Carol N. (Klingman) Bangerter, 87, of Gering, passed on from this earthly life Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014 at The Residency Care Center, Scottsbluff.

Carol, believing in the promises of Lord Jesus in John 3:16 and in the Gospel of Jesus Christ – 1 Corinthians 15:3-5, is now with Jesus in her heavenly home! John 14:2.

Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 1, at 10 a.m. at Calvary Memorial Evangelical Free Church in Gering with Pastor Gary Hashley officiating. Interment will follow at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering.

Visitation will be Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Gering Memorial Chapel.

Memorials may be made to Jed and Lisa Johnston Ministry, Buckboard Therapeutic Riding Academy or to the church. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.geringchapel.com. Gering Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Carol was born Jan. 12, 1927 to Charles Gordon and Fannie Isabel (Hewitt) Klingman. She grew up in Gering receiving her education at Lincoln Elementary (WestWard) School, graduating Gering High School in 1946. While a senior, she worked as an usherette at the Grove Theatre in Gering and advanced to cashier. Shortly after graduating, she was stenographer, secretary for attorneys-at-law Howard N. Olsen and Hans J. (Jack) Holtorf. Later she worked in the Register of Deeds office at the County Courthouse. Her favorite job was as Gering's night time telephone operator working for the Platte Valley Telephone Company in Gering. After working five years 1954 was ending and 1955 was beginning, the Gering telephone office was converting to dial. During this time frame she met and was courted by a very special man. On April 13, 1955, Carl Bangerter and Carol were united in marriage. She moved to Carl's Stegall farm. During the irrigation farming years, Cheri, Tige Carla and Charles Clark (Chuck) were born. Carol called them "The Stairsteps." She was a stay at home mom and a homemaker for many years.

In May, 1960 Carl and Carol bought the Gering Mercantile building. McDonalds Clothing Store was in it. In March 1964, they rented the building to Harry Lee Vickory who opened the Gering Clothing Store.

After ten years on the Stegall farm Carol drew plans for a ranch-style house, the living room, dining room and kitchen to be all in one area, she called it, "The Big Room." Later an architect drew it up professionally.

In 1964, Carl bought a little over a section of grassland, with a dramatic view of the hills in west Gering Valley and had that ranch style house built moving in with his family in June 1965. The ranch and ranch style house was Carl's gift to Carol. The late Jack French and sons built the house. Carol loved taking care of Carl and their children and the new ranching life style and decorating their home for Christmas was a highlight!

Carols interest and past times were helping Carl on the ranch, hiking in the hills, competing with friends in league bowling, dabbling in oil painting and collecting quotes of our founding fathers, some Presidents and well known people. She also wrote some quotes of her own. She loved horses (but was unable to ride) and enjoyed a variety of ranch animals, pets and wildlife. She showed hospitality often and reached out with kindness to those in need. She was a wonderful wife, mother and cook and enjoyed creatively decorating her ranch home.

She wrote letters to the editor encouraging people toward godliness, patriotism and common sense.

Carol wrote many beautiful songs and poems and loved to sing for church groups and family. She reached out to people and made a big impact in their lives. Her strength of character leaves us with a priceless, godly example and legacy. You could see her inner loveliness shining forth. She was the sunshine and rainbows of her husband and children's lives.

It is certain that Carol had a Royal angelic escort to Heaven and upon seeing her Savior face to face (after falling into His loving arms) had many crowns to lay at His feet.

Cold, bitter winds are blowing in Nebraska today….but she is living in Eternal Springtime – in a place that God prepared for her and all those that love Him….until we meet again.

Survivors include her children Cheri (Doc) Tweedy of Helena, Mont., Tige (Michael) Lee of Scottsbluff, Charles (Tina) Bangerter of Nashville, TN; grandchildren: Derek Schorsch, Carl Illum, Katie Arave, Catherine Lee and Christian Lee, Josh Krahn, Stephanie Bangerter and Christopher Bangerter; great-grandchildren, Ashton and Beckham Arave, Bradley Rhodes, Graydon Krahn and Ryder Krahn.

She was preceded in death by her husband Carl Bangerter, parents Charles and Fannie Klingman, brother Paul Klingman and uncle Lem Hewitt.
Posted in Scottsbluff Star Herald Obits on Wednesday, February 26, 2014