Mrs. LaRena M. (Mitchell) Budde

LaRena Mae Budde was born and raised in Bassett, Nebraska. She died at the Brown County Hospital in Ainsworth, Nebraska on November 6, 2019. She married Conrad Budde Jr. in 1950 and moved to Ainsworth where they resided until 1970 and then moved to Loveland, Colorado where they finished raising their three children. When it was time to retire, the couple returned to Ainsworth.

LaRena took pride in her home and family. Her home was the heart of her life. She was artistic with an eye for color. She loved decorating her home and entertaining. She was always trying new recipes and sharing them with family and friends. She went from being a new bride who couldn't bake a chicken to rave reviews as the hostess of family and business parties. Her artistic talents extended beyond the culinary to oil painting and drawing. She traveled Nebraska taking art lessons and in the end she gave lessons. Other enjoyment came from singing, dancing and traveling. She always took deep pleasure in her home and made it attractive with an artistic style that was her own. She is one of a kind in the hearts of her family.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Bessie Mae Mitchell; her father, Allen C. Mitchell; and a grandson, Conrad R. Budde. Survivors include her husband, Conrad Budde Jr. of Ainsworth; her children, Micheal L. Budde (Debbie) of Forest, Virginia, Ann A. Lebsack (Gary) of Conway, South Carolina and John B. Budde (Sandy) of Severance, Colorado along with five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and her sister, Myra Shaw of Newcastle, Wyoming and her brother, Allen “Bud” Mitchell of Omaha, Nebraska.

A joint memorial services with her beloved husband, Conrad was held at the Zion Lutheran Church on Saturday June 20, 2020 with Pastor Georg Williams officiating the service. Inurnment followed in the Lutheran Cemetery northwest of Ainsworth.