Merle G. Palmer

Merle G. Palmer, age 94 of Coleridge, NE and formerly of Hartington, NE died on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at the Embers Assisted Living Center in Coleridge, NE. Funeral services will be on Thursday, October 22, 2020 at 1:00 pm at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hartington, NE with Pastor Amanda Talley officiating. Burial will be in the Hartington City Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday, at church, from 12:00 until service time. Face masks and social distancing are recommended for the service. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Hartington. Merle Glenn Palmer was born on April 19, 1926 in Worthington, MN to Glen and Mildred (Johnson) Palmer. Merle moved to Hartington in 1932 at the age of six. He attended Hartington Public School and graduated in 1944. After high school, Merle worked for Farmer’s Union for a year and a half. On December 1945, Merle married Betty Lou Johnson in Hartington, NE. After their marriage, they moved to Gayville, SD and ran the Hatchery there for four years. Merle and Betty Lou moved back to Hartington in 1947 and took over Merle’s father’s Hatchery, which they managed until 1967. In 1973, Merle purchased the laundromat in Hartington which he and Betty Lou operated until 1986. Merle is survived by two children, Ann M. Pedersen of Sioux City, IA; Richard (Leslie) Palmer of Blair, NE; brother, Marlin (Marlene) Palmer of Tacoma, WA; sister, Shirlene Scott of Yankton, SD; four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Betty Lou on January 23, 2013 at the age of 86.