She was born April 9, 1908 at rural Benedict, Neb. to Henry F and Myrtle (Dillon) Cross.
Lenore graduated from Benedict High School and received her bachelors and master’s from the University of Nebraska. She was a longtime teacher having taught kindergarten, first grade and special education students for 50 years.
She retired in 1976 after having taught at Clay Center, Grand Island, York, David City and Kansas City, MO.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church at Benedict and was also a member of the Eastern Star, The Rebekahs, Emblem Club, Delta Kappa Gamma, National and Nebraska Education Association.
After Lenore’s retirement she was an active volunteer with Hospice, Alzheimer’s Association, Adult Day Care, Adult Literacy, Social Services and services for the blind where she taught reading.
In 1936 she was married to Louis Hertel at Clay Center. After Louis’s death in 1958 she was married to R.A. Ragel in 1960 at Grand Island. Then after his death in 1963 she was married to Earle Budd in 1976 at Hemet, CA. He died in 1983.
She is survived by her daughter, Suzanne Hertel of Hartford, CN; a stepdaughter, Marilyn Hall of Bloomington, IN; six grandchildren, Tom and his wife Ginny Hall of Indianapolis, IN, Bob and his wife Heather Oakley of Indianapolis, IN, Kathy Jacobson of Bloomington, IN and Linda and her husband Sam Alexander of Indianapolis, IN, Carole Burrell of Vista, CA and John Hall of Bloomington, IN; ten great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews along with her special helper Brenda Pauley. She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands; a son, Charles; three brothers and four sisters.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at the Great Room at the Hearthstone in York with the Rev. Keith Bateman officiating. Lenore has been cremated and her inurnment will be at a later date at the Clay Center Cemetery, Clay Center, NE.