Grandmother killed in Nebraska wildfire was ‘fearless’ and ‘loved by many’

Rose Mary White is being remembered by family and friends as “fearless.” She was a mother of four, a grandmother of six, and a great-grandmother of 12.

White died in her Arthur home Thursday as a massive wildfire spread quickly across the Nebraska prairie. She was 86 years old.

In her obituary, White’s loved ones wrote that family was the most important thing in the world to her. They described a woman who never missed a birthday or holiday card, someone who loved Halloween, baking cookies and being on the family ranch she and her husband, Loyd, built together.

“Rose White was the smile and heart behind the camera capturing every memory of her family possible,” the obituary reads, “and she was the fearless grandma that fought off snakes, healed scrapes, and dried tears with love and treats. She may be gone, but her memory will live on through all of her friends and family.”

Funeral services for White are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, March 20, at Veterans Memorial Hall in Arthur with the Rev. Blake Wilkes officiating. Burial will follow at the Arthur Cemetery.

Gov. Jim Pillen confirmed White’s death during a press conference Saturday.

As of Sunday morning, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency reported that the three largest fires – the Morrill Fire, the Cottonwood Fire near Gothenburg and the Road 203 Fire near Halsey – had burned more than 600,000 combined acres. Some estimates have now put the Morrill Fire itself at over 500,000 acres.

While the northwest side of the Morrill Fire saw snow Saturday evening, strong winds and low temperatures into Sunday evening will create additional difficulties for firefighters.

“I think it’s important all Nebraskans pray,” Pillen said Saturday, “because the circumstances have not changed. Yesterday was one of the toughest days, and through the night, that we’ve probably ever experienced in our state.”