Regene Anne Beggs was born Jan. 9, 1925, on a farm near Utica, to Joseph and Eva (Rohren) Vrbka, the third of five children, and passed away Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at the Gardens Assisted Living Center at Tabitha in Crete at the age of 96.
As a young girl, Regene attended Kincaid Country School until the seventh grade when she transferred to Utica Public School and graduated with the class of 1942. After her high school education, she returned to the homeplace to help her dad farm after her brother’s enlistment to serve in World War II. In February 1947, Regene was united in marriage to Clifford Kinnett and to this union, six children were born, Patricia, Stephen, Michael, Stuart, John and Mark.
Together they lived west of Goehner where she was a stay-at-home mom. She and her family later moved to Seward where she eventually worked at several nursing homes and at Memorial Hospital as a nurse's aide. She also worked at Dale’s Steak House in Seward. In 1983, Regene was blessed with a second marriage to Lyle Beggs and together they lived in Dorchester where she was employed at the Dorchester Café and at Joe’s Place. She also cleaned banks after hours. She enjoyed gardening and weekend drives with her husband, Lyle, or simply staying at home sitting on the porch. Regene was an avid Nebraska sports fan and was a member of the St Joseph Catholic Church of Friend.
Survivors include her children and spouses, Patricia Ihde, Seward, Stuart and Cynthia Kinnett, Beaver Crossing, John and Jackie Kinnett, Wayne, Mark and Kathy Kinnett, Ulysses; 14 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Joan Kinnett, Lincoln; sister-in-law, Jean Kinnamon, Seward; several nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Clifford in 1990 and Lyle in 2011; sons, Steve in 2012 and Mike in 2016; stepson, Gary Beggs; several infant grandchildren; a sister, Frances Leinberger; brothers, Joseph, Linus and Raymond Vrbka; and sister-in-law, Mona Perkins.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 1, at St Joseph Catholic Church, Friend. A rosary will be held at the church prior to the mass at 10 a.m. and food and fellowship will be provided after the mass in the parish hall. Interment will be held at a later date at Dorchester Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the family for future designation. Condolences may be left for the family at www.lauberfh.com.
