Orel "Bud" Hefner

Orel “Bud” Hefner, 87, of St. Libory, died Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010, at the VA Medical Center in Grand Island. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Zion Lutheran Church in Worms. The Rev. Craig K. Niemeier will officiate. Burial will be in the Norwegian Cemetery northwest of Worms, with graveside military honors by American Legion Post 120 of Palmer. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Hefner was born on Oct. 19, 1922, at Sugar Valley, Georgia, the son of Thad and Daisy (Holsomback) Hefner. He was preceded in death by a son, Lyle Hefner. He is survived by his wife, Viola Hefner of Grand Island; two sons and two daughters-in-law, Dale Hefner of St. Libory, Ron and Tracey Hefner of Archer, and Dorothey “Dora” Hefner of Grand Island. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Dawn, Desi, Erin, Jason, Jennifer and Amanda; and several great-grandchildren. Bud grew to manhood and received his education in Sugar Valley, Georgia. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran, serving from March 1943 to December 1945. He was united in marriage to Viola E. Niemoth on Dec. 10, 1943, at Zion Lutheran Church in Worms. The couple farmed northeast of St. Libory and he later worked 18 years for the Co-Op Elevator in Palmer. He retired in 1985 and continued to live on the farm. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Worms and American Legion Post 120 of Palmer. Bud enjoyed gardening, hunting, going to coffee, and visiting his relatives in Georgia. In addition to his son, he was preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Doris, Lois, Herlene and Nancy; and five brothers, Beck, Tom, Glen, Rudolph and Norman. Memorials are suggested to the church or to the donor’s choice.