Alfreda Mcbride

Alfreda "Fritz" McBride, 83, died Tuesday, December 8, 2020.

She was born March 15, 1937, to Alfred and Opal (Jenkins) Sauer at Big Springs. Her father was a section foreman for the Union Pacific Railroad, consequently, Alfreda grew up living short distances from the railroad tracks with the sound of trains passing by at all hours of the day and night.

She attended Keith County and Ogallala Public schools, remaining friends and enjoying regular gatherings with many surviving classmates.

She married her husband, Robert, on June 6, 1958. The couple moved to Sterling, Colorado, where their three children were born. By 1965, Ogallala once again became home, and this is where they stayed.

Alfreda "Fritz" was a longtime employee of Goodall's and TRW/ASC. After retiring from TRW, she was employed at Adams Bank & Trust for several years. This hard-working "retiree" continued working part-time at the Ogallala library, served as a host at the Interstate 80 rest stops east and west of Ogallala, where Fritz greeted travelers with "Howdy Folks," but that was about as western and cowgirl she would get. She always had some delightful stories to tell of people she had conversations with at the rest stops and always made a point of thanking the veterans who served in the armed forces.

In 2020, she was still actively employed for seasonal part-time work with K-Lawn at Ogallala, scheduling appointments for lawn care service. She was a beloved friend, neighbor, and co-worker. She also was a lifelong member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Ogallala.

Fritz enjoyed Hallmark movies, reading, and cheering on the Huskers and her beloved Denver Broncos. Fritz cherished time with family, especially camping or day trips to Lake McConaughy, family reunions, and family picnics in the park. She devoted many hours in the kitchen preparing food. She wasn't a fancy cook, but she was a good cook.

The joy of her life was to be a mother to her children, Theresa, Cindy, and Duane. The family shared so many fond memories of camping and summer vacations. She was a woman that brought so much joy and laughter to others. As a wife and mother, she worked hard to help provide the necessities for the family. She made Christmas magical when her children were young, even on the family's meager income.

When their children grew and left home, Bob and Fritz took advantage of the empty nest, enjoying one another's company on a handful of road trips visiting relatives. They traveled well together. He preceded her in death in 1990. Her children blessed her life with seven grandchildren. She made every attempt possible to attend the special events, birthdays, and activities of each. Then, she followed the baptisms, baseball games, wrestling, swimming lessons, and art shows for the 15 who endearingly called her GG for "Great-Grandma." She was a woman who loved so deeply. When she hugged you, it was as if you were molded right into her heart and soul, and she didn't want to let go. She loved life. She didn't want to sit and watch life go by through her living room window. She wanted to live it. And that she did. She will be sorely missed.

Survivors include her daughters, Theresa (Steve) Hicks, of Denver, Colorado, and Cynthia (Jeff) Bishop, of Bellevue; a daughter-in-law, Pam McBride, of Ogallala; a sister, Norma Faye, of Cheyenne, Wyoming; John (Lee) Sauer, of Sutherland; a sister-in-law, Phyllis Sauer, of Ogallala; three brothers-in-law, Jim (Phyllis) McBride and Ron (Ginny) McBride, all of Sterling, and Jerry (Mary) McBride, of Fort Morgan, Colorado; sisters-in-law Marge (Robert) Brown, of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Kathy (Floyd) Bayer, of Gering; eight grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews and so many, dear friends.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Robert; and a son, Duane; her parents; brothers, William and Walter Sauer and step-grandson Mason Hicks.

Services will be on Monday, July 12, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ogallala with Pastor John Stubenrouch officiating. Inurnment will be in the Ogallala Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Keith-Arthur Counties Food Pantry, or CASA in her memory. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the service will be streamed live.

Prairie Hills Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.