Marion Leroy Dehning

Marion LeRoy Dehning, age 84 of Big Springs, passed away Thursday evening, May 31, 2012 at the Indian Hills Manor Nursing Home in Ogallala.
Services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 4th at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Brule with Pastor Jon Dickmander officiating. Burial will be in the Big Springs Cemetery at 12:30 p.m..
Marion was born at Big Springs on September 27, 1927 the son of Edward and Alma (Kallsen) Dehning. His family lived ten miles north west of Big Springs and Marion’s mother came into Big Springs to her parent’s home to have baby Marion. He was the fourth son born into the family which grew to six sons and one daughter.
He attended a country school north west of Big Springs. At an early age he had to work, helping friends and neighbors, to help support the large family during those days of much need. His father died when Marion was thirteen years of age. This left his mother to raise and feed her seven children. Following Pearl Harbor in December of 1941 his three older brothers went to war. Marion continued his education and graduated from the Big Springs High School in 1945. During high school he was involved in agriculture classes and participated in sports. After his graduation Marion joined the U.S. Navy. Following his discharge he returned to Big Springs and worked various jobs including working on the railroad.
He met Twyla Kenfield and the couple was married on October 8, 1950 in Big Springs. They moved to a farm south east of town where Marion continued to farm until his retirement. He loved farming and was a dedicated farmer, raising corn, sugar beets, pinto beans and wheat and raised cattle. He was a man who the neighbors knew would be in the fields before sun up and late at night. He had been a member of various boards and the Lutheran Church. He was most interested in his children’s activities, and then his grandchildren’s activities including sports, 4-H and whatever else they were involved in.
In 1997 his only daughter, Patricia (Patty), had a brain aneurysm. She died the following year. Marion and Twyla moved into Big Springs in 2001 and he continued to work for area farmers. With his health declining he moved to Indian Hills Manor in August of 2009.
Survivors include his wife, Twyla of Big Springs; sons Dr. Michael (Debra) Dehning of Omaha and Mark (Peggy) Dehning of Big Springs; son in law, Terry Johnson of Chadron, NE; granddaughters, Jill and Sam Dare, Jennifer and Nathan Vacha, Jessica Johnson and Bailey Dehning; grandsons, Troy and Russchelle Dehning, Christopher and Tracy Dehning, Matthew Dehning, Andrew Dehning, Jordan Dehning, Shawn Dehing and Nathan Dehning; and seventeen great grandchildren; brothers, Orval and Elda Dehning of Kansas City, MO and Lyle and Beverly Dehning of Longmont, CO; sisters in law, Evelyn Dehning, Corabell Dehning and Helen Dehning and Beverly (Charles) Trautman; brothers in law, Gerald (Katie) Kenfield and Marvin (Doris) Kenfield; and many nieces nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Mervin, Delmar and LaVern Dehning; a sister, Eileen Smith; his daughter, Patricia Johnson and a great granddaughter, Morgan Rae Dehning.
Memorials may be given to the Big Springs Fire Department or the Big Springs Swimming Pool in Marion’s memory. Online condolences may be sent at gubserfuneralhome.com. Visitation will be held from noon until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Gubser Funeral Home on Sunday, June 3rd. Gubser Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.