Eldon Arnold Tibben

Fairfield, NE resident Eldon Arnold Tibben, 93, passed away Monday, September 3, 2018, at the Sutton Community Home in Sutton, NE. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, September 6, 2018, at Zion Lutheran Church in Shickley, NE with Rev. James Moll officiating. Interment will follow at the Fairfield Cemetery in Fairfield, NE. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later. Eldon Arnold Tibben, son of George and Laura (Reimers) Tibben, was born on November 1, 1924. He was baptized as an infant and belonged to St. John's Lutheran Church east of Exira, IA. He attended country school through the 8th grade and then attended St. John's Lutheran School for a year of catechism. He was confirmed on April 3, 1938. He helped his dad and other neighbors on the farm. He also helped his grandfather, JC Tibben, run his threshing machine. Eldon worked at the Audubon Sale barn on Saturdays for many years. He drove semi and straight truck making many trips to the Nebraska Sandhills hauling feeder calves to Iowa. Eldon married the love of his life, Delilah Carter on January 4, 1953, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Manning, IA. They farmed in Audubon County for many years. They enjoyed roller-skating. To this marriage, one daughter was born. They adopted another daughter in 1965. Over the years, Eldon and Delilah took in several foster children, teaching them about Christ, farm life, and encouraging them to be good citizens. Eldon raised and broke many horses. Both girls were involved with horses and coached by their dad. He was a member of the Audubon Saddle club and a 4-H leader. He spent many hours patrolling the fairgrounds during the county fair to make sure the livestock was safe. Eldon loved his black cattle and was so proud of the calves he took to the sale barn. They milked a small dairy herd all of their farm life. Eldon completed his GED in 1974. Eldon was a special deputy for the Audubon County Sheriff's Department for 8 years. He was an active member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Audubon, IA for 50 years. He held many church offices and taught Sunday school for 20 years. In 1974, Eldon and Delilah bought a farm at Exira, IA. They lived there 29 years. In 2003, they moved to Fairfield, NE to be closer to their daughter. Eldon had a huge garden, always reading garden catalogs and books and watching tv shows. He never sold any produce but loved to give it away instead. Eldon's health began to fail in July of 2018, and he was admitted to the Sutton Community Home. He passed away with family and friends at his bedside. Eldon is survived by his wife of 65 years, Delilah of Fairfield, NE; daughter, Junelle and husband, Gunther Hussmann of Fairfield, NE; daughter, Mary Lawrence of Colfax, IA; 3 grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Eldon was preceded into death by his parents; his brother, Wayne and wife Juletta; his sister, Marjorie Christensen and husband, Everett; 2 sisters-in-law, June Osheroff and Charlotte Videl.

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Eldon Arnold Tibben

November 1, 1924 - September 3, 2018