June Nelson, 86, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Friday, January 7, 2022, at her home in Columbus.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, January 29th at the Columbus Berean Church with Pastor Justin Bebb officiating. Visitation will be on Saturday, from 9:30 AM until service time, also at the church. The service will be broadcast live on the Gass Haney Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Columbus Berean Church (3027 38th Street, Columbus, Nebraska, 68601).

Born June Esther Brauer to Fredrick and Henrietta Brauer (née Fuchs) in Kulm, North Dakota. June grew up on her family's farm, without the benefit of running water or electricity in her early years, and attended a one-room schoolhouse. After graduating high school, June traveled to St. Paul, Minnesota, where she trained to be an X-ray technician. She worked her way through school, pinching her pennies to make ends meet. One of her specialties in the lean years was "tomato soup" made of hot water and free ketchup packets.

After graduating X-ray technician school, she moved to Columbus, Nebraska, where her aunt Esther lived. Shortly after arriving, June entered—and won—the Miss Columbus pageant of 1955. Upon hearing of her victory, her father asked, "don't they have any pretty girls down there, that they had to choose one from North Dakota?"

One summer day June visited the local pool and caught the eye of the lifeguard. "Nice kick you got there," he remarked. After that, they got on swimmingly. Dale Nelson and June were married on April 8, 1956. They made their home in Columbus and raised three daughters: Diane, Joan, and Corinne. June continued to work as an X-ray tech in hospital and office settings, where she was a valued colleague.

An avid horseback rider, June owned Tennessee Walkers for many years and frequently participated in trail rides. She said she never had a back problem that a nice long ride couldn't fix.

June nursed Dale through illness at the end of his life and lost him to complications of pulmonary disease in 2010. June subsequently reconnected with her high school friend David Hlebechuk. David and June had attended senior prom together, but didn't date at the time since she was protestant and he was Catholic. David and June married August 25th, 2012.

A devoted follower of Jesus, June was a diligent student of scripture, joyful voice in the choir, and active member of her congregations through the years. She never missed a chance to serve others and frequently shared Christ when she felt the Holy Spirit had laid it on her heart.

June died on January 7, 2022, at home in Columbus, Nebraska, from pancreatic cancer. She was 86 years old. June was preceded in death by her parents Fredrick and Henrietta; brother Lawrence; husbands Dale and David; and twin sons lost to miscarriage. She is survived by her sister Eileen (and Donald) Geske; brothers Warren (and Karen) and Douglas (and Elaine) Brauer; her daughters Diane (and Charles) Hooley, Joan (and Richard) Campbell, and Corinne (and Scott) Hoover; her eleven grandchildren Nichole (and Isaac) Wiese, Scott Hooley, Amanda Hooley, Tyler (and Jamie) Campbell, Jenny (and Norman) Huelsman, Erik (and Natalie) Hoover, Jordan Hooley, Brandon Campbell, Travis Hoover, Sara Hoover (and Dillon Mick with daughter Gracie), and Dylan (and Devon) Hoover; and her five great-grandchildren Nathan, Lillian, Macklin, Jacob, and one arriving in March.

Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.