LaJean L. (Larson) Price, 84, of Lincoln, died Friday, April 21, 2017 at 2:15 p.m. She was born October 5, 1934 on a farm near Wausa, Nebraska to Forrest and Linnea (Nelson) Larson. She was baptized and confirmed at Tabor Lutheran Church in Wausa. She attended rural school through eighth grade and was the only student in her class each year. In 1952 she graduated from Wausa High School. In 1956 she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Wayne State College. Her first two years of teaching Music and English were in Pierce Nebraska. In 1958-1959 she taught Junior High Music in Lakewood Colorado.
On June 26, 1958 she married Roderick Price at Tabor Lutheran Church in Wausa. They moved to Lincoln, where LaJean taught English at Whittier Junior High School. In 1965, she became the first Certified Media Specialist at Meadow Lane Elementary School. Seven years later she transferred to Everett Junior High as Media Specialist for 3 years, until she moved to Culler Junior High School where she remained for 16 years. In 1991, she transferred to Lincoln Northeast High School where she partnered in the design and construction of the Media Center. In 1997, she retired with 40 years dedicated to teaching.
LaJean was selected to participate in the National Educational Development Association workshop on UNL campus. The following two years she taught at the workshop on the Concordia University Seward campus. In 1968, she was part of the faculty for an NDEA workshop at the University of Guam.
LaJean was a member of First Lutheran Church, Lincoln where she taught confirmation, directed Christmas programs, sang in small groups, choirs, and was an elected member of the Church Council.
She was selected to needle point a choir cover for the dining room chairs in the Governor’s Mansion. She was assigned the canvas for the Neligh Mills in Northeast Nebraska. It took a year to complete the project.
LaJean was selected to serve as President of the Nebraska Educational Media Association. Prior to this time, she has served on various committees and was in involved in authoring two Nebraska Educational Media Guides.
LaJean’s biggest passion in life was kids; her own and anybody else’s who needed her. She only missed two of her son’s games in the all the years he played sports. She and Rod often even went to Ron’s games he played in after college and many that he coached. She was known by many at the different soccer, baseball, basketball and football games in Lincoln and around the state as she followed her grandsons to their many, many, many games. She was the official score keeper at both boys’ and girls’ basketball games at Culler Junior High, and she helped with the city 9th grade track meets for years as a scorer. Sports where not the only thing LaJean had to go to; concerts, plays, and art displays given by family and friends often kept her busy.
Her two greatest accomplishments that LaJean felt she obtained in her life was that she wrote and published a children’s book. But her most proud moment was seeing the growth of the many students that she worked with over the years; The Corner Crew being her favorite.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Roderick A. Price; son, Ronald and his wife Lisa (Martin) Price of Lincoln; grandsons; Keenan; Omaha, Morgan and Cameron both of Lincoln. She is preceded in death by her parents, Forrest and Linnea Larson.
Memorial service will be held Saturday, April 29th, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at First Lutheran Church, 1551 S 70th St., Lincoln, NE with burial in the Lambrecht Family Cemetery, Pierce NE. Cremation/No visitation. The Reverend Dan Warnes will officiate. No visitation by family request. Cremation will be performed.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you buy a book or two to give to your grandchildren or children or to donate some books a school or public library. Memorials can be sent to the family for designation to the Harvest of Books.