Roy Alber

Hastings resident, Roy O. Alber, 100, passed away Tuesday, July 11, 2017, at The Homestead, Hastings, Nebraska.

Services will be Saturday, July 15, 2017; 10:00 A.M. at Faith Lutheran Church, Hastings with Pastor Paul Dunbar and Pastor Josh Davis officiating. Burial with military rites by A.L. Shirley Post 176 of Blue Hill will be Saturday, July 15, 2017; 1:30 P.M. in Blue Hill Cemetery, Blue Hill. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Faith Lutheran Church, Hastings, Trinity Lutheran Church, Blue Hill, Calvary Lutheran Church, Rosemont, Blue Hill American Legion or Henry & Mary Alber Scholarship at Blue Hill High School. Visitation will be Friday, July 14, 2017; 1:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. with the family present 5:00 P.M. - 7:00 P.M. at Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home in Hastings, and one hour prior to service at the church.

Roy was born on January 5, 1917, to Adam and Celia (Zeigler) Alber on a farm north of Guide Rock, Nebraska. He was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church, north of Guide Rock on May 15, 1921, and confirmed May 24, 1930. Roy served his country proudly during World War II with the U.S. Army from September 11, 1941, until August 3, 1945. Eighteen months of his service (June 1943 - December 1944) was in the Aleutian Islands on the Island of Attu.

On May 25, 1947, Roy married Dorothy E. Himmelberg at Zion Lutheran Church in Hastings, Nebraska. They lived and farmed south of Rosemont for 37 years, raising four children. They moved to Hastings in 1984 but he continued to help on the farm for many years. Roy and Dorothy enjoyed many years of square dancing. Their love of dancing and travel took them many wonderful places. Roy also participated in an Honor Flight to Washington DC, where he was able to visit the World War II Memorial. Roy enjoyed spending time with family, farming and his card club. He served on various church boards at Calvary Lutheran Church in Rosemont and Trinity Lutheran Church in Blue Hill. He also served on the South Central Public Power Board of Directors for 11 years. He was also a School Board member and served on the Blue Hill Rural Fire and Co-Op boards. He was a 70-year member of the Blue Hill American Legion.

Roy was preceded in death by his parents, Adam and Celia and 14 brothers and sisters; Cora Benker (Ludwig), Paul Alber (Emma), Mary Alber in infancy, William Alber (Marie), Elizabeth Bangert (Fred), Jennie Alber in infancy, Henry Alber (Mary), Rose Bangert (Theodore), Adolph Alber (Hilda), Pearl Mahnke (Frank)-Dalton (Fred)-Thompson (Claud), Earl Alber in infancy and three other siblings in infancy, also numerous nieces and nephews.

Survivors include his spouse of 70 years, Dorothy; two daughters, LaDonna Baker (Bill) of Grand Island and Sheryl (Sheri) Gilbert (Steve) of Norfolk; two sons, Roger Alber (Marilyn) and Duane Alber (Arlene) both of Blue Hill. Eleven grandchildren, Renae Baker (Dr. Scott Alexander) of Flower Mound, TX. Dr. Tammy Dann (Dr. Adam) of Huntington, WV, Stephanie Rittershaus (Michael) of Gretna, Sabrina Beck (Jon) of Omaha, Sommer Moore (Rob) of Norfolk, Leslie Frazier (Spencer) of Milford, Bret Alber and Jenna Sutterfield (Erik) of Lincoln, Kevin Alber of Derby, KS, Tara Waddell (Graham) of Springfield and Tessa Alber of Lincoln. Sixteen Great-Grandchildren, Madeline, Elsa, Hazel and Ada Dann, Benjamin and Beau Dostal, (father, Russ Dostal) Joelle and Calista Rittershaus, Zach, Luke, Charlie and Will Beck, Gabriella and Elizabeth Moore, Sadie and Gavin Roy Frazier.