K. Bitha Kinney

August 7, 1933 - November 4, 2015

Former Clay Center resident, Katherine Bitha Kinney, 82, passed away Wednesday, November 4, 2015, at the Harvard Rest Haven in Harvard, NE. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, November 10, 2015, at the Clay Center Christian Church with Pastor Nathan Brands officiating. Interment will follow at the Clay Center Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., with the family present from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., at McLaughlin Funeral Chapel in Clay Center, NE. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Clay Center Christian Church or the Harvard Rest Haven. Bitha was born August 7, 1933, in Benkelman, NE to Al Richard "Dick" and Lena Arvilla (Woods) Reiman. She graduated from Benkelman High School with the class of 1951. Bitha married Wallace "Wally" L. Kinney February 7, 1957, in Wray, Colorado. She was a housewife for several years and then she went to work for the Clay Center Schools as the head cook in the school cafeteria. When her brother and sister-in-law bought the Crossroads Café in Clay Center she managed it until it was sold. Wally died November 28, 1981, Bitha became a widow at 48 years of age and she then went to work in Omaha taking care of the elderly in their homes. After a back injury forced her into retirement she moved back to her home in Clay Center. Bitha and Wally were members of the Clay Center Christian Church and raised their children up in this church. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Vivian and Dan Sidlo of Hastings, NE; son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Renae Kinney of Bennet, NE; daughter-in-law, Stephanie Kinney of Hastings, NE; grandchildren and spouses, Starlight Fonseca of Council Bluffs, IA; Jessica Mullen and Hanna Riner of Lincoln, NE; Michael, Miranda, Marissa and Marcus Kinney of Bennet, NE; Matthew and Amber Kinney of Bloomington, IL; Joseph and Elizabeth Gangwish of Davenport, IA; Zachary Sidlo of Springfield, NE; Evan Riner of Chadron, NE; Chelsea Lau of Charlottesville, VA; Caitlyn Lau of Williamsburg, VA and Hannah Lau of Crete, NE; great-grandchildren, Matthew and Joseph Turvey of Council Bluffs, IA; Ysabel, Eliana, and Starlight "Bizi" Fonseca of Council Bluffs, IA; Jocelyn Heras, Jasara Mullen, JaCiana Mullen, Harper McClanahan, and Braxton Kinney of Lincoln, NE; brother, Ed Reiman of Holdrege, NE; sisters and spouses, Marjorie Bradley of Holyoke, CO; Geraldine Edwards of Max, NE; Neva and Roger Shillington of Max, NE; sister-in-law, Laura Reiman of Kenesaw, NE; and best friend, Christine Flesner. Bitha was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wally; and son, Richard "Dick" Kinney; brothers, Albert; Richard; Lester; Chester and baby Reiman; sisters, Gennevieve; Esther and Hazel; bothers-in-law, Tom Edwards and Bill Bradley and sister-in-law, Velma Reiman.