Sara Janet Malo, born May 6, 1927 in Fairmont, MN, died Friday, August 17, 2018
in Alliance, NE. Sara, was the second child of Edwin “Ned” G. and Mary C. (Nelson)
Gould. After her mother’s death on Christmas Eve 1937, Ned married Margaret
Nelson who helped raise Sara and her siblings, Beret, Frederick (Fritz), Richard
(Dick), Helen and John (Jack) on the family farm near Sherburn, MN.
Sara graduated from Sherburn High School in 1945 and, as part of the Army Cadet
Corp., attended the Minnesota University School of Nursing, graduating in 1948
as a registered nurse.
Sara married Howard S. Barrows October 17, 1948 in Sherburn, MN, and had three
children, Barbara, Bradley and Robert (Bob). In 1957 the family moved to Alliance,
NE. Sara and Howard divorced in 1963.
On October 15, 1966 Sara married George M. Woods whose daughters, Linda and
Debra, joined the family.
Sara was a registered nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital until beginning teaching in the
Alliance School of Practical Nursing in 1969. After George’s death on July 21, 1981,
Sara enrolled in the University of Nebraska Medical Center and was awarded a BSN
on May 12, 1985 at the age of 58. She then moved to Hot Springs, SD to work for
the Veterans Administration. After retiring from the VA, Sara returned to Alliance,
NE where she became very active in the United Methodist Women, serving in local
and district offices. She was a member of the Eagles Auxiliary and the Nebraska
Nurses Association. Sara enjoyed her family, playing bridge, knitting, sewing and
was an award-winning baker.
On November 15, 2008 she married Robert J. Malo, a childhood friend, in Sherburn,
MN and enjoyed living close to her siblings until moving into assisted living in
Hemingford, NE in May of 2017.
Sara is survived by her husband Robert J. Malo of Fairmont, MN; siblings, Helen
(John) Houle of Mounds View, MN, Dick (Helen) Gould of Fairmont, MN and Jack
(Sue) Gould of Pocahontas, IA; children Linda Frank of Hastings, NE, Debra Wright
of Las Vegas, NV, Barbara (Larry) Grant of Marsland, NE, Bradley (Rhonda) Barrows
of Denton, NE and Bob (Deena) Woods of Petoskey, MI; 12 grandchildren; 20 great-
grandchildren; 7 great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and many
former students and friends.
Sara was preceded in death by her parents; siblings, Beret and Fritz; former husbands
Howard Barrows, George Woods and Thomas Franks; and son-in-law Donald Wright.
Funeral services will be held Friday, August 24, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist
Church in Alliance, with interment in the Alliance Cemetery. Visitation will be at the
Bates-Gould Funeral Home in Alliance on Thursday, August 23rd from 4:00 p.m. until
6:00 p.m. with family present. Memorials are suggested to the Alliance United Methodist
Church.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com. Bates-Gould Funeral Home
is in charge of the arrangements.