Obit: Branstiter, Zelma B. (1914 - 2005)

Contact: Audrey Roedel

Surnames: BRANSTITER LOOMER MORGAN RASTALL

----Sources: Loyal TRG 14 September 2005

Branstiter, Zelma B. (14 OCT 1914 - 8 SEP 2005)

Zelma Bonita Branstiter, 90, Greenwood, died Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005, at St. Joseph’s Hospital Palliative Care Unit, Marshfield. She had resided at InnCare of Abbotsford for the past few months. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 12, at Missionary Baptist Church, Greenwood. Burial was in the Greenwood City Cemetery. The Rev. Paul Nelson officiated. Grandsons served as pallbearers.

Zelma Bonita Loomer was born was born Oct. 14, 1914, in Niobrara, Neb., the only daughter of Arthur and Eva (nee Morgan) Loomer. She was a 1933 graduate of Gordon High School, Gordon Neb., and then continued her studies in teaching. She married Lee Branstiter on Nov. 10, 1934, in Yankton, S.D. She was a homemaker and farmed with her husband near Verdel, Neb., for 15 years, moving to Union County, S.D., to farm from 1950 to 1958. The family then moved to Loyal where they farmed for nine years and later to Greenwood from 1967 on. Her husband died on Sept. 23, 1988, and she continued to live at the farm until her residency at the InnCare. Her love was her family and church family of Missionary Baptist Church where she served as deaconess, taught Sunday school, assisted with vacation Bible school and was active with the ladies of the church. She was an active reader and gardener, and enjoyed visiting with relatives and her many friends.

She will be dearly missed by her loving family, one daughter, Marilyn Rastall, Homosassa, Fla., two sons, Robert (Ivagene) Branstiter, Abbotsford, Wis. And Harold (Janet) Branstiter, Rockford, Ill.; 15 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lee Branstiter; two sons, Donald Branstiter and Duane Branstiter; two grandchildren, Scott Branstiter and Greg Branstiter; and two brothers, Hale Loomer and Robert Loomer.

Maurina/Community Funeral Home, Abbotsford, assisted the family with arrangements.