Melba Jessen

Melba Jessen age 90 of Crofton, Nebraska died on Monday, March 26, 2018 at her residence. Funeral Services will be on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Bloomfield, Nebraska with the Rev. Thomas Jacobson officiating. Burial will be at the Bloomfield City Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday, at the Good Shephard Lutheran church in Lindy, Nebraska, from 5-8:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday, at St. Mark’s one hour prior to services. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Crofton, NE. Pallbearers are Tony Kronberg, Jarad Jessen, Matthew Kappel, Chris Jessen, Joseph Jessen, Daniel Kappel, Brett Jessen, Nathan Jessen, and Jesse Jessen. Honorary Pallbearers: Michelle Steinkraus, Dawn Kronberg Johnson, Melissa Steinkraus Marble, Amy Kronberg Anderson, Gayle Kronberg Mach, Sarah Kaiser Ramos, Rebekah Jessen, Ashley Kaiser, and Tiffany Kaiser Fletcher Melba June Jessen was born on June 3, 1927 and was the oldest child of Joseph and Hazel Reeson Cross and lived on one of the Weigand places northeast of Lindy. When she was about five years old, the family moved north of Lindy where Don Benson lived. The school she attended was about two miles west. When Melba was nine years old, they moved to the Acorn Ranch in the Devil’s Nest. The school was about a quarter of a mile away, so the teacher boarded there most of the time. Melba attended Crofton High School and boarded with John and Maude Thompson in Crofton. Melba graduated in 1945 and helped at home until 1947, when her parents bought the farm bordering Lindy on the north. At that time, she started working in the Jim McCabe Store in Lindy, which was later sold to Lloyd and Meta Levi. Melba was baptized as an adult on March 15, 1956 and confirmed later at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lindy. On September 11, 1948 Melba married Lyle A. Jessen, son of John and Frieda Jessen at Frieden’s Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. Their first year of married life was spent on the Junge place. In the spring of 1949, Lyle and Melba moved to the family farm about two miles southeast of Lindy where they raised their seven children. They had four daughters and three sons. . . Warren, Sherry, Judy, Ralph, Patty, Joleen and Ken. They belonged to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Lindy, where Melba had served as Treasurer of the L.C.W. (Lutheran Church Women). Melba and Lyle Jessen farmed until 1991 when they moved to Crofton, Nebraska. Melba enjoyed anyone that came to visit her. She looked for the good in everyone and treasured the moments when they were together. She fought it in the beginning but came to love Facebook and enjoyed following all of her family and friends daily activities. She enjoyed being on her computer multiple times every day playing Spider and didn’t talk much about whether she won or lost. The weather channel was her favorite channel on TV and she was known to have it on throughout your entire visit with her. Melba’s greatest pride was having no Gray Hair and leaving us with her natural color by simply taking Kelp Vitamin. Melba and Lyle enjoyed traveling and pursuing the Genology History of both families. She enjoyed traveling throughout the years but in the past few years she simply loved just driving around Bloomfield, Crofton, Lindy area and Niobrara area and talking about all her beautiful memories and special people in her life! Melba’a entire family and her dog Keisha meant a great deal to her. Left to honor and cherish her memory are her six children, Warren Jessen (Pat) Bloomfield, NE, Sherry Steinkraus, Phoenix, AZ, Ralph Jessen (Theresa) Bloomfield, NE, Patty Kronberg (Eldon) Bloomfield, NE, Joleen Kemp (Mike) Payette, ID, Ken Jessen (Beth) Bushnell, SD; 18 Grandchildren; 26 Great Grandchildren; her sister VerLyn and Martin Kneifl; her niece Becky Kneifl Palu; her nephew Bruce and Rhonda Kneifl; cousins and the Jessen family of Brothers and Sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and so many special friends that became family. Melba was proceed in death by her parents Joseph and Hazel Cross; husband Lyle A. Jessen; daughter Judy Kappel; Infant Baby Cross; and Great Granddaughter Ava Bargman.