Marcheta Faye “Keta” (Cook) Morgheim, 99, passed away January 23, 2024 at Monument Care and Rehab in Scottsbluff, NE. Cremation has taken place, and a graveside service and celebration of her life will take place this summer. It is respectfully requested that memorials in Keta’s name be made in care of the Nebraska SIDS Foundation, 3170 Arcadia Ave., Omaha, NE 68111. Online condolences may be made by viewing Keta’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com.
Keta was born in Dalton, NE on election day 1924 to Maude (Goeman) and Delbert Cook. She spent her young life, along with her sister Lavonne, in her parent’s grocery store/butcher shop where she learned at an early age to butcher chickens and deliver telegrams in town for a penny a piece. She often told stories of how she, her mother and sister would load up an old Model T and deliver groceries out to the hills around Broadwater. Her work ethic was developed very early on, and it continued throughout her life. When she and her sister were young teens, their mother died of complications of polio, and they went to live with their grandmother until they got out of high should. She graduated from Broadwater High School in 1942 and when the war broke out, she went to Washington, D.C. to work for the war effort. The “kids” she graduated with kept in contact all their adult lives and she looked forward to the reunions and the get-togethers.
When she returned to the Valley she met her future husband, Reuben, at a dance at the Playmore Club. They were married in 1946 and they were blessed with three children, Steven Wayne, Jamie Lee and Julie Anne.
Keta worked at Lockwoods Corp. when it was still on 7th Street in Gering, Montgomery Ward, Cox Drug and then in 1971 she went back to school and became an LPN. After her graduation she went to work in the nursery at the old St. Mary’s Hospital and there she was in her element. When St. Mary’s closed, she went to work at what is no Regional West Medical Center on the 3rd floor and stayed there until she retired.
She loved to crochet, read, listen to Perry Como albums and watch “House” and “Downton Abby” on TV. You didn’t want to call her on Saturday evenings between five and six.
Keta was a charter member of Faith Lutheran Church and a long-term member of The Mayflower Society.
She was preceded in death by her parents Maude (Goeman) and Delbert Cook; husband Reuben Morgheim; infant son Jamie Lee Morgheim; sister Lavonne Achizger; son-in-law Cllint Morrison; grandson Anthony Morgheim and great grandson Hayes Morgheim.
She is survived by her son Steven (Becky) Morgeim of Gering; daughter Julie Morrison of Gering; grandsons Clark (Lauren) Lindstrom of Raleigh, NC, Jeff (Nicol) Morgheim of The Woodlands, TX and Ryan (Jason) Carter of Dallas, TX; and five great grandchildren Jack, Cole, Ava, Caleb and Evan.
We want to thank the staff at Monument Care and Rehab for their help in making these last few years of mom’s life as comfortable for her and for us as they could.