A servant's heart.  In Galatians 5:13, Paul calls us to “serve one another with love”.  Mom truly took that call to heart. She had a servant's heart, serving as a foster parent, Girl Scout leader, guardian, in many positions throughout the church, taking meals to anyone in need and hosting exchange students.  Saying “yes” to whatever you are asked to volunteer to is called “Becky syndrome” in our house; a truer phrase is “servant’s heart”. I would guess that most of us are here today because we have been on the receiving end of her servant heart.  She babysat, made meals, cleaned homes and church, cared for neighbors, taught Sunday School, baked desserts, led the youth group, mended wounds, went on field trips, hosted sleepovers and class parties… I could go on for hours. In short, she was full of joy and always eager to help others, no matter what the call was.  

More than simply serving though, she formed relationships.  She loved to have a conversation and she really listened. She listened to your pain, listened to your joy, and prayed for you deeply.  There weren’t strangers in mom’s life; there were people soon be friends. When the family got together, there were sure to be extras - family friends who weren’t related by blood, but quickly became a part of the family.  

As we have shared memories this week, three things come to the forefront - her constant service to others, her efforts to feed the world, and her love of her family.  Each of these things come back to her desire to serve one another with love. Most of us here today have been fed by mom, whether it was a meal at church, desserts at the VFW, a delivered meal when a baby was born or illness or death was announced, or a bountiful meal for her extended family.  You could drop in at the house at any time, knowing both your belly and your soul would be refueled. I haven’t baked a cookie in 10 years, as mom continued to fill my freezer with ice cream buckets full of cookies! Her motto was, “no one leaves here until the food is gone”, which also meant that everyone went home with leftovers.  Grandkids have left her house having gained more weight than medically possible.

Before mom’s surgeries, she filled the freezer with food - so that dad wouldn’t starve.  Following her surgeries, she was overwhelmed by the visits and the meals that came their way and felt bad that people were working so hard.  I reminded her how much she had done for others and that it was their joy to repay her kindness. Of course, she said, “I didn’t do that much”.  The outpouring of love, prayers and kindness we have received are a true testament to how far her kindness reached.

Her family was her pride and joy, regardless of how much or little we deserved her love.  She loved her husband dearly, loved her four children, Stacie, Reba, Joshua and Blayne, was thankful for her son and daughter-in-laws, treasured her siblings, doted on her nieces and nephews, and adored her 12 grandchildren.  She was a vibrant soul, who literally lit up when the conversation turned to her family. She attended grandkids field trips, traveled to nieces and nephews’ school events, spend hours on the phone with her siblings, and was thrilled to provide for my dad.  In each of our communities, Becky is well known. She never hesitated to babysit for a week, attending their events, participating in our churches. She was indeed a fixture.

She was truly the the virtuous woman discussed in Proverbs 31: 25 - 28.

Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Mom spent most of her life in the Snyder and North Bend areas, and loved being a Websterite.   She had five younger siblings, Roger, Fred, Jim, Treva and Steward, who she loved dearly. Her sister-in-laws and brother-in-law were loved as siblings.  The stories she would tell of their childhood exploits were full of adventure and joy. She grew up closely connected to her grandparents, Lorena and Clarence Spath and her great aunt and uncle, Ora and Ed.   She was proud to be a Spath and loved hosting the entire Spath and Renner families for many a holiday.

Mom attended Webster school through 8th grade and graduated from Snyder High School.  She graduated from Mid Plains Community College, gaining her nursing degree. She loved her time working with residents and was known to spend extra time, painting fingernails or giving hand rubs - anything to make the residents feel better.  She formed a relationship with each of the residents and coworkers, taking the time to really listen.

Mom treasured her friendships, which were plentiful.  Her time spent with the wonderful ladies at Church was priceless to her and she was thrilled to be able to get back in touch with high school friends and those from her early married days.  She was always up for an adventure with her friends! She loved the conversations that happened, as she dropped off food or sat with a resident.

She loved her home near Webster, spending time on the back deck surrounded by Dad’s lovingly planted flowers, particularly the beloved mums.  Her love of the farm, passed on from her father, showed as she attended every County Fair, bringing food and encouraging her grandkids.

Mom’s faith in Jesus Christ as her savior was strong.  She was not afraid to die - she knew that she was going home.

My lasting memories of Mom are simple: a hard-working, passionate figure of strength who never waned in her support or love of her family, and who soldiered on, even when times were tough.

While her death leaves a huge hole in our hearts, we are excited that you are basking in our Lord’s light, reunited with Roger, her parents and little Jayde.  The potlucks in Heaven are going to be amazing. Thank you, Mom, for everything you’ve given us. You’ve taught us all the value in a servant’s heart, how to fill a belly and a soul, and what true and unwavering love looks like.  While it wasn’t enough time, I am truly blessed to have had you for 41 years.

I had a God moment during the time when my Grandma Renner was in the hospital. Last year, October 7, 2017, my Grandma Renner was taken to the hospital in Fremont. During this time, it was difficult to see anything but darkness as we were scared for her.  We went to see her that day and then my sister and I came back to York to stay with my other grandparents. Monday morning we were taken back to Fremont because my grandma’s conditions were getting worse. More family came to the hospital. On Tuesday, my grandma was moved to UNMC in Omaha. On Thursday morning she passed away. Over the weekend we stayed at my Grandpa Renner’s house. The funeral was held on Monday.

For the first couple of days I was so sad and worried. I kept hoping and praying that she would be okay. But then my cousins from Cambridge, Nebraska, came to the hospital in Omaha. We comforted each other and we played games with each other while we waited. We took a walk around the huge hospital. Two of the nights we stayed at their other grandparents’ house to relax our minds. We talked to and visited Grandma Renner in her hospital room together. We kept each other company.

All the while the pastor from my grandpa and grandma Renner’s church was there to comfort us as well. I felt God’s peace, especially when the pastor prayed with us all. We were able to see the light through the darkness.

When my Grandma passed away, my whole family retired to their house. My cousins from Minnesota and Cambridge and I talked to each other about what had happened and how we were going to deal with it. They really just comforted me. At the funeral all of us cousins got to sit in the front row with my grandpa. I realized that God gave me such a strong relationship with my cousins, so that we could comfort each other during the hard times, build each other up in our faiths, and have a good time with each other. I thank God because he works in such mysterious but great ways and always shines his light, even when it seems like the darkest of times to us.  

Confirmation Verse: For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)