Hastings resident, Margaret Nellist, 98, passed away Monday, September 26, 2011 at Mary Lanning Memorial HealthCare, Hastings, Nebraska.

Memorial service will be Friday, October 14, 2011; 3:00 P.M. at the Village Green, 900 East B Street, Hastings with Pastor Charles Johnson officiating. Private family interment will be at Easton, California in November. Memorials may be given to the Children’s Ark at Good Samaritan Village, Hastings or the Shriners Hospitals.

Margaret was born to August & Marie (Fleck) Schwabenland at Fresno, California on May 6, 1913. She married Billie L. Nellist on October 29, 1940. They lived in the Humboldt Bay area until 1953; then moved to Easton, California where they raised grapes for raisins. The Nellists retired in 1973 and moved to Fresno, California where they lived for 30 years. They moved to Hastings in 2003 to be near their daughter’s family. Mrs. Nellist was a member of the Easton Presbyterian Church, Easton Grange, and American Legion Auxiliary. She volunteered at two Fresno hospitals for 27 years after her retirement. Margaret & Bill enjoyed their friends and adopted families in Village Green.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Billie L. Nellist; sister, Ann Wagner; and brother, Richard Schwabenland.

Survivors include:
Daughter & Son-in-law: Leanne & Richard Ray – Hastings, NE
Grandsons, Spouse &
Great-grandson: Jeffrey Ray – El Paso, TX
    Branden & Christina Ray
        Gavin Ray – Albuquerque, NM
Sisters & Spouse: Elsie Baker – Fresno, CA
    Alice & George Kaiser – Fresno, CA
Many Nieces & Nephews