Helen L. (Sommer) Dishman

Helen L. Sommer Dishman, 88, of Gering passed away December 6, at Regional West Medical Center. A graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 13, at Mitchell City Cemetery, north of Mitchell, with Pastor Lauren Eckdahl officiating. Friends may call at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday. A memorial has been established to the Farm and Ranch Museum. Helen Lucille was born February 10, 1923 in Sterling, Colorado to Henry and Katherine (Stroh) Willman and received her early education at Haig, Nebraska and then graduated from Morrill High School. Helen married Pete Sommer February 14, 1943 and they made their home on a farm on Dutch Flats, North of Morrill. They farmed until Pete’s death in 1973. Helen then became a Real Estate Broker and Appraiser until retirement. On August 15, 1980 she married Clyde Dishman and they moved to Gering. During retirement Helen was a Nebraska Long Term Care Ombudsman for residents of Nebraska’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities. For this work she received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from the President’s Council on Service in 2004 from George Bush. Survivors include son, Ron (Linda) Sommer of Windsor, CO; grandsons, Peter (Kristin) Sommer, of Fort Collins, CO and David (Julie) Sommer of Centennial, CO; two great-grandsons, Joshua and Charley Sommer of Fort Collins, CO; sisters, Marge Robinson of Mesa, AZ, Marilyn Burpee of Casper, WY and Mildred Long of Sterling, CO; and brother Ed Willman of Fruita, CO. Helen is proceeded in death by two husbands, her parents, four brothers, two sisters and a grandson.