Carolyn Ann Henderson, age 81, passed away Sunday, September 20, 2015 at Regional West Hospital in Scottsbluff after suffering a stroke.
Carolyn was born to Fred T. and Edna M. (Tigges) Kolpin on January 9, 1934 in Cherokee, IA. She was raised on the family farm located in Aurelia, IA. Carolyn attended country school and graduated from Aurelia High School in 1951. As a teenager, Carolyn qualified for her pilot’s license and enjoyed many hours flying with her father.
She then attended Wayne State Teachers College in Wayne, NE, where she was an honor student, cheerleader, and graduated with a teaching degree. She there met her husband, Donald E. Henderson. Don and Carolyn were married July 19, 1953 at the Evangelical Reformed Church, Peterson, IA. Carolyn taught school in Wayne, NE until Don was drafted into the US Army. While stationed in Chicago, IL, the couple had their first child, Lari Denise, born July 27, 1957. After Don’s service was completed, the family moved to Alliance, NE, where Don joined his father in business. On October 16, 1964, another little blessing joined the family: Darcy Kay. Carolyn worked in the Alliance Public Schools and also taught at rural school District #2. Later, she worked as a bookkeeper for Doc Von Tour, at the Alliance Safeway store, and then for George E Roe until he passed away. Carolyn was then employed by Howard Curtiss CPA, and finally for the John Kiefer and Scott Moeller Partnership. She thoroughly loved working with numbers and had many favorite clients through the years. Carolyn contributed to the Alliance community in many ways. She taught Sunday School at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, was a member of Soroptimists, loved to play Bridge, was a 4-H Leader, and shared her baked goods, in particular her apple cream pie. Carolyn also loved gardening. Her son-in-law Robby used to say that Carolyn could throw seeds over her shoulder and they would grow.
Most of all, she instilled in her family the character and toughness to get over life’s bumps, a gentleness in how she approached life, and a happiness and peace that came from the God she believed in with all her heart.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Donald E. Henderson; her daughters, Lari (Robby) Herman and Darcy Matlock; grandchildren, Teal (Herman) Hollmann and husband Clay, Thompson Herman and wife Jessie, and Sierra (Matlock) Ray and husband Chris. And the most recent delights of her life, great grandchildren Tye Hollmann, Tiernan Hollmann, and Brinson Herman. She is also survived by her brother Larry Kolpin and sister-in-law Betty, and brother Frederick Kolpin; sister-in-law Lois Porter, brother-in-law Bobbie Henderson, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins; special friends Dan Ashbaugh, Darla Hart, and Marie (Hashman) Henderson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred T. and Edna Kolpin, in-laws Herbert and Velma Henderson, sister-in-law Bonnie (Henderson) Coupens, and brothers-in-law Donald Porter and Jack Coupens.
Funeral services will be held Friday, September 25, 2015 at 10:30 am at the Alliance Berean Church. Burial will be in the Alliance Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, September 24, 2015 from 1:00-7:00 pm at the funeral home with the family present from 5:00-7:00 pm.
Memorials may be sent in care of the family at, 1239 Grand, Alliance, Nebraska, 69301.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com. Bates-Gould Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.