LaNeta Milta Fish Phelps, age 97, passed away on Monday, January 1, 2018 at the Nevada Regional Medical Center in Nevada. LaNeta was born on April 20, 1920 in south Sioux City, Nebraska to Milton E. and Jennie E. Andews Fish. She attended Jefferson Elementary School and graduated from Nevada High School in 1938.
LaNeta’s first office job was stenographer for Joseph Welborn, building contractor. She left Nevada in December, 1940 to work in the Federal Civil service in Washington, D.C. (two years in Immigration and Naturalization Service; four years in the Department of Agriculture at Beltsville, Maryland).
On February 11, 1942 LaNeta married Milton E. Phelps. To that union were born a son (stillborn) in March, 1944 and a daughter, Janet Ellen, born July 3, 1946.
LaNeta worked temporarily at the Farm and Home Savings and Loan in Nevada, MO. She then worked two years at the headquarters office of the MO National Guard in the American Legion Building, as stenographer for Captain Ron Pittenger, Adjutant to Commander Col. B.L. Coffman. It was during this time that Camp Clark was acquired for the MO National Guard after having been used for a prisoner of war facility during WWII. LaNeta then worked for the MO Division of Employment Security, Nevada, MO for 31 years before retiring in April of 1982.
LaNeta was an active member of the First Assembly of God Church, where for a number of years she taught the junior girls’ Sunday school class, directed children’s church, served as counselor at the children’s and youth summer camps.
She loved to sing and was asked to perform solos for many church services, weddings and funerals. She and her sister, Kleetis were also members of the Nevada Community Choir at on time. She also liked knitting, reading, camping and traveling (especially with family).
LaNeta was preceded in death by her parents, Milton E. Fish and Jennie E. Wirth; daughter, Janet E. Phelps-Corn; sister, Kleetis M. Wirth; and brother, Bob E. Wirth.
She is survived by her grandson, Andrew C. Corn; sister-in-law, Wynona Wirth; nieces, Gwen Lind and Stephanie Miller; great niece, Bethany Eggenberger; and great nephews, Shannon Hodges, Shawn Miller and Jared Lind.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada, MO. Interment will follow in the Newton Burial Park, Nevada, MO.
Memorials are suggested to www.teenchallengeusa.com or in c/o Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada.
