Irene Alta Refior, age 89, of North Platte, Nebraska passed away surrounded by her family on Friday, October 30, 2020.
Irene was born at Vivian, South Dakota, to Zura and Florence (Rademaker) Rishel on March 26, 1931. She grew up and attended school in South Dakota and years later received her GED.
On July 24, 1948, Irene married Donald Brown in Vermilion, South Dakota, and to this union three children, Marjorie, Kenneth and Cheryl, were born. The family later moved to Iowa then to North Platte, Nebraska in 1960. After Don died in 1975, Irene married Lloyd Refior on December 16, 1978, in North Platte. She and Lloyd were together until his death in 1991.
Irene was a member of the First Baptist Church. She and her
granddaughter were baptized together on Easter Sunday in 2001. Irene
enjoyed doing embroidery, cross stitching, knitting and crocheting. She
loved her family and was happiest helping others.
She is survived by her children, Marjorie Gleason and Cheri (Tom) Oberg,
of North Platte, Nebraska; daughter-in-law, Gerri Brown, of Burbank, South Dakota; 10 grandchildren, Vicki, Chad, Clyde, Lyn, Josh, Matt, Samantha, Eva Dawn, Clark and Mariesha; great-grandchildren, Stefi, Brandon, Shaylene, Mariah, Crystal, Tyler, Kenneth D., Jessica, Haley, Alexis, Isiah, Austin, Tristan, Malakye, Magnus, Destiny, Noah, Shayda, Abel, Alaina, Emma, Abigail, Tessa, Brooke, Alex and Christopher; 5 great-great-grandchildren, Jaxon, Kalia, Scarlet, Emberlain and Decan;
sister-in-law, Delsey Rishel, of North Platte; and other family.
Along with her husbands, Don and Lloyd, Irene was preceded in death by
her son, Ken Brown; parents, Zura and Florence Rishel; brother, Cullen
Rishel; sister, Ardella Styles; and grandson, Chris Brown.
Funeral Service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, November 4, 2020, at First
Baptist Church in North Platte, Nebraska. Burial will follow in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens in North Platte. Visitation will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore in North Platte, which is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com.