Frank R. Valla, Jr.

Frank R. Valla, Jr.

1931 to 2013

Frank R. Valla, Jr., 81 of Lodgepole, died Friday afternoon, Nov. 22, 2013 at the Sidney Regional Medical Center in Sidney, Nebraska.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wed., Nov. 27, 2013 in the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Chappell with Father Michael McDonald officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery north of Lodgepole. A rosary service will be held at 7. p.m. Tuesday evening at the church.

Friends may call from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Holechek Funeral Home in Chappell.

Memorials have been established to the family.

You can view the online obituary and share condolences with the family at http://www.holechekfuneralhomes.com

Frank Rudolph Valla, Jr. the son of Frank and Antonia Valla was born Dec. 1, 1931 on a farm in Valley County, Neb. He grew up on the family farm where he attended Hill Top country school. He then attended the Ord, Nebraska schools, graduating from Ord High School. Immediately after graduation he went to work for the Ord Cooperative Creamery. While working there he became a victim of Polio in 1951. While hospitalized and confined to a wheelchair he decided he wanted to be a teacher. From 1952 to 1954 he attended Nebraska State Teacher's College in Kearney, Nebraska majoring in Elementary Education. After earning a three year teaching certificate, his first teaching assignment was in Wilcox, Nebraska. Teaching during the winter financed the rest of his education which was done in five summers. In 1960, he graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts in Education.

On Nov. 24, 1961 he was united in marriage to Ethel Fischer at Grand Island, Nebraska. During his 22 years in the Nebraska elementary schools he taught at Wilcox, a parochial school in Shelby, Paxton, Hastings, Sergeant and Dalton. After he retired in 1976 he made his home in Lodgepole.

Frank was a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the Knight of Columbus and was a member of the Caledonia Fraternity.

Survivors include his wife Ethel Valla of Lodgepole; one son Bryan Valla of North Platte; three daughters: Lisa Heskett of Central City, Neb., Michelle January of Denver, Colo. and Kimberly Valla of Lodgepole; one brother William Valla of Ord, Neb .; one sister Agnes Einspahr of Kearney; 9 Grandchildren and 8 Great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers Joseph and Emil and one sister Rose Brittenham.

Holechek Funeral Home and Cremations in Chappell is serving the Valla family.