Elizabeth A 'Bette' Brockman

Elizabeth “Bette” A. Brockman

Elizabeth “Bette” A. Brockman, age 95, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2026, at her Kensington home, surrounded by her children and Kensington family.

Rosary will be at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, June 18, 2026, at Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 19, 2026, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Hastings, NE, with Father Cyrus Rowan officiating. Burial will be at Assumption Cemetery in Assumption, NE. Visitation will be on Thursday, June 18, 2026, from 1:00 p.m.– 6:00 p.m at Butler Volland Funeral Home in Hastings, NE. Family will be present from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the family for distribution to charities special to Bette. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Bette’s obituary and click the play button shown toward the bottom of the page. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.

She was born on May 24, 1931, in Juniata, Nebraska, to Charles and Elizabeth Streff. As the youngest of twelve children, Bette grew up in a lively household where she learned early the importance of dedicated work, resilience, and caring for others—values that remained at the heart of her life.

On June 29, 1955, Bette married the love of her life, Norman Brockman. She served as the beloved “lunch lady” at St. Michael’s Elementary School, where she took special pride in caring for generations of students. From 1977 to 1983, she and Norm owned and operated the Reno Bar, creating a place where friendships were formed and stories were shared. She later worked for 15 years in the cafeteria at Mary Lanning Hospital, retiring at the age of 70. Even in retirement, Bette remained dedicated to serving others—volunteering in many capacities at Mary Lanning and generously contributing more than 6,000 hours of her time. She also served several years on the St. Cecilia Altar Society and the VFW Auxiliary club.

Bette was preceded in death by her husband, seven brothers, four sisters, along with their spouses, and Norm’s siblings and spouses. She is survived by her three children, Don Brockman of Grand Island, Nebraska; Pauli Ingwersen (Steve Coffin) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado; and Sue Brockman of Colorado Springs, Colorado; two grandchildren, Chelsea Kot and Ryan Ingwersen (Liz Edelstein); three great-grandchildren, Sophie, Aria, and Lili; numerous nieces and nephews; and her Kensington family, who brought her loving comfort and companionship in her later years.

Bette was well known in her community for her strong work ethic and feisty spirit. Those who knew Bette will remember her light-hearted warmth, orneriness, and strong will. She had a gift for making others feel welcome and cared for. She cherished her roots growing up in a large Nebraska family and often shared memories filled with practical jokes, hard work, and deep connection.