Mrs. Ethel M. Rother

Ethel M. Rother, 87, of Wolbach, died November 1, 2008 at her home in Wolbach.



Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Greeley. Officiating will be Father Joe Hannappel. Interment will be held at Hillside Cemetery in Wolbach. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, from 5-8:00 with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. at the church in Greeley.



Memorials are suggested to the Donor's Choice.



Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in Wolbach is in charge of arrangements.



Mrs. Rother was born October 15, 1921 in Brayton, Nebraska to John Ambrose & Elizabeth Irene (Kinsella) Whalen. She attended school in Wolbach and graduated from Wolbach High School. She is a distinguished alumni from Kearney State College. She also graduated from the Missouri Auctioneer School obtaining the title of "Honorary Colonel".



She was united in marriage to Henry G. Rother in O'Connor, Nebraska on June 11, 1941.



She worked as an education teacher from 1938-1999 teaching in many rural Nebraska schools.



She retired in 1999 and continued to substitute teach at numerous schools until January 2006.



Ethel enjoyed her grandchildren, family, all sports, fishing and gambling. Most importantly she loved teaching and kids. She was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Wolbach Legion Auxiliary, Catholic Daughters and Nebraska Teachers Association.



In September, 2007 Henry and Ethel Rother and family were inducted into the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame.



Survivors include eleven sons and daughters-in-law, Doug & Judy Rother of Almagordo, NM; Thomas & RuthAnn Rother of Fairbury, NE; Rollie & Julie Rother of Wayne, NE; Ed & Kathy Rother of Papillion, NE; Henry Rother of Wolbach; Robert & Rhonda Rother of Lindsay, NE; Ted Rother of Wolbach; Mike & Cindy Rother of Wolbach; Stan & Trish Rother of Wolbach; Charles and Katrina Rother of Grand Island, NE; Sandy Rother of Wolbach; six daughters and sons-in-law, Betty & Bob Ondracek of Greeley; Donna Hellbusch of Belgrade; Minnie & Drue Gellatly of Wolbach; Patti & Mike Applegate of Columbus; Mary Racicky of Grand Island; Cheryl & Rick Martinsen of Albion; 57 grandchildren; 52 great grandchildren; one great great grandchild;

one sister Marie Marco of Greeley; one brother & sister-in-law, Louis & Eileen Whalen of Greeley.



She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Henry, one son & daughter-in-law John & Charlene Rother, two grandsons Dusty Rother & Brad Rother, one son-in-law Dan Hellbusch, three brothers Bert, Jack & Roland Whalen.