Loretta Lee Griffith, 81, went to be with Jesus on Thursday, , in Broken Bow, Nebraska while surrounded by family. She had been battling complications from parathyroid cancer for many years.
Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at 11:00 AM at the Berean Bible Church in Broken Bow, NE. Funeral Services will be livestreamed at govierbrothers.com. Memorials are suggested to Gideons or the Will & Julie White Mission Aviation Fellowship. A visitation will be held on Monday, April 15th from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with family greeting 4:00 to 6:00 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow. Govier Brothers Mortuary are in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at govierbrothers.com
Loretta was born January 18th, 1943, to Wesley “Max” and Velma (Waggoner) Stewart at her grandparents’ home in Comstock, Nebraska. Loretta and her younger sister Meredith grew up on their parents’ farm seven miles west of Sargent, Nebraska. Loretta attended country school through 8th grade and then lived with her grandma Rilla in Sargent while she attended high school. She graduated from Sargent High School in 1961.
After high school she attended Grand Island Business School where she graduated in 1962. She then returned to Sargent where she worked in a doctor’s office until 1964.
Loretta married Walter Earl Griffith in Sargent on July 12th, 1964, and then moved to Broken Bow. Both Loretta and Walter accepted Christ as their personal savior within the first year of their marriage. Loretta worked at the Custer County Social Service office until Ken was born in 1965. Then she quit her job to stay home and raise her family. Walt and Loretta had five children: Ken, Mark, Tom, Stephen, and Tricia. Stephen passed away shortly after he was born.
Walt and Loretta moved their young family from Broken Bow to Berwyn, then to Gates where they farmed and raised cattle. Eventually they moved back to Broken Bow where all the kids graduated from high school.
Over the years Loretta taught Sunday school and helped disciple youth in AWANA at the Berean Church in Broken Bow. She worked in the USDA Farm Service Agency office in Broken Bow for nearly 25 years. She made many friends in the FSA office as well as many area farmers she helped along the way.
Walt and Loretta had been married for 56 years when Walt passed away in 2020.
Loretta was preceded in death by her husband, mom and dad, son Stephen, father-in-law and mother-in-law.
Loretta is survived by: Children – Kenneth Griffith (Janet) of Broken Bow, Mark Griffith (Sonya) of Kearney, Thomas Griffith (Heather) of Merna, and Tricia Sabin (Jeff) of Ashland; Sister – Meredith Orthman (Bill) of Lexington; Grandchildren – Kathrine Obradovich (C.J.) of Kearney, Cody Griffith (Courtney) of Ansley, Jacob Griffith (Megan) of Kearney, Ethan Griffith (Elizabeth) of Arnold, Jobeth Winkelman (Brian) of Callaway, Elizabeth Griffith of Omaha, Amanda Field (Estin) of Memphis, TN, Nathan Sabin of Lincoln, Victoria Holt (Gage) of Holdrege, Jentry Griffith of Arnold, and Josiah Griffith of Merna. Loretta also leaves behind 13 great-grandchildren with two more on the way.
