Rachel Lay

Hastings resident Rachel C. Lay 102, passed away Saturday, March 5, 2022, at Edgewood Vista Assisted Living, Hastings, NE.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 14, at First Presbyterian Church in Hastings with Pastor Damen Jensen-Heitmann officiating. Burial will be at Hanover Presbyterian Cemetery. Visitation will be 1-5 p.m. with family present 3-5 p.m. Sunday, March 13, at the funeral home and one hour prior to service at the church. Memorials may be given to Hanover Presbyterian Cemetery. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Rachel’s obituary and click the play button shown towards the bottom of the page. Private condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.

Rachel was born August 30, 1919 at Scribner, NE to John Henry & Wilhelmina (Pfeiffer) Sass.  She was baptized at her parents’ home, and confirmed at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Scribner.  She graduated from Scribner High School in 1936 and attended Wayne State Teachers College for 2 years where she studied elementary education.  She taught in a rural school in Cuming County, NE for 3 years.  Rachel taught elementary grades in Ogallala from 1941-1942 in the Ogallala public schools.  She met her husband, Albertus Lay, in Ogallala, NE where he was a coach and teacher of Mathematics and Science.  She received her engagement ring on April 1 (April Fool’s Day which was Albertus’s birthday).  They were married at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Scribner on June 14, 1942 (Flag Day).  She taught in the elementary grades at Glenvil, NE public from 1943-1948.  She was a stay-at-home mom, and was a substitute teacher for 10 years in the Fremont, NE public schools from 1969-1979.  Albertus and Rachel retired to one of their farms by Glenvil, NE.  From 1980-1988 she was a substitute teacher in the Hastings public schools.  Rachel was 60 years old when she took snow skiing lessons and she said the skis were slick.  She did Volunteer work as a pink lady with the Mary Lanning Healthcare Auxiliary.  Rachel and Albertus celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary on June 14, 1992.  Rachel was a member of the Neighborly Gals Extension Club, Fremont Faculty Wives, Member of Fremont Presbyterian Church, United Presbyterian Women, member of Beta Sigma Phi Fremont, attended Hanover Presbyterial Church near Glenvil and First Presbyterian Church Hastings, member of YWCA, and member of Hastings Retired Teachers Association.

Rachel was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Albertus; son, Gary Lay; brother, Dale Sass; and infant sister.

Survivors include son Greg Lay of Hastings, sister, Joan Parde of Camarillo, CA, daughter-in-law Karen Lay of Lincoln.  Grandchildren: Cody & Elizabeth Lay of Columbus, Rikki (Lay) & James Frey of Lincoln, Chad Lay of Lincoln, Andria (Lay) & Eric Mueller of Minot, ND.  Great-grandchildren: Gavin Lay, Isabel Lay, Madelynn Mueller, & Makenzie Mueller, plus nieces and nephews.

Rachel preferred to not say goodbye.

She is telling friends and family “Toodle y Do”