Twyla Mae Delila (Marsh) Thurston, 81, passed away on Sunday, December 13, 2020 at Box Butte General Hospital in Alliance.
She was born April 12, 1939. Twyla was the second eldest of five siblings born to Jacob and Pearl (Morrison) Marsh of Mullen, Nebraska. Growing up on the ranch there was no shortage of work to do or fun to be had with her brothers and sisters. Twyla was known to be a capable soft ball pitcher even striking out her husband Bill on one notable occasion. Twyla attended secretarial school in Omaha, NE before marrying Bill on June 29, 1958. Twyla and Bill began working and ranching in Grant County Nebraska raising their three children Kathy, Skeeter and John in the close knit communities of Ashby and Hyannis.
Twyla worked hard to help Bill with his haying contracts and made more hay crew lunches then you can
count. She took care of many young men and women during the busy summers. Twyla volunteered as a
4-H leader and never missed a volleyball game or a wrestling match. She often drove many of the local
kids to and from games and matches.
Of course rodeo became a big part of her life. Twyla traveled far and wide to watch Skeeter, John and all the grand kids. Even as her health was failing she somehow made a way to show up and cheer them on.
Not only did Twyla work hard on the ranch she had a custom upholstery business and held a job as the handi bus driver for, twenty plus years, making weekly trips to Alliance for the local’ residents. Twyla and Dotty Dubs even took turns as the local limousine driver.
Twyla was always active in her community helping to raise money to build the swimming pool in Hyannis, serving as custodian of the land fill and holding various positions on the village council for
decades.
Twyla loved the Sandhill mornings and while the breakfast dishes sat idle she took time to call her special friends and family for the news of the day, many of them every single day without fail. A game of
cards or a rodeo broadcast on TV brought plenty of enjoyment to her life. One of her favorite things to do was take a trip with her siblings to gamble and just spend time together or attend a family event.
Nieces, nephews and cousins all held a special place in Twyla’s heart. Her grandchildren and their accomplishments were her pride and joy along with her children.
Twyla leaves behind her husband of 62 years, Bill Thurston, daughter Kathy (Dan) Conner, their children Josh, Alisha, and Kaci, her son Skeeter (Lynda) their children Wyatt, Zeke (Jayne) and daughter Lucy, Sam
and Tess, her son John (Tiffany) and children Jordan (Chancy), Ace (Danielle) Colby and Brady. Twyla also leaves to mourn her beloved siblings Mardell (Terry) Huddle, Butch (Donna) Marsh, Phyllis Eberl (Ben)
and Bob (Peg) Marsh, sisters in law Joy Boyer, Marilyn (Warren) Herman and Wynona Bolton along with many treasured nieces, nephews, cousins and Sandhill friends. Twyla was preceded in death by
Johnny Thurston, Dan Eberl, and Leonard Boyer. She will join her parents Pearl and Jake Marsh in a glad reunion.
Memorial services will be Friday, December 18 at 2:00 p.m. at the Ashby Congregational Church. A private family interment will follow later at the Ashby Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the family to establish a scholarship in her name or given to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.