Laura Lydia Townsend

Mrs. Townsend, Long-time Nio. Resident, Dies

Mrs. Laura Lydia Townsend, 84, Lusk, died at the Converse County Memorial Hospital in Douglas, May 23. Funeral services were held this Wednesday afternoon at 4:00 from the Peet Mortuary, with the Rev. Robert Boutwell of the Congregational Church officiating. Short services by the Silver Cliff Chapter of the American War Mothers of Lusk was held in the Chapel. Burial was in the Harrison Cemetery, Harrison, Neb.

Mrs. J. P. Watson, organist, accompanied Mrs. A. F. DeCastro and Mrs. Pete Germann as they sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Beautiful Isle."

Casket bearers were Gail Prell, Rex Heth, Grant Ward, Ed Hales, Ernest Hales and William Hales.

She was born at Crawford, Neb. July 19, 1886, to William S. and Ella L. Knowelton Hales. Her childhood was spent on her parents homestead northwest of Crawford. She received her education in the country schools and the Crawford High School. She attended the Chadron Academy for one year and one year at Casper Academy. She taught for two years at the old Thomas school east of Whitman, Wyo., in Nebraska.

On April 14, 1907, she married Myron Leroy Townsend at Crawford. They moved to Wyoming where they homesteaded in the Whitman community, northeast of Lusk. In 1916, she renewed her teacher's certificate and taught two years in the Pineknot School in the Whitman community. After disposing of their ranch in 1932, they moved to the Divide north of Lusk. In addition to her home life she was rural mail carrier from Whitman to Harrison, over country roads through snow and rain. She was active in many clubs and the American War Mothers. The couple moved to Lusk in 1956 where she lived until the time of her death. She enjoyed crocheting doilies and many things, giving them to others.

Her parents, one son, her husband and two brothers died previously.

Survivors include sons, William Leroy Townsend of Seattle, Wash. and Myron Earle Townsend of Lusk; daughter, Mrs. Esther Ella Selby of Lusk; brother, Earle H. Hales of Lusk; 10 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and numerous relatives.

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