Ramona Shetler Obituary (1950 - 2026)

Ramona Claudette Shetler (née Jensen) passed away, with family present, at Mary Lanning Hospital on April 3 at age 76. A private service with family is planned for a later date. Ramona was born 218 years after George Washington on February 22, 1950, to William and Claudina Jensen in Cozad, Nebraska. She joined two sisters from her mother’s first marriage and welcomed a brother six and a half years later. Following her parents’ divorce in 1959, Ramona traveled west with her mother and brother to North Platte, Scottsbluff, and Gering, before settling in Minatare in 1969. Like millions of others, she was enthralled by The Beatles on February 9, 1964, when they made their first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. She remained a lifelong devotee of the group and was especially smitten by Paul. Ramona took piano lessons, but had the gift of picking out chords and melodies from popular songs, often singing along enthusiastically. She also strummed a few guitar chords and played the accordion. Ramona graduated from Scottsbluff High School in 1968, where she participated in choral activities and excelled in art classes. She probably could have been successful as an artist, but she took her first job at the bakery in Terrytown, Nebraska. After moving to Minatare with her family, she began working at Harry’s Chef Café as a short-order cook. It was a job she held for over fifteen years, mostly working the graveyard shift from 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM. During that time, she met actor Robert Vaughan (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.), Randy Meisner, The Eagles' original bassist, and several itinerant musicians making their way along Highway 26. She proudly purchased her first car, a new 1970 emerald-green Austin-America with front-wheel drive. That car’s many mechanical issues gave way to a new 1972 Ford Maverick, blue (her favorite color) with a white vinyl top and “three-on-the-tree.” With friends, she made several road trips in that car to Wyoming and South Dakota. Ramona married Ron Shetler; they had two daughters. The couple later divorced. Ramona raised the girls in Minatare as a single parent with assistance from her mother for several years. In return, she and the girls were Claudina’s caregivers as she succumbed to breast cancer. In 2011, Ramona moved to Hastings with some of her family. She underwent breast cancer treatment in the summer of 2022 and completed chemotherapy after moving into Kensington Senior Living in August of that year. She was pronounced cancer-free at her last checkup a few months ago. At the Kensington, Ramona made several friends, admired the staff, enjoyed the building’s architecture, and was drawn to television shows based on historical events. Ramona loved her family deeply. She left behind several handwritten notes of wisdom to pass along to her children, and a few pieces of original artwork created at the Kensington. Ramona was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Corrinne Pedersen of Lincoln and Janet Heinzle of North Platte, and an infant niece. She is survived by her brother, Byron Jensen (Deb) of Hastings, her two daughters, Amanda of Albuquerque, NM, and Abigail of Grand Island, NE; three grandsons, Anthony, Jimmy (Haley), and Ryan; one great-grandson and great-granddaughter, as well as several nieces, nephews, and grandnieces/grandnephews. The family expresses their appreciation to the staff and residents at Kensington Senior Living, medical personnel at Mary Lanning Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospice, and Caring Voices Hospice Choir. On the day she died, Ramona’s horoscope read: PISCES (Feb. 20 - March 20) -- Kick loose, socialize and have fun. Love is in the stars and can impact how or where you live. A positive change is heading your way. Don't skip a beat; prepare to launch.