Linnea M. Dillon

Linnea Maxine (Smith) Dillon passed away on Sunday morning, January 18, 2015 at the Golden Living Center in Cozad at the age of 92. Linnea was born in Cozad, Nebraska to Herbert and Anna (Swan) Smith on April 3, 1922. She grew up on a farm in Custer County where she attended country school in a one-room school house. She went to Cozad High School and graduated in May 1940. Linnea attended Nebraska State Teachers College in Kearney for one year and then moved to Omaha where she attended cosmetology school. Linnea’s employment included working at the Martin-Nebraska Bomber Plant (Army/Air Force Base) in Omaha during WWII. Thereafter, she moved to Valentine and worked as a beautician for one year. Then, she moved back to Cozad where she owned and operated the Klip & Kurl Beauty Shop for 25 years. In following years, she managed the Cozad Motel for 18 years, was a phone receptionist for Berryman Funeral Home, and was a caregiver to her mother, father, and her sister, Enid (Smith) Griffith, while also working at the motel in the 1970s. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church since 1950. Linnea enjoyed cooking and baking, and sharing with her family, friends and neighbors. Linnea married Charles Dillon on November 3, 1990. Linnea is survived by step-daughter, Edie Schmidt of Akron, Iowa and step-grandson, Thomas (Angie) Worth of Wellfleet. Surviving nieces include LeAnn Richards of Lincoln, Marlene (Junior) Watermeier of Burr, and Gayleen (Gary) Clayton of Long Beach, California and Karen (Kermit) Smith of Edina, Minnesota. Surviving nephews include Keith (Darlene) Smith of Cozad, Kerschiel (Kathy) Smith of McKinney, Texas, and Garland Griffith of Austin, Texas. Linnea is also survived by many great and great-great nieces and nephews, and friends. Linnea was preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Anna Smith, sisters, Enid Griffith and Ardeth Richards, brother, Kenneth Smith, and nephew Kermit Smith. Memorials are suggested to the Grand Generation Center in Cozad. Services will be held Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at the Berryman Funeral Home Chapel with Ethel Fox officiating. Burial will be at the Cozad Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 1-8 at Berryman Funeral Home. Online condolences may be shared at berrymanfuneralhome.com. Berryman Funeral Home in Cozad is in charge of arrangements.