Myrna Collins Obituary

Myrna J. Collins, age 95 of Coleridge, Nebraska died on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at the Pender Community Hospital in Pender, Nebraska.

Funeral Services will be on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran church in Coleridge with the Rev. Marilyn Hasemann officiating. Burial will be at Lawn Ridge cemetery in rural Coleridge. Visitation will be on Tuesday morning, at church, from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Coleridge. The funeral will be livestreamed on the Immanuel Lutheran Church site. Friends are encouraged to bring a favorite quilt made by Myrna and display them on the back of the church pews.

Pallbearers will be Erin Gartner, Alissa Lierman, Shay Petersen, Chelsi Pehrson, Laurie Pehrson, Misty Tullberg, and Lisa Hoffman. Honorary pallbearers will be all her grandchildren.

Myrna Joy was born January 28, 1930 in Laurel, NE to Elmer and Matilda (Huetig) Anderson. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Laurel and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Coleridge. She attended several country schools in the Laurel and Coleridge area and graduated from Coleridge High School in 1947. She was active in music, cheerleading, and was Homecoming Queen.

She married Richard (Dick) Collins on June 6, 1948 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Coleridge. She was a homemaker and to this union were born four children – Micheal, Patricia, James, and Melia. She also worked part time at Farmers Union store and baked her famous cinnamon rolls for Larry’s Bar and Grill. They lived in Coleridge until 1965 when she and Dick purchased the Conoco station in Laurel and started Collins Motor. She worked side by side with Dick pumping gas and washing windshields, keeping the books and managing the office while raising four children and maintaining a home. She also found time to bowl and golf. Myrna was a member of United Lutheran Church in Laurel where she taught Sunday school and Bible school and was active in circle.

After Dick retired, they moved back to Coleridge where she worked and helped manage the Corral Bar. She worked there until 1992 when she retired. They did lots of traveling during their retirement years and spent their winters in Texas. She enjoyed making quilts for her family and friends. She was a good seamstress and sewed clothes for her daughters and granddaughters. She was a member of Immanuel Lutheran church in Coleridge and active in circle and the community. She will be remembered for her excellent cooking and baking skills, especially her cinnamon rolls, pies, and fried chicken and the many quilts she lovingly made. She will also be remembered for her laughter and zest for life.

Myrna is survived by her two daughters and spouses Patricia (Tim) Pehrson of York, Melia (Dennis) Tullberg of Wayne; seven grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; six great great grandchildren; Pat’s Children Zachary, Nathan (Chelsi) Pehrson –(Paige, Skyler, Sadie), Jared (Laurie) Pehrson – (Ethan, Alexis, Aubrie, Nolan), Erin (Adam) Gartner – (Ellie and Wyatt); Melia’s children – Alissa (Shawn) Lierman – (Karissa, Deanna, Shelby (Nayvi, Journi), Derek (Scheccid) – Brantley, Atticus, Regina, Chayse (Estefany) Thomsen, Spencer (Misty) Tullberg - Britney (Walker) Anderson – Avery, Weston, Shaylyn (Brad) Petersen – (Millie & Mabel); sisters-in-law Judy Collins and Lorna Peters, brother-in-law Wayne Swaygnim and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Myrna was preceded in death by her parents; husband Richard on 11/8/2009 at age 80 years; son James and Micheal; brothers Donald and Floyd Anderson; brothers-in-law Gene Collins, Keith Collins, Bob Peters; sisters-in-law Veva Collins, Dorothy Anderson, and Claire (Collins) Swaygnim; nephews Eldon Anderson, Cory Chapman, Wade Loberg, and Bruce Collins; a niece Sharilyn Lemke.