Catherine Borgens

Catherine E. Borgens, 94, of Sidney, Nebraska passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at the Sidney Regional Medical Center Extended Care in Sidney.

Catherine Ochsner Borgens was born in Hamilton County, Neb., on Nov. 5, 1922 to Elmer Ochsner and Elsie (Salmon) Ochsner. 

Catherine went to a country school for eight years, then to Perkins County High School for four years, graduating in May of 1941. She then taught at a country school for the next three years. 

After her teaching certificate ran out, rather than renewing it by going to summer school in college, she decided to become a nurse. She joined the U.S. Nurse Cadet Corps and received her training at St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Denver. She graduated in June, 1947.

Catherine worked at the old Ogallala hospital for a year-and-a-half, and then worked at the Ogallala Medical Clinic for the next seven years. 

In 1957, she heard that there was a new hospital at Sidney which was built in 1955. She tired of doing office nursing and wanted to get back to hospital work, so she applied for a job and worked on the south wing at Memorial for several months until there was an opening in the operating room. 

She was a scrub nurse and recovery room nurse, and became the surgery supervisor in 1963 and held this position until she had a serious automobile accident in 1983 and had to retire from nursing. 

All in all, she spent 40 years taking care of people, and almost 3/4 of this time she was on surgery emergency call 24 hours a day. 

Because Catherine spent so much time home listening for the telephone to ring, she used that time painting pictures (she won several awards and sold numerous paintings) also she enjoyed playing the piano and organ. She especially liked to do portraits in pastel and acrylic. She belonged to the Cheyenne County Art Guild and was a charter member. 

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church for 78 years.

Catherine, or Kay, as everyone called her, enjoyed her retirement getting acquainted with other than sick people. She enjoyed walking and literally “goofing off” as she never had leisure time while working. She caught up on her reading and painting when the mood struck her.

Catherine is survived by her daughter Cheri and Les Glanz of Sidney; five grandchildren: Cory Glanz of Sidney, Carrie Glanz of Laramie, Wyo., April and Andrew Huaracha of St. Mary’s, Kan., Trent Glanz of Sidney, and Travis and Carrie Glanz of Sidney; 10 great-grandchildren: Kayla Glanz, Jessica Glanz, Aubrey Huaracha, Alex Huaracha, Abram Huaracha, Izaak Glanz, Conner Glanz, Sierra Glanz, Cole Glanz and Austin Glanz. One sister in-law, Ruth Ochsner and many nieces and nephews whom she clearly cared about.

Preceding her in death were her parents Elmer and Elsie Ochsner, sister Linnie and Harold McDonald, sister Margaret Ochsner, brother Robert Ochsner and sister EllaMae and Bill DeLancey.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 10 at the Grant Fairview Cemetery in Grant. Burial will follow after the service. 

Friends may stop at the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel in Sidney to sign Catherine’s register and leave condolences for the family. Memorial contributions may be made in Catherine’s name to the First United Methodist Church in Sidney or the Cheyenne County Art Guild. Those wishing to view Catherine’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories may do so at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Catherine’s care and funeral arrangements.