Ethel M. Valla

Ethel M. Valla, 81, of Lodgepole, passed away Tuesday evening, December 18, 2018 at the Regional West Garden County Nursing Home in Oshkosh.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 28, 2018 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Chappell with Father Rayappa Pasala officiating.  Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery near Lodgepole.

Visitation will be held 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday evening at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church with a rosary service beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Memorials in Ethel’s name can be made to the family.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Chappell is serving the Valla family.

Ethel Mae Valla was born January 3, 1937 in Roscoe, Nebraska to Herman and Viola (Jennings) Fischer.  She attended all of her schooling in Paxton graduating in 1955. 

She was united in marriage to Frank R. Valla Jr on November 24, 1961.  To this union 4 children were born; Bryan, Lisa, Michelle, and Kimberly. 

Ethel worked in many of the nursing home facilities in the area as a CNA for many years.  She then went back to school and received an Associates Degree in Business from WNCC.  After obtaining her degree she began work as a book keeper.  She worked for many years at Community Action and volunteered many hours and the Lodgepole library.

Ethel was a strong advocate for anyone she felt needed someone on their side.  She would fight to make sure people were treated fairly.  She loved her family and playing cards and board games with them.  She also enjoyed cooking, reading and crocheting.

She was a longtime member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.

Ethel is survived by her son, Bryan and wife, Kathy Valla of North Platte; 3 daughters, Lisa Heskett of Central City, Michelle and husband, Sean January of Golden, Colorado, and Kimberly Valla Martinez of Lodgepole; 12 grandchildren, Brad, Ashley, Ryan, Felicia, Miley, Raven, Sierra, Arya, Miss Frankie, Christina, Dezarae, and  Maygon; numerous great-grandchildren; brother, Harold Fischer of North Platte; sister-in-law, Bertha Fischer of Hershey; and many nieces, nephews, adopted children and grandchildren, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband in 2013, brothers, Terry, Ralph, and Keith, sister, Mary and a grandson, Frankie Finley.