Laura S. Bruce

Laura S. Bruce, 86, of Sidney, died Saturday, July 26, 2014 in Holyoke, Colo. after a year-long illness. She is survived by her three children; Steven R. Bruce (Myra Brannen) of Council Bluffs, IA, Thomas L. Bruce (Barbara) of Montrose, Colo., and Julia J. Bruce (James Theiss) of Berwick, Maine, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Laura was born near Maskell, Neb. on April 11, 1928 to Oscar and Ella Bensen on a farm homesteaded by her grandfather, Bendick Bensen. She was valedictorian of her Maskell High School class, and then worked as a switchboard operator in Sioux City, IA. Laura attended Wayne State College and received a two-year teaching certificate. There she met Leroy (Bud) Bruce and they married on their graduation day on May 26, 1950.

Mrs. Bruce taught elementary grades in Howells, Neb. for 9 years. Laura moved with her family to Sidney, Nebraska where she taught at the elementary and junior high levels for 29 years and was the Junior High librarian for several of those years. During Laura's career she completed degrees for Bachelor of Arts in Education, Masters of Science and Specialist in Education. She was a media specialist at South Ward Schools when she retired in 1993.

Laura was a long-time member of the Cheyenne County Community Center and enjoyed exercise classes. She loved to travel and had been to all the states in the U.S., plus Australia and New Zealand. When she wasn't reading a book, she attended movies. She liked knitting, quilting, as well as genealogy and compiling her family tree. She was fond of playing slot machines. Laura was a member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church for 50 years.

Laura was preceded in death by her husband, parents, grandson, William Bruce, brothers, Oren Bensen and Emory Bensen, and sisters, June Roepke and Lois (Bisgard) Lundgren. A private memorial service will be held at Scottsbluff Monument overlooking the Platte River Valley.