Dora Mae (Stauffacher ) Darveau entered into rest at Highland Park Care Center on March 12, 2023 at the age of 93.
Dora was born at the family home north of Hemingford, Nebraska, on May 8, 1930 to Rudolph Warner and Victoria Hildegarde (Johnson) Stauffacher. Her twin brother, Ray Harry, was stillborn. Her other siblings are Ruth McFall, Norma Smith, Rudolph (Rudy) Staff, Frederic (Ted) Stauffacher, Shirley Damer (all deceased), Audrey Cowardin and Marjorie Cowardin. Dora was never happier than when she was with her brothers and sisters.
Dora attended rustic country schools, first at Nonpareil School District 29 and then at Lawn School District 20, where she took two grades in one year. Dora attended Hemingford High School for two years until her brother Rudy (called Buddy at the time) was ready for high school. Her parents sent both to the Nebraska School of Agriculture boarding high school in Curtis, Nebraska. Dora graduated from high school in 1947 at age 16.
In the summer of 1947, Dora worked as a waitress at a cafe in Alliance, waiting to turn 21 when she could attend a nursing school in Omaha. In the meantime, she fell in love with Edward Darveau and they married March 6, 1948 at her parents’ farm home, northwest of Hemingford. They began their married life by joining the newly forming Lutheran Church as charter members, and became the last two living charter members of St. Johns, contributing to their religious community throughout their lives. She never made it to that nursing school, too busy building a farm and family together with Ed. Their children are Mary (Rich Smith), David (Kathy), and Kenneth (Elizabeth).
Dora and Ed lived on a farm south of Hemingford until April, 1954, when they moved to their current farm southwest of Hemingford. They lived the rest of their lives there. Dora saw to it that her children were involved in 4-H, and took them to many years of piano lessons and swimming lessons, despite being a 25-mile drive to Alliance during wheat harvest, when she was also cooking and packing huge harvest meals out to the wheat fields for the harvest crew, which was the rest of the family. When all of Ed and Dora’s children were living at home, the family went to church every Sunday and as soon as they returned from service, their tradition was for Dora to pack a lunch and Ed to hook up the boat so the family could go water-skiing every Sunday afternoon in the summertime.
After all her children had graduated from high school, Dora took nurse’s training, finally realizing a long-deferred dream, graduating first in her class and receiving the designation of Best All-Around Nurse. Again, she managed to get large meals on the table for all the working family while attending classes in Alliance. She then worked at Box Butte General Hospital for several years, fulfilling her youthful aspirations.
After retiring from nursing, she helped with the farm field work, driving a 4WD Case tractor Ed bought for her, known as “Dora’s tractor”. This was when air-conditioning for tractors was new, and her tractor had that and Venetian blinds!
Ed and Dora traveled extensively from the beginning of their marriage, after harvest each year. There were family vacations with their children at first, and later they traveled with friends and family. They traveled to all 50 states, to our neighbors to the north and south, and to Europe. There were also many fishing trips, near and far, many with extended family and friends.
Dora loved to read. Later, as farm duties eased, she played the piano, taking lessons into her 70s and creating a beautiful CD of her music. She also loved tole painting, rock painting, making baskets, purses, and other crafts. She shared her love of music with her grandchildren; she taught them piano lessons, took them to music classes, and the family now has a collection of rocks painted as kittens, turtles and bugs, some are exquisite (Dora) and some delightful (grandchildren).
Dora was a long-time member of Nebraska Wheat Hearts and Modern Mothers Extension Club, holding several official positions in both organizations over the years.
Dora is survived by her her husband of 75 years, Edward, her children Mary (Rich Smith), David (Kathleen) and Kenneth (Liz), all of Hemingford; grandchildren Terra (Will) Pogue, Aurelia (Dan) Skavdahl, Willow Smith, Gabriel (Megan) Darveau and August (Jackie) Darveau. She was very involved in her grandchildren’s’ lives, encouraging them with artistic and musical creativity but also taking care of a grandkid or two nearly every day. She has eight great-grandchildren and when she would be apt to forget other things, she would remember the name of a great grandchild.
There will be a viewing on Tuesday, March 14 at the Bates-Gould Funeral Home from 2-6 pm. Family members will be present at the viewing from 4-6 pm to greet friends. Funeral services will be held at St. John’s United Lutheran Church on Wednesday, March 15 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Megan Morrow officiating. Luncheon will follow at the church with interment at Hemingford Cemetery at 1:30 pm. The service will be live-streamed via the church Facebook page – Alliance NE St John’s Lutheran – and is also linked to the church’s website: www.alliancestjohns.org (scroll down to the Facebook Feed on the front page).
Memorials may be sent to St. John’s Lutheran Church or to the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com with Bates-Gould Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.