Marty Peters

On March 28th, 2018 after a very short illness, our wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend passed out of her earthly body into the arms of Jesus. Marty Jo Peters (Sipp) was born in Rushville, NE on Jan 31st, 1944 to Donna (Stiehl) and George Sipp. She was raised in Hay Springs, NE along with her younger sister Judi. Growing up, the two girls were inseparable. Throughout their youth and especially as the girls got older, they enjoyed taking train trips together. Some of those trips ended in California with a visit to family but several ended in Ainsworth, NE to just have fun. One of the most memorable occurred in 1965, when the two took the train to Omaha to see the Worlds Fair.

Marty attended the Hay Springs Public Schools for grades K-12. She was involved in many clubs and activities during those years. Marty was well known for her musical talents and was often asked to play the piano for several different organizations around her hometown. She carried this talent on into adulthood as her children remember her playing songs well into the evening, sometimes asking them to join her and sing while she played. During her high school years, Marty gracefully stepped into a large leadership role by taking the band Majorette position for the school. Of the many responsibilities of the position, the one Marty was especially fond of, was leading the band out onto the field during half time of the high school football games. Marty was active in Jobs Daughters as well, excelling and eventually becoming the Past Honored Queen for the beloved organization. During the summer months, when not riding trains with her sister, Marty was a lifeguard at the Hay Springs pool. Marty was a natural caregiver and relished the position of keeping people safe.

In 1962 after high school graduation, Marty moved to Boulder, CO where she attended Colorado University. There, Marty joined Sigma Theta Tau and graduated in 1965 with a BA in Nursing. This was an incredible accomplishment as she was the first person ever in her family to have graduated from college. Leaving behind many beloved college friends, Marty moved back to the Hay Springs area and began working at the Rushville Hospital as a Registered Nurse.

On October 22, 1966, Marty married Jerry Peters, the love of her life, at the St. Columbkille Church in Hay Springs, NE. The couple began their marriage in a small house in the Mirage Flatts area. Marty would come to have several stories of driving her little VW bug into work at the Rushville Hospital. For the most part, those stories took place somewhere along the miles of country roads between work and home and more often than not, during the winter. To this marriage were born 4 children, sons Matt (Mindy) of Rushville, NE, Greg (Jennifer) of Smithville, MO and daughters Hallie (Carroll) Cox of Rushville, NE and Rachel (Matt) Renyer of Baldwin City, KS.

In 1976 Marty and Jerry moved to the ranch south of Rushville where they operated Sipp Cattle Company, and even though the ranch life kept her busy, Marty continued her work in the field of healthcare. The dynamic of her work eventually morphed into a teaching position in the area nursing homes. Marty excelled at this, as she was a natural born leader and teacher. Many of her students continued on in the field, earning degrees in Nursing and beyond of which Marty was extremely proud.

In her retirement, Marty was able to enjoy her 13 grandchildren with absolute abandon. She loved cooking and gardening with them as well as sharing her love of reading. Marty was blessed to be near several of her grandchildren but never failed to visit those living out of town as often as she could. Marty often said that her grandchildren were the light of her life.

Marty was a member of P.E.O., Chapter DW. This was an organization that she, her sister Judi and daughter Hallie all enjoyed together. Marty loved her P.E.O. sisters and often talked of the joy she had in meeting with them every month. The best part of the organization for her was her joy in working with these wonderful ladies to help other women achieve their full potential in life.

Marty had a passion for helping. She was well known for her smile, her laugh and her kindness. It was not in her to waste a moment of silence where a kind word could be used. Each of her children felt the pride their mother had for them and the words I love you ended every encounter. The daily calls, texts and emails will be greatly missed.

Marty leaves behind her loving husband Jerry Peters, mother Donna Sipp, sister Judi (Jim) Skeen, her 4 children and 13 grandchildren, as well as several brother and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews. Marty was preceded in death by her father, George Sipp, nephew Eric Peters, and other beloved relatives.

Visitation will be held at 7 PM on Sunday, April 1st, 2018 and Services will be held at 10AM on Monday, April 2nd, 2018, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic in Rushville NE. Committal will be at a later date.

A Memorial has been established in her name for the Pioneer Manor Nursing Home in Hay Springs, NE. Donations may be sent care of Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home, PO Box 366 Gordon, NE 69343.

For those left behind, although grateful for our time with her, we are left with this recurring thought, "My God we have lost her".

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