Nila Been

Nila A. (Kitchen) Been (91) passed away Sunday, September 2, 2018 at Hillcrest Nursing Home in McCook, Nebraska.

Nila was born August 3, 1927, the daughter of Oscar and Maona (Blaisdell) Kitchen in Pierre, South Dakota. She moved with her family in 1929 to Sherman County, spending a year in Colorado Springs while her father worked on the Broadmoor Hotel. She attended schools in Ruleton and Kanorado, graduating from SCHS in 1945. She attended Fort Hays State College and received a teaching certificate, which she used for 1 year, teaching in a one room school house in Sherman County.

Nila married Mac S. Been on August 22, 1946.  They had a garden wedding at her parent’s home. For the first few years they had a dairy farm. Nila worked many jobs, Duckwalls, Cook at the Nue Hotel, Assistant Manager of ALCO, Bookkeeper at ALCO, and at one time was a Bus Driver for the USD #352. In 1970, Mac and Nila bought a farm east of Goodland and raised Milking cows and pigs. But her favorite job was being wife, mother and grandmother.

In later years, Nila with good friend Virginia Chatfield spent many long hours in front of a quilting frame, hand quilting for many others. After Virginia passed away, Nila spent many hours by herself quilting. She was able to teach 4 of her grandchildren the love of quilting.

Nila enjoyed her 6 grandchildren, teaching each one how to cook, sew, crochet and craft project. She enjoyed watching them at their sporting events and showing 4-H projects. She always had time for them. Many hours were spent playing gin rummy and Phase 10 with them. Reading was a lifetime passion of Nila’s.

Nila was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Lincoln Larks EHU, and widow of an Elks member.

Nila was preceded in death by her Mother (1968), Father (1981), brothers Lawrence (1935), Joy (1983) and Orvine (2010), husband, Mac (2000) and Son, Neal (1977).

Survivors include Son, Kent Been, wife Peggy, Indianola, Nebraska, their daughters; Amy Bennett, husband Brian, Tucson, Arizona and Allison Domon, husband Malcolm, Children, Felicity, Malcolm Jr. and Adelaide, Omaha, Nebraska. Daughter, Laura McClung, husband Gary, Goodland, Kansas, their children: Ana Musial, husband Mark, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Jonathan McClung, Jonah McClung and Ashtin McClung, all of Goodland.