Rosemary Dageforde

Rosemary Harriet (Hulse) Dageforde, 79, died June 15, at Parkview Haven Nursing Home in Deshlers.

She was born Sept. 26, 1941, in Geneva, Neb. to Harry and Therese (Wilhelms) Hulse. Rosemary’s family lived in Geneva until she was five. Her father was a deputy sheriff and later sheriff of Fillmore County. She often told stories of living in the sheriff’s quarters attached to the jail where she would carry food with her mother to the prisoners and occasionally play cards with them.

After her father died in 1946, her mother taught in the grade schools of Ohiowa and Bruning. Rosemary told stories of summers living without electricity with Uncle Carl and Aunt Frieda Detmer while her mother was a housemother at the Geneva Girls Training School. During her senior year at Bruning High School, Rosemary’s volleyball team won a state championship, defeating a team with a 57-game winning streak.

After graduation in 1959, Rosemary attended Norfolk Junior College

where she completed her secretarial endorsement.

Rosemary married Darrel Dageforde June 4, 1961, settling on a farm south of Hebron. Four children blessed this marriage: Deborah, Darren, Rochelle, and Richard (Rick). The couple farmed with Darrel’s parents, and later partnered with Dick and Alice Percival creating D & D Farms and opening Thayer County Feed Store.

Rosemary enjoyed teaching, promotion and entrepreneurship. She started her insurance career in 1962 alongside Darrel in his Farm Bureau office. In 1984, they purchased a local independent insurance business to start Dageforde Agency in Hebron, securing her insurance and real estate licenses. The business further expanded with auction services and the purchase of two additional insurance agencies.

In October 1989, Rosemary opened a second main street business, “The Hebron Clothesline,” where she sold women’s and children’s clothing.

Rosemary was a founding officer of Thayer County Economic Development Alliance in 2002, serving as the president for the next 12 years.

Many organizations benefited by Rosemary’s spirit of volunteerism. A

strong advocate for 4-H, she served as a club organizational leader. She helped her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren learn to cook, sew, show livestock, fill out the dreaded record books and most importantly, give back by volunteering and leading in the community. She was the recipient of the 2012 Thayer County 4-H Meritorious Service Award from the 4-H Council. She served in various leadership or membership capacities in the Hebron

Lions Club, Centennial Extension Club, Thayer County Livestock Feeder’s Association, Grace Lutheran Church, Women’s Achievement Club,

Thayer County 4-H Council, Hebron Chamber of Commerce, and Nebraska

Dairy Board.

Preceding Rosemary in death was her husband, Darrel Dageforde; parents, Therese and Harry Hulse; and brothers, Ronald Hulse and Robert Hulse.

She is survived by her daughter, Deborah Craig; son, Rick, of Hebron; son, Darren of Blair; daughter, Rochelle Heussmann of Claremore, Okla.; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.