Leta Marx

Leta Marx passed away on April 26, 2022 at her home on Marx Mountain.

Leta Leotis Dreyer was born on July 31, 1932, at home east of Rushville, Nebraska.  She was the third child of Bernard Christian Jacob (Jake) and Iva Leah Margaret (Bare) Dreyer.  The family later moved to the Bare farm south of Rushville.   She attended country school and graduated from Rushville High School in 1950.  Leta attended Chadron State College Normal training and started teaching in rural schools in Sheridan County.  She boarded with families in the school district.

At the 1959 St Patrick’s Day Dance, Arlan Marx asked Leta to dance.  They dated until Friday, May 13, 1960, when they eloped to Hot Springs, South Dakota.  They lived on the Mills Crane place until 1989 when they moved 2 miles north to the old Sweeney place and converted Fairview District 126 Rural School to their present home – Marx Mountain.  They were married for 57 years before Arlan’s passing.

Our mom was a sassy, fun-loving person.  She milked cows, chased cows, kids and after Arlan, as she was his hired man for many years.  She loved to putter in her garden and flower beds.  She built many birdhouses to decorate the lane from the county road we all call Birdhouse Lane.  She loved to hand quilt and tole paint.  She hosted coffee breaks multiple times a day – just to have another cookie!  She loved her family and her grandkids would warn their friends “You are going to love my grandma!”

Leta had beautiful penmanship and won the Nebraska Handwriting contest in the age 50 & over category.  Leta was proud the Bare Farm (later purchased by Arlan, Leta and their sons) in 2006, was awarded the Aksarben Pioneer and Heritage Family Award for being in the family for 100 years.   In 2015, Leta was recognized as the matriarch of the Marx family for 3 generations attending Chadron State College.

Leta is survived by her daughters Laura (Buster) Kearns, Gordon, Marla Marx, Scottsbluff, sons Neal Marx, Rushville; and Gale (Kim) Marx, Rushville.  Grandchildren Sean (Tessa) Mayben Weatherford, Texas; Matthew Mayben, Sidney, NE; Kerisa Marx, Chadron, NE, Kolten (Abby) Marx, Chadron, NE and Kaelob Marx, Hay Springs, NE.   Great-grandchildren Trent, Sienna and Grady Mayben, Weatherford, TX and Estes Mayben, Sidney, NE.

She is preceded in death by husband Arlan; brother Lloyd Dreyer; and by 4 hours, sister Leah Dirks.  Leta carried the lunch pail for the last time!

Funeral Services will be Tuesday, May 3, 2022, 10:00 am, at Grace Lutheran Church, Gordon, NE. Burial will be held at 12:30 pm at Fairview Cemetery, Rushville, NE. A memorial has been established for the Grace Lutheran Church and donations may be sent to Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home, PO Box 366, Gordon, NE 69343.