Rogene Fay Dingman, 80, of Lincoln, NE, passed away May 3, 2024. She was born on November 19, 1943 in rural Knox County, Nebraska to Gunnar and Delores Nelson. As the oldest of five children, Rodney, Shirley, Ronald, and Terry, she was the only one born at home on the farm. Throughout her life, everyone knew her as Jeanie.
Jeanie was baptized at Thabor Lutheran Church in Wausa, NE on December 26, 1943. She was later confirmed at Thabor on June 1, 1958.
She attended Creighton High School in Creighton, NE where she earned letters in Pep Club and Newspaper. Her senior year was at Wausa High School due to redistricting. At Wausa, she was on the yearbook staff and in the cast of the senior play, ‘Hillbilly Weddin’. She graduated in 1961.
Jeanie moved to Lincoln after high school and attended the Lincoln School of Commerce; graduating in March of 1962. She then got a job at Union Insurance Company where she was promoted from typist to auto underwriting. During this period, she became a volunteer with the USO serving the Lincoln Air Force Base.
After a brief stay with relatives in Atlanta, she returned and began working at National Bank of Commerce, working in the trust department.
In the fall of 1975, Jeanie met her future husband, Donald Dingman, while dancing at the Esquire Club in Lincoln. They danced every time she was there. She found out from her friends that when she wasn’t there, he always asked about her. He finally asked her on a date in January 1976. That date started them on a life of love that lasted 48 years until her death. They were wed eight months later on August 28, 1976 at Thabor Lutheran Church. Rogene gave birth to their son, David, on February 24, 1979.
Motherhood, faith and family were Jeanie’s greatest joys in life. As a mother, she dedicated herself to raising her son David with a strong faith in God along with the same love for family that was instilled in her: near monthly visits to family in Bloomfield, NE; family vacations to museums, historical sites, state and national parks; riding bikes in the park across the street from their lifetime house, camping and fishing with family at Gavins Point Dam along the Missouri River; designing and sewing nearly every costume for David’s school plays and childhood whims for Halloween costumes – David still has the Superman cape and X-wing fighter suit complete with paper mache helmet; and Jeanie made sure that every Sunday it was possible that Don and David were in church or Sunday school.
In more recent years, after David moved away to Montana, Jeanie made sure that every month he received a care package that included a letter from home and photos, at least 5 dozen of her famous butter pecan cookies along with dark chocolate turtle clusters, dehydrated apples and the most recent edition of Portals of Prayer for daily meditations on God’s word.
Jeanie loved baking, hiking, riding bikes, reading, telling stories, and fun road trip adventures with her loved ones. Throughout her life, Jeanie managed to touch the hearts of everyone she met. The only thing that Jeanie loved more than life were the family and friends she shared it with.
Jeanie was a member of the Prayer Shawl ministry at her former church home, where she crocheted over 2 dozens shawls, weaving prayers into each strand of yarn.
As we commend the spirit of our beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend, Jeanie, we are reminded of the glory and joy of the Lord that shines through every memory.
“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day and not only me but also to all who have loved his appearing” – 2 Timothy 4:7-8
Rogene was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Rodney. She is survived by her husband, Donald; son, David; brother, Ronald Nelson (Carol); sister, Shirley Rundquist; brother, Terry Nelson (Crystal); nephews, Michael, Erik, Andrew, James, Travis; and nieces, Laura, Jill and Julie.
Funeral Service will be held 1:00 pm Friday, May 10, 2024 at Christ Lincoln Church, 4325 Sumner Street, Lincoln, NE.
Visitation will be 4:00 pm-8:00 pm with family greeting from 6:00-8:00 pm Thursday, May 9, 2024 at Metcalf Funeral Home, 245 N. 27th Street, Lincoln, NE.
Burial at Lincoln Memorial Park Cemetery, Lincoln, NE.
Memorials to Christ Lincoln Church or Nebraska Children’s Home.
To view a livestream of the service please click the link below
https://shorturl.at/tACPR