Community Hospital.

Leetch was born October 29, 1916.

Cora was born Oct. 29, 1916 at Roberts, Montana to Lloyd and Bessie Pearl Arner, the oldest of seven children.

In 1918, after selling their homestead, the family returned to Nebraska, settling in Sioux Co. near Sand Creek where they farmed and ranched. Here there was a creek, badlands and deep canyons next to the ponderosa pines to explore and play in which provided many pleasant memories for Cora. She attended school at Dist #14 near Roundtop. When she took her 8th grade exams she rode her horse, in a dress, several miles to a school near Toadstool Park. There were two days of tests so she rode back again the next day.

Cora graduated from Crawford High School in 1934. In 1935, she married Roy Britton. Most of their married years were spent in the Bethel community east of Crawford where Roy was raised. Cora was very involved in community activities. She was on the election board and served as secretary for Hardscrabble school for many years. Playing pitch with neighbors and friends was a special pastime they enjoyed. In 1967 she revived the community barn dances when she decided to have square dances in the loft of their large old barn where dances had been held many years before. Finally the dances grew to large for the barn and they were moved to town. She loved people and her door was always open to visitors. No one was a stranger to her. Fresh sour cream chocolate cakes and coffee were always ready for the many drop-ins she had daily.

After her children were grown she decided to experience working away from home. She worked as a cook at the Fort Robinson restaurant for a couple of seasons. She really enjoyed this time and was always glad she tried it.

Her hobbies were raising large gardens, canning, cooking, reading, sewing and yard work. She always had time for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sleep was something she didn't seem to need much of as she worked all hours of the day.

Roy passed away in 1987 and in 1989 Cora married John Leetch. They bought a house in Crawford and she moved from the farm. For the next four years they worked hard renovating their home which brought them much enjoyment. John passed away in 1993. Cora continued living in her home until she moved to the Ponderosa Settlement in 2000 then to the Ponderosa Villa in 2006. Here she enjoyed the visits of many people. Young people loved her because she was young in spirit and loved activity going on around her and she was a good confidante. Her life spanned an era of many changes and she loved reading about current events and technologies. National Geographic was a favorite.

Immediate Survivors:

Sons- Dale Britton of Whitney, NE; Lloyd Britton of Scottsbluff, NE.

Daughters- Jeanine Connelly of Whitney, NE; Donna Ross of Scottsbluff, NE.

Brother- Milton Arner of Whitney, NE; Don Arner of Arkansas.

Sister-In-Law- Betty Arner of Arizona.

Grandchildren- 6
Great Grandchildren- 8

Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.