Arlene Mae Ralston

Former Hastings resident, Arlene Mae Ralston, 97, passed away Tuesday, December 14, 2010, at the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island, Nebraska. Rosary will be Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 7 pm at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with Father Joseph Walsh officiating. Mass of Christian burial will be Friday, December 17, 2010 at 10 a.m. at the St. Cecilias Catholic Church, Hastings, NE with Father Joseph Walsh officiating. Burial will be in the Kearney City Cemetery, Kearney, NE. Visitation will be Thursday at 9am to 9 pm at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home, Hastings, NE. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. Arlene was born November 25, 1913 on a farm near Harvard, Nebraska to August F. and Mable Steadt Ruebsamen. She attended grade school at District 74 in Clay County and graduated from Harvard High School in 1931. She married Frederick Allison in 1933. She joined the Harry Hugo Players and performed as an actress in theater and radio in many states and cities for a total of 15 years under agencies in Chicago and Kansas City. Mr. Allison died in France in 1944 during World War II. Arlene married Joseph A. Ralston of Kearney in 1946. The Ralstons worked as newspaper distributors for the Omaha World Herald in Grand Island and the Miami Herald in Florida. In 1963 they purchased and operated the A&W Drive In restaurant in Columbus and in 1973 purchased the A&W restaurant in Hastings and moved there. In 2009 Arlene and Joe moved to the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island. Arlene was a member of St. Cecilias Catholic Church of Hastings and was an avid reader and card player. In retirement Arlene and Joe traveled to Texas during the winter. Over the years, Arlene had a strong interest in her young employees and children in general. Arlene was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Raymond and Frederick Ruebsamen, and sisters Gladys Helser and Frances Dieringer. She is survived by her husband Joe, of Grand Island, sister Lela Cosgrove of Omaha and numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Memorials may be given to the Shiners Hospital for Crippled Children.