Lyla Joan (Babb) Ernest - Obituary

Lyla Joan (Babb) Ernest, age 87, of Dalton, NE, passed away September 24, 2019. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, September 27th at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Dalton with Father C. P. Varghese and Father Bryan Ernest officiating. The Rosary Service will be at 10:00 A.M. with the Mass to follow at 10:30 A.M. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, September 26th at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel in Sidney from 1-7 P.M., with the family present from 6-7 P.M. Memorials have been established in Lyla's honor to the St. Mary's Catholic Church or to the Sidney Regional Medical Center - Extended Care. You may view Lyla's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Lyla's care and funeral arrangements.

Lyla was born July 5, 1932 southeast of Broadwater to Lyle Frank Babb and Audrey Ida (Winters) Babb. She attended elementary and high school in Broadwater, and graduated as Valedictorian of her class in 1949. She was selected as Broadwater's America Legion Auxiliary Girls State representative. She received Regents and State College Scholarships. She attended Colorado State A&M and later graduated from Kearney State Teachers College where she was a member of Kappa Omicron NU Honor Society. During her college years she rode the bus to and from Broadwater to the Sioux Army Depot where she worked weighing munitions. She taught home economics at Dalton High School, where she was a sponsor for the Future Homemakers of America and the Pep Club.

On September 27, 1958, she was united in marriage to Raymond H. Ernest at St. Mary's Catholic Church. To this union, 5 children were born. In 2018, Ray and Lyla celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Lyla was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, where she taught catechism for many years. She also belonged to the Beta Sigma Phi sorority, Nebraska Cow Belles, and served on the Dalton School Board.

Lyla is survived by their four children: daughter Marci (Mike) Goeman of Broadwater, son Larry Ernest of North Platte, son Chris (Bobbi) Ernest of Dalton and daughter Julie (Steve) Baugh of Delta Junction, AK. grandchildren: Michelle (Shad) Benish, Kendra Goeman, James Goeman and Whitney (Kyle) Anderson, Paige, Megan and Justin Ernest. Great-grandsons: Jaxson, Riley and Cooper Benish and Asher Tucker. Sister-in-law Mary Lou Richards of Spokane, WA, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Patrick, Sr. and wife (Peggy) Ernest of Dalton, sister-in-law Eleanor Ernest of Dalton and numerous nieces and nephews.

Lyla was preceded in death by her parents, husband Raymond, sister Barbara, infant son Jeffrey Leo Ernest and granddaughter Ashley Marie Goeman.