Imogene "Ikie" Thies

A private burial will be held at a later date for 87-year old Imogene Alice “Ikie” Thies at the Hay Springs Cemetery in Hay Springs, NE.

Imogene was born on Sept 18, 1934, at the farm home of her parents, Anton and Lillian (Novotny) Vybiral northwest of Hay Springs. She passed away on March 25, 2022.

Imogene attended rural School District #57, but moved into Hay Springs with her mother and sisters after her father passed away on Dec 28, 1944. She attended Hay Springs High School and graduated in 1951 at the age of 16.

Imogene worked for the Gaswicks at the local Gamble’s Store for 2 years, then attended Chadron State College in 1953. She received a Rural Teach Certificate and taught at District $57, the same school she attended as a girl.

She met Alan Thies, the love of her life, when he was home on leave from the Navy in 1951. They married 2 years later during Christmas vacation from school. The couple were the proud parents of 5 children: Jeffery, Douglas, Julie, Anthony, and Jay.

Imogene and Allan lived in Dawes County in Antelope Valley, farming and ranching until moving to Hay Springs in 1967. Imogene went to work for Sipps D&G Oil for 2 years, then joined Area 1 of the Office of Human Development in Social Services.

She later moved over to the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, retiring after 19 years.

Imogene was preceded in death by her husband Allan; her parents; son-in-law Greg Butler; sisters Ellen Hasting, Della Chappel, and Dorothy Wesnitzer; and her granddaughter Mandi Thies.

She is survived by her children: Jeffery (Teresa) of rural Hay Springs; Douglas (Sandy), Palisade, CO; Julie Butler, Chadron; Anthony (Nyla), Cozad, NE; and Jay (Mary), rural Hay Springs; 6 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 6 nieces and nephews.