Mary Lou Lamoreaux, 90

Mary Lou Lamoureaux was born May 20, 1935 near Chadron, NE to Harry and Elizabeth Combs. She attended grades one through nine in Chadron, then began grade ten in Valentine, graduating from Valentine High School in 1952.

She obtained a teaching degree from Chadron State College and taught grades one through eight at Hidden Valley country school.

Mary Lou married Robert Lamoureaux on June 1, 1954 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Valentine. To this union, three children were born: a daughter, Ellen on June 19, 1956; and two sons, David on June 24, 1959, and John on September 25, 1969.

Mary Lou enjoyed raising her children on the ranch, teaching them to know Jesus Christ, while planting large flower beds, vegetable gardens and fruit trees. She canned vegetables, fed bucket calves, ran the cream separator and helped her husband with numerous ranch chores.

Her husband, Bob, passed away on November 6, 1984, and her son David died on November 30, 1990. After Bob’s passing, Mary Lou eventually left the ranch and worked as a live-in caretaker for local elderly folks. She later took nursing classes and worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Pine View Good Samaritan Center in Valentine, NE.

On September 4, 1994, Mary Lou was the only survivor of a serious car accident when a speeding car hit her vehicle from behind, sending it across the highway into a ditch. Her son, John, was killed in the accident. She was seriously injured and spent a year hospitalized and recovering at home, eventually becoming permanently disabled.

She spent most of her senior years in local nursing homes and passed away at age 90 on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at Sandhills Care Center, Ainsworth, NE.

She was preceded in death by her husband and both sons; by a granddaughter, Kristin Lamoureaux, Fargo, ND; one sister, Edith Pfister, Whitney, NE; and by several brothers.

She is survived by daughter Ellen Moore of Valentine; a grandson, Jessie Lamoureaux; granddaughter, Bethany Lamoureaux, both of Fairmont, MN; by 11 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Rosary and visitation were held Wednesday, March 4, 2026 and funeral services were held Thursday, March 5, 2026, both at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Valentine, NE. Burial was at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Valentine.

Holmes Funeral Home of Valentine was entrusted with the arrangements.