Nellie Victoria Lohrding, aged 100 years 3 months and 4 days, passed away the morning of March 4, 2019. She was born the fourth child of William and Pauline (Schlegel) Lehl at Ingersoll, OK, on December 1, 1918. Her middle name was given to her because of her mother's love of Queen Victoria.

Nellie was baptized in the German Methodist Church at Ingersoll, OK. As a child, her parents moved to Keystone, where she started kindergarten. At the age of 7, the family moved for the last time to the farm of their grandparents, who moved into Alva, OK. Nellie finished her grade school education at ElmDale Country School, then rode to high school in a Model T with her brothers. She finished high school at Northwestern High, which was on the campus of Northwestern State University and then attended college at Northwestern State for three years, which was interrupted by a blind date in April of 1941 with a young man from Coldwater, KS. Two months later, on June 15, 1941, she and Harry Lohrding were married at the Methodist Church in Alva, OK. They were married 50 years when Harry died in 1992.

They lived on Harry's family farm in the Buttermilk Community and attended Antioch Methodist Church. That is where they raised their family. Nellie taught Sunday School, Bible School, and was a project leader for 4-H. While in the country, she was a member of the Antioch Holmes Bible Study Group and Pikeview Extension Club. In her younger years, she always sang in the Community Chorus. In 1983, she and Harry moved to their home in Coldwater and joined the Coldwater United Methodist Church. She intended to stay busy and joined the Garden Club, Research Club, and Kensington Club. For many years, she served on the Library Board and the Election Board for the County. She served several terms as President of United Methodist Women and was Communion Steward for a number of years.

Nellie was a lifetime member of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, researching her family's heritage. She was the daughter and granddaughter of immigrants from Russia, her mother having come over only 8 years before Nellie was born.

In addition to her husband, Nellie was preceded in death by her parents, brothers: Harold (Frieda), Carl, infant brother Clarence, and Elvest (Ruby); sisters: Frieda (Fred) and infant sister; and several nieces and nephews.

She is survived by four children: Helen Lehman (John) of Coldwater, KS, Ruth Lohrding of Coldwater, KS, Don Lohrding (Debbie) of Mineral Wells, TX, and Steve Lohrding (Cindy) of Cherokee, OK; grandsons: David Lehman, James (Daphne) Lehman, Chris (Kelly) Lohrding, Keenan (Debbie) Lohrding, Trevor Lohrding, and Brendan Lohrding; granddaughter: Julie Lehman; great-grandchildren: Zachery, Jacob, and Victoria Lohrding and Sydney and Jack Lehman; sister-in-law: Beulah Lehl; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. She will be missed.

Calling times are from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, Coldwater, KS.

Funeral service is at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, March 7, 2019, at Coldwater United Methodist Church, Coldwater, KS, with Pastor Kennedy Mukwindidza presiding.

Burial will follow the funeral service at Crown Hill Cemetery, Coldwater, KS.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Coldwater United Methodist Church or Pioneer Lodge in care of Hatfield-Prusa Funeral Home, P.O. Box 417, Coldwater, KS 67029.