Ramona Louise Wales Frese

(May 07, 1935 - November 14, 2020)

Ramona Louise (Wales) Frese, 85, of Bennington, NE died on Saturday, November 14, 2020 in Bennington, NE.  Private family funeral services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Walthill, NE; with Reverend Brion Tolzman officiating.  Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery in Walthill.  Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation.  Arrangements are under the direction of Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Pender. 

Ramona was born on May 7, 1935 to Paul and Bernice (Shineman) Wales in Guilford, MO.   She graduated high school in 1953 from Decatur High School, in Decatur, NE.  She furthered her education by going to Wayne State College and earning a two-year teacher’s certificate in 1955.  Ramona taught school for a while before she married Darrel Frese in June of 1956 in Walthill.  To this union the couple had three children, Rhonda, Lana and Darrel, Jr.

Ramona was a very skilled artist and excellent at sketching, a skill that was passed down to her grandchildren.  She also, owned and managed the Silver Moon Bar in Walthill.  Ramona enjoyed playing cards and bingo, gambling here and there, listening to Elvis and traveling to Las Vegas, NV.  In the spring, she would take the kids mushroom hunting, and when they returned home, they would have the “tick” check while cooking fresh mushrooms.  She loved to go fishing at the river on Sunday’s when the kids were younger and going out to eat followed by a movie.  Ramona was a loving and caring mother and grandmother. 

Ramona is survived by her son, Darrel, Jr. (Shelia) Frese of Omaha, NE; daughters, Rhonda Rouse of Omaha, NE, Lana (Bob) Browne of Lincoln, NE; sister, Sharon (Gary) Meyer; 6 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. 

Ramona is preceded in death by her father, Paul Wales; mother, Bernice Orr (stepdad, Ralph Orr); husband, Darrel; brother, Virgil Lee Henderson; sister, Villera Beattie.

  Information taken from May 25, 2003 Decatur Alumni Banquet Booklet.

Spouse:  Darrel Frese, Sr. (deceased)

Children/Grandchildren:  Rhonda Rouse, 46, Walthill, NE; Lana Browne, 44, Lincoln, NE; Darrel Frese, Jr., 42, Fremont, NE.

Granddaughters:  Jennifer Rouse, 23, Sioux City, IA; Katie Rouse, 3, Walthill, NE; Nicole Novak, 14, Fremont, NE.

Grandsons:  Derek Frese, 20, U.N. Kearney; Dylan Frese, 18, Senior Fremont High; Jonathon Rouse, 18, U.N. Kearney; Grauber Browne, 12, Lincoln, NE. 

Great-granddaughter, DaJa Oliver, 4, Sioux City, IA, Jaylynn Oliver, 3, Sioux City, IA.

I taught school (Ball School) for 3 years after graduating.  In 1956 I married Darrel Frese of Walthill.  We farmed in the Walthill area until 1965.  We then bought a tavern in Walthill.

 We retired in 1989.   Darrel passed away in 1994.  I stayed in Walthill until 1997 when I sold my house and moved to Decatur.