Bernadine “Bernie” F. Marshall, 79, of St. Edward, NE passed away on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at the Cloverlodge Care Center in St. Edward, NE.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Monday, December 23, 2024, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Columbus, NE, with Rev. Patrick Sparling and Rev. Brian Ketelsen officiating. Interment will be at 3 p.m. Monday at St. Paul’s Lutheran (God’s Acre) Cemetery near Arlington, NE. Visitation is Sunday from 4-6 p.m. at Levander Funeral Home in Albion, NE, and will resume Monday at the church from 10 a.m. until service time.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the family for later designation. Miller-Levander Funeral Home in St. Edward, NE is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at: www.levanderfuneralhome.com Bernadine “Bernie” Fay Marshall
Bernadine “Bernie” Fay Marshall, daughter of Harry and Irene (White) Echtenkamp, was born on April 8, 1945, at the hospital in Fremont, NE, and was baptized in the Lutheran faith at St. Paul Lutheran Church, rural Arlington. She attended Arlington High School and graduated in 1963 as the valedictorian of her class. Following graduation, Bernie went to Midland University for one year.
On November 26, 1964, Bernie married her high-school sweetheart, Stephen “Steve” Sterling Marshall, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Arlington. The couple lived in Lincoln while Steve finished pharmacy school before moving to St. Edward. Bernie worked a few different jobs in her life. She worked at the Farmers Coop in St. Edward. She then worked for Fagen Inc., the construction firm that built the Hudson Foods plant (now Cargill) in Columbus. Once the plant was constructed, Bernie went to work for Hudson Foods. After retirement, Bernie worked part-time at Days Inns and Suites as a front desk clerk and as a clerk for BigIron Auctions.
Bernie was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Arlington. After moving to St. Edward, she became a founding member of Faith Lutheran Church. Her faith was tremendously important, and she passed her beliefs on to her children and grandchildren.
Bernie was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She cherished her loved ones and the memories they made together. Bernie was a loyal friend to many and will be deeply missed. Family and friends alike can attest to her skill in making a warm, inviting home, serving beautifully prepared and presented meals, and making all who came to visit feel welcome and comfortable. She had a knack for decorating and paying attention to every detail so that her home looked ready for Martha Stewart to photograph for her magazine. She could wield a can of spray paint or a fabric swatch with ninja skill, often repurposing antiques and giving them new life and her personal touch. When only something new would do, she could always go shopping. And could she shop! To say that Bernie could shop in her prime is a little like saying Warren Buffet has a knack for making a few dollars. Less planning and list-making may have gone into world wars than Bernie Marshall’s famous Omaha excursions. When she felt her wardrobe needed refreshing or if she had a gift to buy, Bernie headed to the malls — places where everybody knew her name. Christmas was a special time for extended days-long trips, eventually leading her daughter, daughter-in-law, granddaughters and sometimes friends in missions to which Omaha store managers greedily looked forward. Another place Bernie was in her element was in the crowd at school events wearing maroon, first for the Arlington Eagles, then for Stacy and Rob and the St. Edward Beavers, and later for her grandkids and the Columbus Discoverers. She will be remembered for her steadfast devotion to her family and friends.
Bernie is survived by her husband of 60 years: Steve Marshall of St. Edward; two children, Stacy (Marc) Baue of Columbus; Rob (Denise) Marshall also of Columbus; six grandchildren: Samuel and Joshua Baue, both of Lincoln; Cyrus Marshall of Canton, MO; Traedyn Marshall of Columbus; Harper Marshall of Kearney; Grace (fiancé Brendan Burt) Baue of Lincoln; two nieces: Shelley (Mike) Schiessler of Fremont; Tammy Sanchez of San Clemente, CA; along with many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Raymond Echtenkamp; sister, Bonnie (Everett) Stout; brother-in-law, Everett Stout; and many uncles and aunts.
