DeAnna Sue Schutte, a mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Ravenna, at the age of 84.
DeAnna was born Oct. 20, 1940, in Palisade, to parents Harley L. and Dessa F. (Richter) Phares. She was Baptized at the Palisade Untied Methodist Church on March 30, 1941. She grew up on the farm east of Palisade, working many days right alongside Harley, until she graduated from Palisade High School with the class of 1958.
She married Bernes “Bernie” J. Schutte on Sept. 21, 1958, in Palisade. Together they raised Michael and Michelle, and in their younger years, they spent many weekends boating and camping or traveling and exploring surrounding states. She also loved playing softball on the Palisade adult women’s softball team, and league bowling in McCook with Bernie.
Bernie and DeAnna spent 44 years together until Bernie’s passing in 2002.
Starting at 18 years old, DeAnna worked at the courthouse in Trenton for 13 years, as an assistant county clerk. Following that, she worked with an attorney for two years before her career of about 26 years at Southwest Public Power District from October of 1973 to her retirement in December of 1999, where she was looking forward to enjoying lots of travels with Bernie.
Throughout her life, DeAnna gave back to her community through acts of service. She was active in the Eastern Star, Hayes Center and Hitchcock County Historical Society, Hayes Center Golf Course and the Palisade United Methodist Church. DeAnna was an avid reader, was part of a book club, and enjoyed reading to and mentoring students. In her free time, she enjoyed gardening, playing the piano, knitting, sewing, needle work, and researching genealogy.
After Bernie’s line of duty death, she was very active in the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and traveled many times to the annual NFFF memorial events and was on the Nebraska Line of Duty Death team working toward fallen firefighter family’s rights and benefits.
In her post-retirement years, DeAnna was devoted to and loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and attending their various activities and sporting events and holding the precious babies.
DeAnna is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bernie Schutte; infant daughter, JoLee Ann; brothers-in-law, Gary Malone, Jerry Smith, and Norman (Charlotte) Schutte; and sisters-in-law, Yvonne (Larry) Ault and Linda Schutte,
Those left to remember DeAnna are her children, Michael (Leota) Schutte of Seward, and Michelle (Jess) Duncan of Ravenna; sisters, Judy Malone of Scobey, Montana, and Jenene Smith of Florence, Arizona; brother-in-law, Sam Schutte of Malcolm; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; her special friend, Jim Curtis of Palisade; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members and many dear friends.
There will be a public visitation with family greeting friends Thursday, Aug. 14, from 5 – 7 p.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home in McCook. The funeral service will be Friday, Aug. 15, at 10 a.m. at Palisade United Methodist Church in Palisade. Burial will follow at the Palisade Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Palisade Fire and Rescue, PO Box 288, Palisade, NE 69040.
Arrangements by Carpenter Breland Funeral Home, McCook.
