Loretta Lee Stevens

Loretta Lee Stevens, 99, of rural Falls City, passed into the presence of Jesus Christ on March 31, 2025, surrounded by her family.  She was born on the family farm, two miles south of Preston, NE, on October 13, 1925, to Herbert and Dora (Winkler) Deckinger. She graduated from Falls City High School in 1943. She married Clarence Stevens on November 26, 1949.  Later they returned to the farm where she grew up and farmed together until they retired in 1986. Clarence preceded her in death on September 29, 2012.

Once as a teenager, while milking cows with her father, he asked her out of the blue if she’d ever thought of becoming a missionary. She was taken aback by his question and never imagined that 30 years later, she would share the gospel as a lay missionary.  Although she had been a church member and even a Sunday School teacher from the age of 18, her life changed dramatically in 1973 following a Lay Witness Mission at her church when she truly understood the words of Jesus found in Acts 1:8 that “…you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.”  Even though she continued working hard in the fields and as a farm wife and mother, she began to live out her father’s words to her of becoming a missionary. From then on, her passion for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ was ignited. She and Clarence participated in Lay Witness Missions for the next 20 years, visiting 7 states and 3 countries on over 110 missions.

Loretta Lee was a member of Calvary Temple Assembly of God in Hiawatha, KS.  She loved her Lord, her family and her farm, where she lived for the last 50+ years. She was gifted at playing the piano by ear, was an expert gardener, loved reading, and was sharp as a tack at the game of Rummikub.

Loretta Lee is survived by her children, Dean (Deb) Stevens and Pam Kunc of Falls City, NE, and Lisa (Tom) Dorman of Colorado Springs, CO; grandchildren Laura (Nate) Thompson, Falls City, Rachel (John) Evans, West Lafayette, IN, and Abby (Kyle) Mellinger, Memphis, TN; three great-granddaughters, Elnora Thompson, Grace Evans and Baby Thompson due in May; sister, Jean Henry of Hiawatha, KS, brother-in-law Otho Stevens of Horton, KS; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Clarence, and son-in law Ron Kunc.

Her funeral will be held on Friday, April 4, 2025 at 10:30 AM at Calvary Temple Assembly of God Church, Hiawatha, KS with Pastors Jim Farris and Don Goatley officiating. A dinner will follow at the church. The funeral procession to the cemetery will leave at 1:30 PM from church for the interment in Bethel-Zion Cemetery northeast of Falls City.

The family will receive friends on Thursday from 5:30 to 7:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to family choice.

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