Funeral Services for Walter Ahlers

Funeral services for Walter E. Ahlers, age 91, of Sun City, AZ, formerly of Naper and O'Neill, NE, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church in Naper, NE. Walter's son, Rev. Bruce Ahlers, will officiate. Immediately following the service, burial will be at The Lutheran Cemetery near Naper, NE, with military rites conducted by the Naper V.F.W. Post #8256. Visitation will be Monday, July 20, 2015, from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill. Walter passed away Tuesday, July 14, 2015, at Sun Valley Lodge Nursing Center in Sun City, AZ. Earlier services were held at Our Savior Ev. Lutheran Church in Sun City, AZ with Walter's son, Rev. Bruce Ahlers, officiating. Memorials may be directed to St. Paul's Ev. Lutheran Church of Naper, NE or Beautiful Savior Ev. Lutheran Church of O'Neill, NE.

Walter E. Ahlers was born March 30, 1924 at Herrick, SD to August and Anna (Seevers) Ahlers. He was second of five children. Walter was baptized into the Lutheran faith as an infant and remained a member throughout his life. In October of 1943, Walter entered the service and served during World War II in Germany, Austria and France. He was honorably discharged in February of 1946. After returning home following the war, Walter met the young teacher who was boarding with his parents. He and this teacher, Betty Conklin, fell in love and married in Naper, NE, December 24, 1948. The wedding had to be postponed from November because of a blizzard. To this union four children were born. Early in Walter and Betty's married life, they farmed in South Dakota for a little over a year. Walter then became part owner of Naper Super Service in Naper. In early 1953, Walter sold his half of the service station and he and Betty moved to a farm east of Naper. Walter and Betty spent most of their lives farming in Boyd County, Nebraska. During that time, Walter worked to establish the first operating rural water district in Nebraska. He was chairman of the board for several years. In 1991, Walter retired from farming and he and Betty moved to O'Neill, NE. After retirement, he and Betty did a lot of traveling in their motor home, including a trip to Alaska. Then in 2010, Walter and Betty moved to Sun City, AZ where their oldest son is a pastor at Our Savior Ev. Lutheran Church. Walter enjoyed spending time with his family and visiting with friends. He enjoyed restoring old cars and was most proud of the 1949 Mercury he restored.

Walter is survived by his wife, Betty, of Sun City, AZ and his four children and their spouses, Bruce and his wife, Barb, of Sun City, AZ; LouAnn and husband Bill Pribil of O'Neill, NE; Sharon and husband Stan Pavelka of Bladen, NE: Kem and wife, Kathy, of Raleigh, NC; 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers and their wives, Wayne and Virginia of O'Neill, NE and Arlen and Dottie of Pierce, NE. He is preceded in death by his parents, August and Anna; brother Laurence and his wife Gladys and sister Linda Lunderborg

---