Cora Bell (Remington) Dehning - Obituary

Cora Bell (Remington) Dehning, age 87, passed away at the Sedgwick County Nursing Home on March 29, 2017. Cora was born November 29, 1929 to Howard E. and Edith V. (Buttle) Remington at her Grandmother Cora Bell Remington’s home in Big Springs, Nebraska. ‘Corkie’ was the name attached to her at a young age by a loving aunt.

Corkie attended country school at Day Town, Nebraska riding in her cousin’s pony cart or walking the two miles with other neighbor kids. In 1938 her family left their farm and moved into a rental home in Big Springs, Nebraska and went to town school. Corkie’s first job during her school years was sharing a paper route with her brother. They took turns delivering to the long end of town!

In 1940 the family moved into the Remington Hotel. She worked there and sold Grandmother Cora’s homemade doughnuts to the folks around town. Corkie was still living at the family hotel when she graduated from Big Springs High School with her close knit class in 1948. After graduating she worked at the Cafe that Paul Soules and his mother-in-law, Annie Dodd ran and at Aden’s Grocery Store.

A special memory of Corkie’s, when growing up, was the whole Remington family gathering at the hotel and celebrating together. Grandpa Merritt gave gifts from his Santa bag to each person and the kids all got those extra special bags of fruit and candy.

The first time Cora Bell met her future husband was when Delmar came to town from the Dehning farm with a team of horses and a plow to plow gardens. One of his jobs was the large garden area at the hotel. On May 14, 1950 they were married at the Lutheran Church in Big Springs.

Delmar had served his country in the US Army in the European Theatre during WWII. He worked over 35 years for the Federal Government, becoming Cheyenne County Veteran’s Service Officer in 1987. Cora Bell later worked in that same office after Delmar was gone. The VFW and Auxiliary was an important part of their lives. Cora Bell even went to schools in the Sidney area to teach USA flag folding and she helped decorate the Christmas tree in Fort Sidney Post Commander’s Office.

Patriotism was in the couple’s blood. Cora Bell was admitted into the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution on February 1, 2008. She was also a Great Granddaughter to Civil War Vets, A.D. Remington, Simon Peter Feary and John Patrick Buttle, all who were wounded and all settled close to the Day Town, Nebraska area after the war.

Besides working in the office at the Sioux Ordinance, Corkie was active in the Lutheran Church ladies group, 4-H and Saddle Club, VFW Auxiliary and loved to play cards with old friends.

Relatives will remember Cora Bell taking such good care of our family jewel, Edith Remington, the many family ‘making memories’ reunions she organized plus the wonderful hospitality she showered on her friends and relatives.

Cora Bell is survived by a daughter Jolene, a son Ed and his daughter Anna and family, her sister, Shirley Fraker, and brother Marvin Remington and wife Marietta, along with numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Special appreciation goes to nephew, James Fraker and wife Paula who gave special attention to Corkie while she was at the nursing home. Memorial service will be announced at a later date.