Bethene Lines

Bethene Marie (Lunbery) Lines, age 91 of Imperial, went to her heavenly home on December 1, 2024 at Great Plains Health in North Platte, Nebraska with her three children by her side.

Bethene was born on December 9, 1932, to her parents, Melvin and Anna Lunbery, on their farmstead near Trenton, Nebraska. Bethene was the youngest of the family, having an older brother and two older sisters. She attended grade school and high school in Trenton, graduating in 1951.

Bethene took normal training during her junior and senior years of high school earning her teaching certificate. Bethene met the love of her life, Leo Lines, who was a teacher and coach in Trenton. They married on August 26, 1951.

Both Leo and Bethene had careers of teaching for nearly 20 years, with stops in Cambridge, Imperial rural schools, Benkelman, McCook, Goodland Christian School and ending up making Imperial their destination.

In 1955, while living in Holdrege, Jerry Lee was born. Leo took a break from teaching and began building houses. Bethene learned the skill of painting, working alongside her husband. While in McCook, Bethene, while teaching at a rural school, was able to teach Jerry in kindergarten and first grades. In March of 1963, Linda Sue was born in McCook.

After moving back to Imperial in 1963, Bethene became a homemaker and Brenda Marie was born in 1965. After Leo retired from teaching, Bethene joined him again in the house building, remodeling and painting businesses. Bethene earned her Early Childhood degree and opened a preschool in her home for several years. She was especially proud to be able to teach her first grandchild Jenna. She still lived in the house they built on 12th street for over 60 years.

Bethene and Leo retired their paint brushes in 2014, and they enjoyed a life of traveling to see more of their children and grandchildren's activities. They would reminisce about the bus trips they took around the country. They especially enjoyed morning coffee and seeing their friends for lunch at the Imperial Community Center. The highlight of Bethene's week was leading exercises. On her last day with us, she was still talking about how much she would miss her friends at exercise. Bethene's schedule was very full, with attending several Bible studies weekly, coffee clubs, knitting club, ladies’ night out and extension club. She looked forward to every Saturday morning when she and her two special friends would meet for breakfast and sometimes watch the Huskers together, as she was a huge football and volleyball fan. She was a staple at school sporting events and ball games, getting to watch the kids from church, and she could tell you all about each one. She taught in AWANA for nearly forty years, where she got to know her "special kids".

Bethene was always the first one to welcome a new visitor to church. She became a friend to all age groups, becoming a mentor to younger ladies and girls in church. She would be anxious to see her "college girls" when they came home on breaks.

Bethene accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior as a teenager at Marantha Bible Camp near Maxwell, Nebraska. Maranatha became a special place for Bethene, as she was a junior camp counselor for many years during the summers. She always looked forward to family camps and couple retreats where she made many lifelong friends. Her love for Jesus was very evident and she shared the plan of salvation to many as well as encouraging Believers to "stay in the boat with Jesus". She always had a scripture verse to share. On her last day with us, she shared her love for Jesus and her love for others as she made phone calls from her intensive care room. She shared with the nurses in her room on her final day of her life, of how much she longed to see Jesus and her husband Leo in a few short hours, and how they could know Jesus personally.

Bethene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 66 years, Leo Lines; her sister, Dorothy Barger, brother, Raymond Lunbery; sisters-in-law Leaveta Bremer, Bianca Lunbery, Darleen, Wilda and Delores Lines; brothers-in-law Don Barger, Bill Witt, Don Bremer and Glen, Virgil and Lester Lines.

 Bethene is survived by her children, Jerry (Sherry) Lines of Imperial; Linda (Keith) Shoemaker of Oakley, Kansas; and Brenda (Tim) Malmkar of North Platte; grandchildren Jenna (Scott) Walker of Danville, Kentucky, Jamie Lines of Louisville, Kentucky, Amber Shoemaker of Riverside, Missouri, Kylie (Brett) Ziegler of Louisburg, Kansas, Michael Malmkar of Wilber, Ethan Malmkar of Austin, Texas, and Tanner (Ali) Malmkar of Wilmington, North Carolina; Ten great grandchildren; sister, Elaine Witt of Hastings, and many nieces, nephews and a host of many friends.

A celebration of Bethene's life will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, 10:30 A.M. (MT) at the Imperial Berean Church with Pastor Matt Maxwell officiating. Inurnment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Imperial. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested in Bethene's name to the Imperial Community Center.

Liewer Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.