Elizabeth Marie "Babe" Deganhart , 84, passed away Monday, July 31, 2017, at the Valley View Villa Nursing Home in Fort Morgan.  She was born August 4, 1932, in Smithfield, NE, to Louis & Hattie Carstens, the youngest of 11 children.

Babe taught school in Goddard, NE for one year after graduating from high school and married John P. Deganhart on March 31, 1951, in Curtis, NE.  The family lived in the Sterling community for many years until moving to a farm near Weldona , CO in 1965; Babe remained at the family home in Weldona until 2008 when she moved to Brush, CO.

Babe worked for the Morgan County Department of Human Services in several different capacities, retiring from the Department as a caseworker.  She was a member of St. Helena Catholic Church in Fort Morgan.   Babe had been an active member of the Red Hat Ladies, GLAD Club, the Fort Morgan Hospital Auxiliary, and was a former board member of Hospice of Morgan County. Babe enjoyed playing cards, gardening, and socializing with her many long time friends; she will be remembered  by many for her homemade pies and cinnamon rolls.  Babe's favorite times were spent hosting celebrations, cooking and baking and time spent with her family, especially her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and sisters.

Survivors include her children John Jr. (Debra) of Harrison, NE, Thomas (Donna) of Weldona, and Mary Deganhart of Ridgway, CO, and daughter-in-law Kim Deganhart ; 1 sister, Wilma Kinzer of Sun City, CA; 9 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband, John; sons, Richard  and James; son-in-law Bill Steele;  brother, Bernard;  sisters, Marie, Eunice, Alma, Verna, Elfrieda , Dorothy, Irene, and Ruby; and her parents.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, August 9, 2017, at 10:00 AM at the St. Helena Catholic Church in Fort Morgan.  Inurnment will be in Riverside Cemetery in Sterling, CO on Wednesday at 2:30 PM.   A rosary will be recited on Tuesday at 7 PM at the Heer Mortuary Chapel in Fort Morgan.