Venetta F. (Colle) Arganbright, 100

Venetta F. (Colle) Arganbright passed away at the age of 100 December 23, 2024 at home in Valentine. She was born January 20, 1924 on the family farm near Sterling, KS, to Tony and Mable Colle. She was the fourth child in a family of four boys and three girls. She attended a little country school through the eighth grade and some days would share riding the horse to school with her siblings. She attended Lyons High School in Lyons, KS, and graduated in 1942.

After graduation Venetta enrolled in secretarial school in Wichita, KS, and worked for Boeing Aircraft Company in Wichita as well. It was on their bus ride to Boeing that she met her husband, Jesse. They were married after he returned from his time serving as United States Marine in the Pacific during World War II. She then worked for the Dean of the College of Agriculture at Kansas State University while Jesse attended college where he obtained his degree in mechanical engineering.

Venetta, Jesse, and their three children moved to Valentine in the summer of 1962, with the J. I. Case Company. A year later, Jesse became the State Farm Agent in Valentine and Venetta worked alongside him in his office for seven years. She then became a licensed Real Estate Broker in 1971, and was the first female Real Estate Broker in Valentine.

When her children were young, Venetta helped with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts as well as Job’s Daughters and Band Parents. She was a very active member of the Valentine Presbyterian Church, a 50+year member of P.E.O. and a member of Eastern Star. She was also instrumental in preserving the Valentine High School Annex building which is now known as Centennial Hall. Venetta and Jesse played couples bridge for years, and she continued to play bridge after he passed. Venetta is survived by her son Warren Arganbright and wife Sue of Valentine; grandsons Kyle and wife Amy, of Valentine, and Kurt and wife Danielle, of Valentine; and her four great-grandchildren: Kase, Claire, Kade and Juliette, all of Valentine; her daughter Lynette A. Arganbright- Quapp and husband John E. Quapp both of Valentine and Meridian, ID; and step-grandchildren: Austin, Daniel, Amellia and Hannah Quapp. She is also survived by her youngest brother, Loren Colle of Kansas and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Jesse, son Bryan, her parents Tony and Mable Colle, little brother Keith; sister Betty Carol and husband Leonard; sister Joyce and husband Roger; brother Wayne and wife Eula; brother Gene and wife Maureen; and sister-inlaw Renee.

A memorial service for Venetta will be held Monday, January 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at the Valentine Presbyterian Church.

Memorials may be made to the Valentine Presbyterian Church, Valentine, NE; Centennial Hall, Valentine, NE; or the organization of your choice.