Christine Luft

Christine Luft, 96, died May 27, 2025, at Roosevelt Medical Center in Culbertson.

She was born at home on March 31, 1929, to Selma Tietz Luft and David Luft, the third of nine children. The very day after her birth, she was baptized by the traveling pastor, who wouldn’t be returning for several months.

Growing up in the 1930s was challenging. All the children had chores and worked on the farm wherever they were needed. The older girls were always assigned a younger child to care for while their parents were working. She was assigned to Roger, one of the twins, and she cherished the lifelong bond she shared with him.

She fell in love and married one of the neighbor boys, Eddie Hekkel. They started their married life in Culbertson, where they welcomed their eldest child, Myrna. After relocating to the farm near McCabe, Claudine was born, followed by Jerry and Larry.

After her husband Eddie died in 1964, she took over his bus route and drove for 22 years before her son Larry took over.