Gertie Nebeker Hibbert

Gertie Nebeker Hibbert. 97, of La Grande, Oregon, died December 3, 2010 in La Grande, Oregon. A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, December 11 at 11:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Island City chapel (110206 McAlister Road, Island City). Viewing and Family Visitation will be Friday, December 10, 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Daniels - Knopp Funeral Center (1502 7th Street, La Grande) and Saturday, December 11, 10:00 - 10:45 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Island City chapel.

Gertie was born February 8, 1913 on Indian Creek Southeast of Elgin in Union County, Oregon to Joseph Wiley Nebeker and Annie Helen Lindsay Nebeker. She grew up on a farm in Mt. Glen and attended Mt. Glen School. She graduated from La Grande High School in 1931. She lived in Union County all of her life with the exception of a few months working with her sister in Utah.

Gertie married Leo Eugene Hibbert on August 31, 1936 in the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah. They raised their family in La Grande on Cove Avenue and the family farm in Mt. Glen. Throughout her life Gertie enjoyed her family, anything to do with horses, farming, and hunting. She started her farming experience early when at age 7 she would follow her father around as he worked the fields with the horses. So after his death the next year, and after her older brother had opened the field, she would get on the seat of the plow and drive the team of horses around the field and finish the plowing.

In her later years she made many quilts, which were given to her grandchildren and donated to humanitarian relief. Gertie was a lifetime member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many positions including Primary President, Young Women's secretary, and a counselor in the Relief Society. She also served nearly 12 years as a Boise Temple worker.

Gertie was preceded in death by her husband, parents, 6 siblings (Alexander Nebeker, Helen Zaugg, Ida Lyman, Vern Nebeker, Viola Barrett, and Wiley Nebeker), a son-in-law Mark Waite, and 2 grandsons (Brent Eugene Buss and Nathan Todd Buss). She is survived by a sister, Verda Westenskow, two sisters-in-law (Gladys Hibbert and Jeane Nebeker), all of La Grande; and her children and their spouses: Larry (Janet) Hibbert of Sugar City, Idaho, Dallas (Cheri) Hibbert of La Grande, Janet (Paul) Buss of Dubuque Iowa, Karan (James) McDaniel of Ashton, Idaho; Ivan (Lynette) Hibbert, Milo (Kathy) Hibbert, Ritchie (Debbie) Hibbert and Dixie (Leon) Hendrickson all of La Grande; 58 Grandchildren, 144 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren.

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