Lester Rudder, 92, of Verdon, NE, passed away September 23, 2023. He was born September 24, 1930 at Beatrice, NE to Clarence and Flora (Rudder) Rudder.
He married Virginia Smith in August of 1955 at Crawford, NE and they were later divorced. He then married Frankie (Martinosky) Knight on December 31, 1986 at Falls City. She passed away February 11, 1992.
Lester enlisted in the U. S. Air Force on November 15, 1948 and was stationed in England. He was discharged on October 23, 1951.
Lester was raised in the rural Beatrice area and following his schooling he joined a harvest crew. He then worked for the Nebraska Department of Roads, building roads, bridges and driving a truck. In the 1950’s, he began driving over the road as an independent trucker. He retired at the age of 80 in 2010.
Lester is survived by is children, Lester, Jr. and his wife Gina of Pueblo, CO, Robert of Greenwood, NE, Cathy Knight and her husband Tony of Auburn, NE Debora Hagstrom and her husband Galen of Hickman, NE and Thomas of Los Angeles, CA, twelve grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, son, Randall, grandchildren, Keith Knight, Joe Rudder and Miranda Rudder in infancy, brothers, William and Kenneth, sisters, Marilyn Benge and Edith Simmonds.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Verdon Cemetery with Reverend Laurie Beach officiating.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 6-7:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home.
