Lucille Marie Foster McCormick of Valentine, NE. passed away Monday evening March 6th, 2017 at Good Samaritan Society-Pine View in Valentine at the age of 85.
Lucille was born December 16th, 1931 in Valentine to Melvin and Isa (Bunker) Foster. She was the oldest of three siblings, two girls and one boy. She graduated from Valentine High School in 1949 and married Albert McCormick on May 12th, 1950 in Lincoln, NE. This union was blessed with three children, two boys and a girl.
After they married, Lucille and Albert lived in Valentine where Albert worked as a mechanic and Lucille worked at the bakery. They then moved to rural Kewanee where Albert worked for Kenneth Simmons as a ranch hand. In 1958 they went into the ranching business with Melvin and Isa and lived in the basement of her parent's home near Sparks, NE. Two years later, they purchased their own ranch near Norden, NE. and moved there on March 1st, 1960 where they farmed and ranched until Albert's death May 23rd, 2002.
Lucille's many activities as a ranch wife included raising three kids, milking cows, raising hogs and cattle, cooking, cleaning, sewing, keeping books for the ranch, and working in the hay field. She always raised a large garden and even with her busy schedule, she still found time to be a Den Mother for a group of cub scouts. Lucille's hobbies included square dancing, playing cards and board games, embroidering, and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Another great joy of Lucille's was being a member of the Shadly Sals Extension Club. As a member, she baked lots of pies for sales and auctions around the area. She also loved to make cherry cheese cake to take to functions at the Presbyterian Church where she was a life-long member and a Deacon. She also was a Pink Lady at the Cherry County Hospital.
After retiring from farming and ranching and leasing the ranch, Lucille began working part time to earn money for her main hobby which was travelling. She worked for Johnny Peterson in the hay field, at a veterinary supply store in Valentine, at Flower Land, and then at Cody Foster & Co., Inc. With earnings from her part time jobs, Lucille took several bus tours travelling the U.S. visiting 47 states including Hawaii and many national parks. She also visited Mexico and Russia and took a Panama Canal cruise.
She was preceded in death by her husband Albert, her father Melvin and mother Isa Foster and her nephew Kyle Swim.
Two sons and one daughter survive Lucille: Kim of rural Sparks NE., Patrick and wife Michelle of Norfolk, NE., and Deborah Godel and husband Rick of Winner, SD. Eight grandchildren also survive Lucille: Michael and wife Marifer of Las Vegas, NV., Benjamin and wife Katy of Boston, MA., Carrie and partner Patrick Condliffe of Sydney, AU., Toby Cook and partner AnnaLee Neiman of Gregory, SD., Veronica Cook of Washington, DC., Derek Cook and wife Katari of Rapid City, SD., Alyssa McCormick of Norfolk, NE., and Nathan McCormick of Lincoln, NE. Great grandchildren include: Taylor Johnson of Bismarck, ND., Ruby and Teja Condliffe of Sydney, AU., Payton and Olivia Cook of Gregory, SD., and Aero Cook of Rapid City, SD. Lucille is also survived by her sister Bonnie Swim and husband Dean of Winslow, NE., and brother Roger Foster and wife Diane of rural Sparks, NE. Also, several nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for Lucille McCormick was held Saturday, March 11, 2017 at the Presbyterian Church in Valentine with burial following at Mount Hope Cemetery. A reception was held at the church after the burial. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines was in charge of funeral arrangements.