Lorene “Rene” Newton, passed away on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at Heritage Estates in Gering. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10am on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Gering with Fr. Mike McDonald as Celebrant. Interment will follow at West Lawn Cemetery in Gering. Visitation will be held on Monday, Nov 7, from 5-7pm at the church with a Rosary Service held at 6pm. It is requested that memorials in Rene’s honor be made in care of the church. Online condolences may be made by viewing Rene’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Family Funeral Home in Scottsbluff is entrusted with arrangements.
Lorene was raised in Alliance, Ne. and attended St. Agnes Academy. She married Dale Newton on November 4, 1950 and they remained in Alliance until 1966. To this union four sons were born. Due to her sisters passing, they became guardians of 2 nephews, Bill and Joe McKenzie. Later she also helped raise the other 4 of her sister’s children. Dale and Lorene moved to Scottsbluff in 1966.
She became a nurse’s aide at St. Mary’s Hospital and then became head of the kitchen and dietary at St. Mary’s. Years later she became head of the kitchen at Northfield Villa in Gering until her retirement.
She and Dale traveled to Europe, Spain, Alaska and to Canada once a year for fishing. She was a great cook and had several special German recipes. Upon her sons urging she had her own cookbook printed for family and friends. Rene always found a hobby, she did cake decorating, ceramics, crocheting, tole painting, sewing/quilting. She became a collector of porcelain dolls, violin bottles, salt dips, and especially frogs.
Wherever she went she never passed up a quilt/fabric store. Sewing quilts became her passion and even bought a quilting machine. She has made hundreds of quilts, and every relative has at least 1 if not more of her quilts designed especially with their own style and or likes. She taught some of her great granddaughters how to sew and made a few quilts with them. In later years she kept sewing with her scraps and made linus quilts for toddlers or youth and donated them to hospitals, capstone, nursing homes, etc. (at least 150) until last year.
She is survived by her sons Robert (Nancy) of Gering, and James (Andrea) of Chesapeake, VA; grandchildren Robbie of Scottsbluff, Jennifer (Eric) Dick of Brighton, CO. Amy (Cory) Hutton of Gering, NE. Heather (Moody) Compton of Norfolk, VA. Chris (Emily) Newton of Norfolk, VA. Jeff (Lauren) Newton of Chesapeake, VA. and Greg Newton stationed in South Carolina; 8 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild; nephew Bill McKenzie, as well as several other nieces and nephews who were very special to her.
Rene was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Rose and Helen; brothers Raymond, Leonard, and Richard; her husband Dale; sons Richard (Ernie) and Steven, and nephew Joe McKenzie.
Rene will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.