Justena Critel, the daughter of Dietrich and Elizabeth (Ott) Bergen, was born in York County, Nebraska on July 20, 1920 and died in Henderson, Nebraska on March 21, 2004, at the age of 83.

She attended school in York County at District 90. Justena graduated from Henderson High School in 1937. She then attended York College where she received her General Elementary Certificate in August 1938. Justena taught country school at West 73 near Henderson for one year.

Justena was united in marriage to Lester H. Critel on May 7, 1939 at the home of her parents' near Henderson. They set up farming first in York County and then in Hamilton County. She was the mother of three children, Marjorie, Lester, Jr. and Eugene. She continued to be a farm wife until their retirement in 1975, when they moved into the Village of Stockham. There with the children all gone from the home she became very interested in crocheting, making dolls, bears, quilts, afghans; working in her flowerbeds, baking homemade bread, cookies and angel food cakes. She kept a log of her projects and her records are 41 afghans, 95 dolls, 48 bears and 101 doilies. Lester passed away on October 14, 1982. When her health started to fail, she moved to Henderson to Midtown Manor, to take life easier and to be closer to her sisters and brothers. In August 2002, she entered the Henderson Care Center.

She made a profession of faith and accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior. She was baptized and was a member of the Stockham Community Church for many years. Justena was also very active in Christian Women's Club, the Stockham Women's Group, Bible Study Group, playing her harmonica at various places and helping out whoever needed some extra hands.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, three brothers, Willard, Ernest and Alfred; four sisters, Eva, Lizzie, Martha Critel and Mildred and four brothers and one sister who died in infancy.

Those left to cherish her memory are her three children, Lester (Betty) Critel of Ravenna, Eugene (Lynn) Critel of Grand Island and Marjorie (Kale) Vontz of Lincoln; 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a brother, Benhard Bergen; two sisters, Luetta Nunnenkamp and Rosella Bergen all of Henderson, sister-in-law, Elizabeth Critel of McCool Junction and many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.