Connie Thresa Ernst

Viewing will be Sunday, February 12, 2023 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Gering Memorial Chapel, Gering, Nebraska. A funeral service will be Monday, February 13, 2023 at 10:00 AM, Gering, Nebraska with a burial to follow at Fairview Cemetery, Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Family is suggesting casual dress.

A memorial may be made in care of the family to be designated at a later date. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.geringchapel.com for the Ernst family.

Connie was born to Carl and Judith (Wells) Olbricht of Scottsbluff, Nebraska on September 20, 1948. Connie graduated from Scottsbluff High School along with her sweetheart Curtis Ernst in 1967. Curt and Connie were married November 22, 1969, where they made their home in the Scottsbluff-Gering area.

She loved all animals. Some of the critters she kept were fish, birds of every kind, DeDe the first Ernst family dog, and many more dogs after. She bred and sold Persian and Siamese cats. In the Wild Cat Hills, where she lived there were always and abundance of wild cats begging to be fed. "Petunia" the potbelly pig was a very special pet for many years. She also had a raccoon, and even a skunk, that was "de-skunked" and we can't forget her first horse named Star. She loved having chickens, and even hatched their eggs. She incubated chicken, quail and duck eggs taking great care in turning them every few hours for days on end.

All summer long you could find her outside working in her yard (10+ acres) planting trees and flowers, mowing the lawn and tending to her cement fish pond. She loved being in the sunshine and was the tannest person I've ever known. Spending time with family was very important to her, all summer she could be found camping with family or the camping club and fishing at Lake McConaughy and Minatare, but boating was her favorite. Calvin said she was his boating buddy; she was the first one on the boat and the last one off.

We will miss her every single day.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years Curtis Ernst of Scottsbluff, NE, her siblings Donald Olbricht of Scottsbluff, NE, her sister Gloria (Sandee) Price of Otis Orchard, WA, Connie's daughter Carrie (Blye) Chadwick of Fort Collins, CO and her son Calvin (Jennifer) Ernst of Gering, NE and 6 grandchildren Bretton Michaelson, Colin Ernst, Addison Ernst, Riley Chadwick, Avery Chadwick and Libby Chadwick along with numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in Heaven by her parents Carl Olbricht, Judith (Wells) Olbricht, brother Richard (Dick) Olbricht Sgt., her sister Carol Schwartzkopf and four nephews.