Linda Elaine (Smith) Dowse

Linda Elaine (Smith) Dowse, 68 of Loup City, NE died Sunday, December 8, 2013 at Jennie M. Melham Memorial Medical Center in Broken Bow, NE surrounded by her loving family.  Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 13, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Loup City, NE with the Reverend Joel Plisek officiating.  Burial will be at the Evergreen Cemetery in Loup City.  Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, December 12, 2013 at the United Methodist Church in Loup City.  Memorials are suggested to the Sherman County Senior Center, American Cancer Society or donor’s choice.

Linda was born Nov. 4, 1945 in Pawnee City, Ne. to parents Robert Burns and Lois Elaine (Rallens) Smith.  She graduated from Pawnee City High School in 1963.  On January 21, 1968 she was united in marriage to Gary Robert Dowse in Broken Bow, Ne. After they were married, Gary and Linda made their home in Berwyn, NE. Through the years, Linda had many different professional roles such as babysitting, working at the Custer County Chief, and at the post office in Berwyn. After 25 years of service, she retired from Arrow Seed where she met and worked with many good friends. Her most cherished role, however, was that of a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Linda enjoyed camping with Gary and planning and working in her garden. In recent years she returned to her crafting and sewing, enjoyed practicing yoga and playing the piano. Linda spent 45 years with her beloved Gary travelling from here to there finding so many friends in their life.  For the past 4 years, Linda and Gary have found many new friendships and loving relationships in the community of Loup City, NE.

Linda is survived by husband, Gary Dowse, Loup City, NE;  children, Dan and Robin Dowse of Sargent, NE; Susan and Steve Latusick of  Omaha, NE;  Jarod and Brooke Dowse of Omaha, NE; Jeanne Ducker and Carrie Schwaderer of Loup City, NE; ten grandchildren, Stephanie Dowse and JD Keefe, Brittany Dowse, Logan Dowse, Caleb Schlote, Eli Latusick, Augustus Ducker, Gunnar Ducker, Jameson Dowse, and Smith Dowse, and three great-grandchildren: Keaton Dowse, Kooper Keefe and Kinley Keefe, Brother, Robert Gordon Smith, and wife Becki, Sister-in-law, Roberta Hyde and husband Gordon, Brother-in-law, Kelvin Dowse and wife Sharon, Sister-in-law, Carol Dellevoet, sister-in-law Shirley Lien and husband Mike, sister-in-law Leah Crook and husband Doug, brother-in-law Bruce and wife Brenda, numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Preceding her in death were her father, Robert, and her mother Lois Smith, nephew, Randall Smith, and great-niece Schyler Smith.