A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Petersburg with Rev. Stan Schmit officiating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be 5:30- 7:30 p.m. Monday at the church, with a 7:30 p.m. wake service. Huffman-Levander Funeral Home of Elgin, NE is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.huffmanlevander.com.

Stella Marie Stokes was born May 23, 1923 to Ben and Mary (Hoefer) Luettel in Raeville, NE. She was baptized at St. Bonaventure Church in Raeville and attended school at Rural District 16, northeast of Petersburg and St. John the Baptist School in Petersburg.

She married Harold C. Stokes on September 30, 1947 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Petersburg. They farmed west of Petersburg their whole life.

Stella was a member of St. John the Baptist Altar Society and was a 4-H Leader for many years. She was a cook for St. Johns School and volunteered for many years at St. Johns school and at the Senior Center. She was also a cancer survivor. She loved watching her growing family, gardening, sewing and quilting.

Stella is survived by 3 children: Susan Brandenburg of Central City, NE; Charles Stokes of Lincoln, NE; Steven Stokes and wife Jeanne of Petersburg, NE; 9 grandchildren; 1 step- grandchild; 15 great-grandchildren; 4 step-great-grandchilden; 1 sister: Mary (Henry) Starman; 5 brothers: LaVern, Florian (Clarice), Flavian (Pat), Alvin, and Bernard Luettel; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Harold; her parents; 3 children: Harold Jr., James and Mary; son-in-law Douglas Brandenburg; grandson Ryan Brandenburg; 5 siblings: Emma Koch, Marcella Stokes; Clem Luettel, Greg Luettel and Lawrence Luettel; along with several nieces and nephews.