Stella Louise Dodge age 72 of Lincoln, Nebraska passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2013 in Lincoln surrounded by her loved ones. She was born on February 16, 1941 in Fowler Colorado to Earl Albert and Cleo LaVerne (Erhart) Beckett. She was raised in Overland Park, Kansas. As an adult, Stella lived in New Jersey and Massachusetts before spending 4o years in the San Francisco Bay Area. She moved to Lincoln in 2010, which she loved, to be near her daughters.

Stella loved animals and worked at Adobe Animal Health in Los Altos, California until she retired in 2008. She continued to pet sit until 2012. She was often heard saying that it took her 52 years to find what she loved to do in life and was lucky enough to find it.

Stella is survived by her son; Steven Paul and Elaine Stolte of Huntington, West Virginia; daughters; Dena Raye and Bradshaw J Hupp; Kara Lee and Timothy Kennedy both of Lincoln Nebraska; 9 grandchildren (including Cassie Lynn Stolte, who she was instrumental in raising, also of Lincoln); 9 great grandchildren; sister Chrystal Gann of Independence Missouri; brother Harold Beckett of Joplin, Missouri; Daughter-in-law Isis and Andy Jonnson of San Jose California. Stella was preceded in death by her parents; husband John Nelson Dodge; son William Brent Stolte and a daughter in infancy Shana Marie.

Cremation, no visitation.

A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to the Capital Humane Society in Lincoln Nebraska, or the Humane Society in your home town.