Memorial Services for Jane Sholes, age 79, of O'Neill will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at the O'Neill Methodist Church in O'Neill.  Rev. Robert Wynn will officiate.  Burial will be in the Inman Cemetery at a later date.  Memorial Visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Friday, January 2, 2026 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill with a 7 pm Prayer Service.  Jane passed away on Wednesday, December 24, 2025 at her home in rural O'Neill after a long illness.  Memorials may be directed to her family for future designation.  Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.

Violet Jane Neal was born to Orvel and Violet (Porter) Neal on June 16, 1946 in her grandmother Porter's living room in Atkinson, Nebraska.  She was known to most people as Jane, and if you called her Violet, she would tell you "My name is Jane!"  She spent her time between O'Neill and Atkinson growing up.  She attended O'Neill Public School and graduated in 1964.

After graduating high school, she moved to Fremont, Nebraska, where she worked at Cambell's soup factory.  While working there, she met her husband to be, Glen Sholes.  They were married October 19, 1969.  Glen was in the Navy, so she traveled back and forth to Charleston S.C. when Glen was there.  During this time, their first son, Ben, was born in 1970.  After Glen's discharge, they moved back to the O'Neill area.  Shortly after coming home, their second son, Brett, was born in 1972.  She stayed home with the boys until they were older, then did some baby-sitting in her home, and worked part time at the Town House Inn.  Their third son, Budd, was born in 1979.

Shortly after Budd was born, she got her job as assistant cook at the Inman school, and later got to be the head cook.  She worked at the school for 20 years and loved working with the kids.  After the school closed, she worked at CVA for a short time, then got a job in the kitchen at St. Anthony's Hospital and worked there until retirement.

Jane was a member of the Inman United Methodist Church, and the O'Neill Methodist church.  She was a member of the UMW and a lay speaker.  Through online courses she received her ministers license and was a true believer in the Bible and its teachings.

She loved animals, over the years she helped with raising goats, pigs, rabbits, cats, dogs and especially her chickens.  She would get a new breed of chicken every year to see what the hens looked like and what color of eggs they would lay.  She would never butcher any of her hens, she cared for them until they grew old and died.  She loved to go gather the eggs, which she supplied for the family and friends.  Any extra eggs were always given to people in need.

She loved her flower and vegetable gardens.  The produce she canned and had frozen for the family.  She enjoyed watching the flowers grow and bloom and saved seeds for the next year.  She liked growing different flowers and plants every year just to see what they looked like, and what kind of blossoms they would produce.

She loved to bake and liked to try new recipes.  She was known for always having cookies and baked goods for anyone who came to visit.  She loved to make the kids' favorite desserts for their birthdays.

After retirement, she loved spending time with the kids, grandkids, friends, and family.  In 2003, she started having health problems, later being diagnosed with sarcoidosis.  Even as the disease progressed, she loved to spend time with family and friends.

Jane is survived by her husband of 56 years, Glen Sholes of O'Neill; children, Ben (Cheleigh) Sholes of Atkinson, Brett (Molly) Sholes Inman, and Budd (Maggie) Sholes of Pierce; grandchildren, Sara Sholes, Paige Williams, Sawyer (Valeria) Williams, Payton Williams, Ezra Sholes, Noah Sholes, Savannah Otto, Amara (Parker) Zach, Spencer Otto, Josiah Sholes, Emily Sholes, Colby (Kiyan) Sholes, Claire Sholes, and Blaine Sholes; great-grandchildren, Judah Wheeler and Isabella Williams; brother, Oran Clyde (Denise) Neal of Fremont; sisters-in-law, Kelly Neal of Fremont, Kathy (Bill) Grutsch of Hartington; brother-in-law, Arlie (Diane) Sholes of Omaha; many nieces and nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Orvel and Violet Neal; brother, Orvel Neal Jr.; In-laws Horace (Budd) and Patty Sholes; niece Katy; Aunt Mabel Green (who was very special to her) Aunt June, and Uncle Art Urban.