Lila Lee Lander

Lila Lee (Wedergren) Lander, 89, of Pender, NE passed away on Sunday, July 7, 2019, at Legacy Garden Rehabilitation and Living Center in Pender.  Funeral services for Lila will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pender; Pastor Karen McNeill-Utecht will be officiating.  The visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Pender.  Burial will be in Rosehill Cemetery in Pender.  Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation.  Arrangement are under the direction of Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Pender.

Lila was born May 18, 1930, on a farm southwest of Craig, NE.  She was the fifth child of Alfred Swan and Esther Elizabeth Sundelia Freberg Erickson Wedergren. Lila attended the Nolana rural school a few years until the family moved to Oakland, where she graduated from Oakland High School in 1947.  She married Norman D. Lander on August 29, 1948, at the Lutheran Church in Oakland. They farmed southeast of Pender where they raised three children: Terry, Mark and Pat.  In 1984, they moved to town in Pender but still continued to farm. Lila worked in the Pender Post Office for 25 years and retired in 1993.

The entire family was members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Lila taught 2^nd, 3^rd and 8^th grade Sunday School, served on the Ladies Circle and many years as a Luther League sponsor.  She also served on the Call Committee, Altar Committee and Memorial Committee.  She was also active in JOY bible class.  Lila was a charter board member of the Heritage Museum, board member of the House Memorial Library, co-editor of the First 100 Years history book of Pender. Her love of genealogy helped her publish the Wedergren history book, Tales & Trails. She also helped with The Elinos Clan history of her mother’s ancestors.  One of the most thrilling things in her life was the trip to Scandinavia to see where both her father and Norman’s father were born and to meet relatives from there. She loved to travel and went on many cruises. Lila played bridge, spent many hours with the Red Hatters and absolutely loved to dance. Norman and Lila were host and hostess for many years for the dinner theatre group, The Pender Pretenders. She was an avid reader and believed in the bible.

Lila leaves to mourn her children, Terry (Cindy) Lander of Lincoln, Mark (Lorraine) Lander of Pender, Pat (Tom) Lanz of Omaha; grandchildren, Chris Lander, Melissa (Matt) Wood, Jesse (Kelly) Lanz, Katie (Justin) Lashmett, Britt Lander, Zachary Lander, Taylor Lander; 10 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Norman; her parents; brother, Harold Wedergren; sisters, Marjorie Sailors, Marian Wedergren, Illa Pfeiffer; and niece Jackie Dieckmann.