Belva LaRue Aspedon

Belva LaRue Aspedon, age 87, of Arapahoe, Nebraska formerly of Beaver City, Nebraska died Thursday, August 9, 2012 at C.A.Mues Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Arapahoe, Nebraska . She was born on land homesteaded by her grandfather near Wilsonville, NE, on November 5, 1924. She was the eldest of 4 daughters born to Virtus and Joycie (Vise) Helton. In 1937, the family moved to Beaver City and opened a restaurant. Belva and her sisters worked many long hours in that cafe while attending high school. She graduated from BCHS in 1941, at age 16, and immediately starting teaching school in rural Furnas County precincts. During that time, young man named Fred Aspedon was stationed with the CCC camp north of town. He loved the great pie Joycie made in her cafe, and soon he asked Belva to go to the Saturday night movies with him. Fred and Belva were married in McCook, NE on February 20, 1943. The couple bought their farm south of Beaver City in November of 1944 and made it their home for the next 50 years. By 1950, Fred had convinced Belva she needed to start work on a college degree. In 1963, Belva had earned a B.A. in Elementary Education, while teaching school full time and raising 4 children. By 1967, she had earned her Master's in Educational Administration. Belva taught school 52 years before retiring in 1998 at age 74. She was in Hendley, NE for 14 years, Beaver City for 3 years, and completed her career teaching first grade at Eisenhower Elementary in Norton, KS for 30 years. In 2005, Belva moved to Lincoln, NE to be closer to family and her medical doctors. However, by 2009, Belva realized she could no longer manage her personal affairs, nor take care of her home so she chose to move back to Furnas County, NE. She lived at Good Samaritan in Arapahoe, NE until her death. Survivors include her daughters Connie Hewitt of West Des Moines, IA and Crelyne Warner of Round Rock, TX. Sons, Aries Aspedon of Lincoln, NE and Dr. Arden (Dr. Mary) Aspedon of Weatherford, OK. Seven grandchildren; Travis (Denise), Amber, Tye, and Dennis Aspedon of Lincoln, Jeff Hewitt of West Des Moines, IA, Jeremy Warner of Las Vegas, NV and Cia Jayne (Sergio) Lara of Round Rock, TX., and step-granddaughter Crista (Chris) DeTinto of Florida, 8 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandson. Belva also leaves behind her sister Lila Adams of Arapahoe and many, many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins. Belva was predeceased by her husband Fred in 1994, sisters Vivian Harding Goins and Bonnie Strickland, brother Vaughn Helton, parents Virtus and Joycie Helton, brother-in-laws Don Adams, Clifford Strickland, Verle Harding, and James Goins, and a son-in-law, Robert Hewitt. Public viewing will be Friday, August 10, at the Wenburg Funeral Home in Beaver City, NE. from 10 AM until 7 PM. Burial will be in the Aspedon family plot at Riverton, Iowa, at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 11, 2012. Any memorial contributions can be made to the Eisenhower Elementary School library in Norton, KS, for use in promoting reading and literacy. Belva's family especially wants to thank the staff at Good Samaritan and hospice for the love and excellent care they provided Belva as well as Dr. Shelley Kaspar-Cope for always being there. Condolences and personal reflections may be left at wenburgfuneralhome Wenburg Funeral Home Beaver City, Nebraska is in charge of the arrangements.