Birth: August 28, 1918
Death: July 15, 2011
Location: Lot 175, Section 3, New Addition
Loren Bilslend, 92, of Wood River died Friday, July 15, 2011, at Wedgewood Care Center, in Grand Island.
Loren was born Aug. 28, 1918, at Stanford, Mont., to Elmer and Ethel (Blackman) Bilslend.
Loren was preceded in death by his wife, Emma.
Survivors are: sons and daughters-in-law, Walter and Carolyn Bilslend of Wood River and Ivan and Mary Bilslend of Wood River; daughters and sons-in-law, Rita and Mel Earnest of Wood River, Coral Dittmer of Grand Island, and Jewel and Jim Naufel of Broken Arrow, Okla.; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; brothers, LeRoy Bilslend and Harold Bilslend, both of Wood River; and sister, Lucille Robinson of Shelton.
Loren grew up in Montana, Oklahoma, and Colorado before moving to Wood River, and graduating from Wood River High School with the class of 1937.
Loren was united in marriage to Emma Klimper on July 9, 1940, in Grand Island.
The couple made their home on a farm southwest of Wood River. In 1980, he retired from farming and the couple moved into Wood River. He was also a Cornhusker and DeKalb corn seed dealer. He helped his family with their farming even after retirement.
Loren enjoyed going to baseball games, playing cards and especially being with family.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents and one granddaughter.
Burial was in the Wood River Cemetery, Wood River.
Published in The Grand Island Independent on July 16, 2011