Yvonne Fitts went home to be with her Lord Jesus on September 11, 2022, at The Heritage Estates in Gering Nebraska. A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 19, 2022, at Salem Congregational Church in Scottsbluff with Pastor Dale Brown officiating.
A private family burial for both Yvonne and Donald Fitts, will be held Tuesday, September 20th at the Gordon, Nebraska Cemetery. The service will be livestreamed on Bridgman Funeral Home’s Facebook page. Online condolences may be left at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com.
Yvonne was born August 7, 1926, in Gordon, Nebraska to Cecil Andrew and Vera Isabel (Sellers) Dahlgren. Yvonne attended school through the 8th grade in rural Cherry County located near the family ranch, south of Merriman, Nebraska. She then attended and graduated from high school in Hay Springs, Nebraska while boarding with her Aunt Anna and Uncle Arthur (Pete) Peterson. After graduation, her family moved to Gordon from the ranch and Yvonne returned to Gordon and attended two years of schooling at the Gordon Bible School.
Yvonne met Donald Fitts at a church roller skating party on New Year’s Eve, 1945 and married June 30, 1946. They returned to farm the family farm and raise cattle northeast of Minatare, Nebraska. They were blessed with 75 years of marriage before Donald passed in October of 2021. From this union, four children were born: Gary, Royce, Marilyn and Linda.
Although she often longed for her beloved Sandhills and horses, Yvonne relentlessly assisted Donald on the farm with cattle and crops and harvest. She was known to throw a banquet on the table at moment’s notice if an extended family member or stranger happened to drive into the yard.
Yvonne devoted her life to her children and grandchildren. Her commitment was to “. . . Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it…” (Prov. 22:6. paraphrased.) Christian education was important to Yvonne. Memorials are suggested to the Sunday School and Youth programs at the Scottsbluff First Church of God and the Gordon First Church of God. (Both churches Anderson, Indiana affiliation)
Survivors include her four children, Gary (Dee) Fitts of Berthoud, Colorado; Royce Fitts of Scottsbluff; Marilyn (Bob) Pahlke of Gering; and Linda (Brian) Pilkington of Scottsbluff; 10 grandchildren, Gina (Craig) Poley; JoDee (Mike) Vidaurri; Ellie (Chris) Fulmer; Shane (JoAnna) Fitts; Ryane Carlin; Jason (Christine) Collopy; Emilee Pilkington; Joshua Pilkington; Ashlee (Nick) Kizzire; and Jared Pilkington along with 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Betty (Roger) Phillips, sister Mary Lois (Bill) Hardin, sister Maxine (Myron) Gehrig and brother, Nick (Judy) Dahlgren along with great-granddaughter, Deign Yvonne Carlin.
The family would like to thank the nursing staff on the Juniper and Prairie Rose wings along with the receptionists and administration at The Heritage Estates in Gering for their kind and loving care of Yvonne throughout the last year as she advanced into her final moments.