Carol A. Tilghman - Obituary

Carol Anne Tilghman, 71, of Lodgepole, passed away on June 6th at Sidney Region Medical Center, Extended Care.

Memorial services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, July 7, 2018 in the Lodgepole United Methodist Church with Pastor David Abbott officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery north to Lodgepole.

Cremation has taken place and there is no visitation at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to the family to be determined later.

You can view the online obituary and share condolences with the family at http://www.holechekfuneralhomes.com

Carol Anne (Pivonka) Tilghman was born October 3rd, 1946 in Sidney, NE., the daughter of Frank W. and Grace (Sites) Pivonka. She attended elementary & high school in Lodgepole, NE graduating in 1964. During her high school career she received numerous Outstanding Musician awards for vocal solos, was a candidate for the Nebraska State Wheat Queen in 1964 and also worked as a Soda Jerk at Finch's Sundries (Lodgepole). After high school she attended Ben Your Hairdressers School of Beauty in Lincoln, NE.

Upon returning home from Lincoln she started working at the First State Bank of Lodgepole as a Bookkeeper/Cashier. In 1974 she was employed as a bookkeeper at Leprino Foods Cheese Company in Chappell, NE. Then in 2002 she worked at Cabela's in the Accounts Payable department, retiring in March of 2012.

On June 30th 1968, she was united in marriage to Kenneth L. Tilghman at the United Methodist Church in Lodgepole, NE. They resided in Lodgepole for the next 50 years.

Carol shared her many talents by: singing O'Holy Night for the midnight Christmas Eve service at the Lutheran Church, God Bless America for the Old Settlers Day Program for many years. She was a Choir director for both the Lutheran Choir & Methodist youth choir. She sang many solos for the Methodist choir. She sang with the Colonels Ladies for several years. Owned Carol's ceramics and also taught ceramics

Carol was a 50 year member of the United Methodist Church of Lodgepole, Cub Scout / Girl scout Leader, past president of the music parents of Lodgepole, Worthy matron of the Eastern Star several times, Grand Representive of the Daughters of the Niles British Columbia, President of the Lodgepole Women's club several times, Member of the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, President of the Monday evening club numerous times, and served on the Lodgepole Board of education. During Blizzards she ran a CB base station out of her home to contact stranded truckers on the interstate so that the Lodgepole fire department could go out, rescue them, and bring them to safety. She also was a hostage in the Nebraska Centennial mock robbery of the Lodgepole bank by the Notorious Sam Bass.

She loved to cook and everything about nature especially flowers, wild birds, and sunrises/sunsets.

She was a devoted Mother and Grandmother.

Survivors include her husband, Kenneth of Lodgepole, her children: Matthew (Ellen) of Lincoln, Jennifer of Lodgepole, grandchildren: Madison & Mason of Lincoln and Catherine of Lodgepole. Brother-in-law, Dale Bunsen of Omaha, two nieces: Elizabeth (David) Wilson of Charlotte, VT and Jill Assman of Omaha, 2 grand nephews: Adam (Aimee) Assman of Omaha, Boone Wilson of Charlotte, VT, and one grand niece: Emily Assman of Omaha.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Christine Bunsen.

Holechek Funeral Home and Cremations in Sidney is serving the Tilghman family.