Nila Elizabeth Marteney

Nila Elizabeth (Heuppelheuser) Marteney, 99, of Seneca, Kansas died on Sunday, March 27, 2022 at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital.  She was born on August 22, 1922 the daughter of Herman Heuppelsheuser and Elsie (Meyer) Heuppelsheuser at Seneca, Kansas.  Nila grew up in the country around the Seneca area and graduated from the Seneca schools.  After graduation, she worked for three years in the office at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California.  Upon returning home from California, she married Fred Marteney on March 10, 1945 and they were blessed with three girls.  They farmed around and near Bern, Kansas.

Nila was a member of the Friedens United Church of Christ Church, north of Seneca.  She loved gardening and growing flowers.  Nila could stick a stem in water and it would root and grow.  Also, she loved dancing and playing all types of card games, and she belonged to several card clubs.  She worked at several places in Bern which included Perkin’s General Store, Bern Meat Plant, and BEI Extrusion.  After retiring from BEI, she babysat for children who were mostly children of local school teachers.  She really enjoyed visiting with her family and friends, putting jigsaw puzzles together, and playing games with her daughters.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Fred, who died at the age of 53, on November 14, 1975; her brother, Norman Heuppelheuser; her three sisters, Delores Hartung, Lula Wetzel, and her twin sister, Nola Rinne; and her son-in-law, Harlan Frey, Jr. 

She is survived by her children, Linda Frey of Du Bois, Nebraska, Jan Marteney, and Donna Eisenbarth both of Seneca, Kansas; four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A private family graveside service will be held at a later date and time.  Popkess Memorial Chapel in Seneca, Kansas is in charge of arrangements.