Virgil R. Pickering

Hastings resident, Virgil R. Pickering, 92, died January 1, 2009 at Perkins Pavilion, GSS-Hastings Village. Services will be Monday, January 5th, 2008 at 11 AM at the First United Methodist Church, Hastings, NE with the Rev. Alan Davis officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, NE. Visitation will be Sunday January 4, 2008 from 12 noon to 9 PM with the family present from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home and one hour prior to service time Monday at the church. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. Virgil was born September 11, 1916 to Ross M and Iva S. (Swartz) Pickering in Steele City, NE. In 1920 he moved with his family to Minden, NE where he attended school and graduated from High School in 1935. While in High School he was active in basketball, football and track. In 1939 he started working for Southern Nebraska Rural Public Power in Minden, NE. In 1940 he moved to Grand Island, NE. On October 12, 1940 he married Viola A. Koch and they made their home in Grand Island, NE. In May 1948 he was transferred by the company to Hastings, NE. He retired in February 1979. He was a 50 plus year member of the First United Methodist Church, Hastings, NE where he had held several offices as well as being an usher for 25 years plus. He was a member of the U.C.T., Past Red Cross Board Member, and a Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital volunteer and delivered Meals on Wheels from 1979 to 2004. He liked camping and had traveled with the family coast to coast with a trailer. Since retiring he and his wife spent about 10 years in the winter either in Texas or Arizona. He also was nominated for the Sunshine Award given by KOLN TV by his granddaughter Teresa. He is survived by his wife Viola of Hastings, NE, 4 daughters, Beverly Ochsner and husband Ron of Sutton, NE, Lois Hultine and husband Don of Hastings, NE, Marcia Hinrikus and husband Jerry of Salina, Kansas and Bonnie Malcolm and husband Andrew of Columbus, NE. 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. 1 sister, Opal Swartz of Endicott, NE. He was preceded in death by his parents, 1 brother Doyle, and 1 sister, Lucille Gifford. Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church in Hastings, NE.