Lois Birt – Metz Mortuary

Lois Elizabeth (Knapple) Birt, age 83 of York, NE, passed away suddenly on Saturday, March 16, 2013 in Lincoln,  She was born May 10, 1929 at Lexington, NE to Dr. Fred and Leota (Beardslee) Knapple.   She was often heard singing on a local radio station as a child.  She grew up on a farm south of Lexington and often rode her horse to school.  Lois graduated from Lexington High School in 1947.  While in high school, Lois learned to play the Marimba.  Lois’s mom took her to Hastings for lessons.  After High School, she went to Nebraska Wesleyan University and was a member of the Wesleyan Band, playing the Marimba.  Lois was a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority.  She began her teaching career in Kearney, NE where met her future husband at her brother’s wedding.  Lois married H. Duane Birt on August 16, 1953.  To this union, three children were born, Debra, Barbara, and David.

​Lois continued teaching when the family moved to Texas.  They moved back to Nebraska where Lois taught in the Edison, Stamford, Gresham, Surprise, and Henderson communities.  She loved her “kids” as she lovingly called them and was present at many of their High School and College graduations as well as many of their weddings.  Her “tooth pulling” techniques were well known in her Kindergarten classroom.  After her retirement, Lois continued to follow the successes of her students.

Lois was an avid Bridge player, belonging to as many as 8 different Bridge Groups at a time.  But her greatest love was following her grandchildren.  She went on many field trips with her grandkids when they were in elementary school, and later continued to following them in their many sports activities or horse shows.  If one of her grandkids was in a ballgame, a music program or an arena of some sort, you would find Lois there.

She is survived by her children Debra Figgner and David Birt and his wife Lisa; son-in-law Dan Hildebrand; grandchildren, Kiley (Figgner) Wrage, Alex Hildebrand, Brianna Birt, Hannah Birt, Betsy Hildebrand, Jake Birt; and sister-in-law Paula Knapple.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, March 21, 2013 at the First United Methodist Church in York. Inurnment will be in York’s Greenwood Cemetery. No viewing or visitation.

Lois will be greatly missed, not only by her family, but by the many people whose lives she touched through her classroom or at a bridge table.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the family.