JOSEPH AND ARVILLA [MAY] VITERNA, JR.
Joseph Viterna, Jr., was born living, at Verdigre, Nebraska.
Joseph grew up on the Viterna homestead (his grandfather, Jan
Viterna, was the first to farm it) and loved the farm, animals, and
outdoors. He attended School District 27 to the eighth grade.
Arvilla May, daughter of Carl and Barbara Bren May, was born
living, at Verdel, Nebraska. She attended school to the eighth
grade at District 109, which was located two miles from her home.
Arvilla went to high school at Lynch her first year, Verdel her
second year, and Lynch the last two years, graduating on May 17,
1936. Since Arvilla was the youngest, she helped her dad with the
farm work and was considered his “hired man.” One summer she worked
for a truck gardening farm in Iowa and did housework for the Pat
Osbornes in Holt County, Nebraska.
[pg 561 photo Arvilla [May] Viterna]
Joseph and Arvilla were married on June 14, 1939, at Pierce,
Nebraska, in a double wedding with Joe’s sister, Mary. To this union
were born three children: Larry Lee, bornliving, married
Marlene Parli on May 27, 1967; Lynette Jean, born living,
married James Mlady May 24, 1969; and Terry Joe, born living, married Sherrie Cihlar on September 20, 1975. They divorced
and he married Tamara Randall August 11, 1979. Tammy was killed in a
car accident on November 5, 1980, and Terry later married Connie
Schafer on February 25, 1981.
Joseph and Arvilla also have eight grandchildren. Larry and Marty’s
children are Joel, Jocelyn, and Jamelyn who passed away with cancer
in 1983; James and Lynette’s children are Brian, Brad, and Sharla.
Terry and Connie’s children are twins Brandon and Crystal.
[pg 451 photo Joseph Viterna, Jr.]
After Joe and Arvilla were married, they lived with his parents
until 1941 when they moved near Verdel. Then in 1943 they returned
to the Viterna homestead to live until 1947 when they moved to the
farm where the James Mladys now live in Section 33 of Bohemia
Township.
Joseph was a kind man and proud and loving husband and father. He
served as a school board member and officer, member of the board of
Verdigre’s Farmers’ Co-op Association, and member of the Knox County
School re-organizational Board. People in several states knew him
through his horses, donkeys, and mules. He was always the favorite
of the children, giving pony rides at Verdigre’s Kolach Days
celebrations until his death. He was taken to the hospital in June
of 1969 with a severe ulcer condition. Even during his illness, he
worried about getting his horses and mules to Verdigre’s Kolach
celebration. In spite of the loving care he received, he didn’t make
it. Shortly after arriving at Antelope Memorial Hospital in Neligh,
he passed away June 26, 1969. His body was laid to rest at the Jelen
Cemetery where a number of Viterna ancestors are buried.
Arvilla was a dedicated farm wife and is a loving mother and
grandmother. She and a neighbor lady, Libbye Farnik, started the
Helping Hand Club and Arvilla was a member until 1972, when she and
her youngest son, Terry, moved to Verdigre. She worked at Alpine
Village for 2 ˝ years, and then in August of 1974, she took a job as
dorm mother at UNSTA College, Curtis, Nebraska. Arvilla retired in
the fall of 1984 and returned to Verdigre to live.
Arvilla is a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist
Women, Friendly Dieters’ Club, and the 1980 Club. Her hobbies
include decorating cakes, cooking and canning, tole painting, and
crafts.
-Submitted by Brian Mlady
Pages 451, 452
