Cloudy, 53° F
(Sept. 27, 2004)
A memorial service will be held at the Powell First United Methodist Church Saturday, Oct. 2 at 10:30 a.m. for LaVada M. Hedge, who died Monday, Sept. 27 at the Powell Valley Care Center at the age of 101.
The Rev. Susan Adams-Trembath will officiate. A reception will follow in Wesley Hall.
Born in Omaha, Nebr., on Nov. 18, 1902, LaVada was stricken with polio as a child, but didn't let it slow her down. She moved with her parents, Ira and Anna Pickett, to Hot Springs, S.D., and then to Grand Island, Nebr., where she attended grade school and high school. She attended Hastings College in Hastings, Nebr., for two years and continued study at the University of Nebraska, achieving a teaching certificate. She taught elementary education in Lincoln, Nebr., and was selected as a demonstration teacher for student teachers.
She married Ivan W. Hedge on Aug. 15, 1928. At the time, he was employed by the State of Nebraska Banking Dept., investing and distributing the remaining assets of failed banks in the Depression in the 1930s. In 1938, they purchased the Filley Bank in Filley, Nebr., and lived there for 40 years.
They had two sons, Paul and Richard.
She was active in church work in the Filley United Methodist Church, leading the church youth group for 13 years, teaching Sunday School and leading study groups for the Women's Society. LaVada wrote, directed and furnished costumes for the Sunday School Christmas programs for many years at the church. She was honored by the United Methodist Women with a life-time membership and also honored by the Nebraska Methodist Conference with a Status of Women award.
She was active for many years in Eastern Star, holding many offices. She was a member of the Past Matrons Club.
In 1978, LaVada and husband Ivan moved to Powell to be near her son, Paul, and family after Ivan suffered a stroke. She cared for Ivan until his death in 1987.
In 1989, she moved into the Independent Living Wing of the Powell Hospital and into the nursing home in 1996. In Powell, she was a member of the Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, Past Matrons Club and Project Leaders Club.
Survivors include two sons, Paul and wife Lois Hedge of Powell, and Richard Hedge of Denver, Colo.; two grandchildren, Randy Hedge of Oshkosh, Wisc., and Dan Hedge of Boulder, Colo.; and five grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ivan; her granddaughter, Cathy Hedge Frederick, in 1996; and her brother, James Pickett and wife Ann.
Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be held Oct. 30 at 10 a.m. at the Filley, Nebr., cemetery. Arrangements are by Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home.
