M. Brandt Godberson
M. Brandt Godberson, age 67, passed away at his home in Gibbon on January 10, 2019.
Graveside services were held Saturday, October 9, 2021, at Riverside Cemetery in Gibbon. Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation, in care of Janell (Godberson) Beveridge, P.O. Box 66 Paxton, NE 69155. Condolences maybe shared online at www.osrfh. com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.
Brandt was the first of three children born to J Miller and Helen Jean (Brandt) Godberson on October 18, 1951. He was a lifelong resident of the Gibbon and Kearney area, graduating from Gibbon High School with the class of 1970. He was a graduate of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln with a degree in political science. While attending college he was a member of ROTC and Acacia Fraternity. After receiving his degree, he attended mortuary college. Brandt was a 1977 Valedictorian graduate of the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science. He received almost a perfect score on his national and state boards. After his graduation, he was offered a teaching position at the institute, as his presentation of the body and facial re-construction were beyond exceptional.
Brandt returned to Gibbon to join his father in the family mortuary business. He married Connie Mason and had one son, Jon Derek Godberson. Later he married, Pat Thompson. In 1996, he married Vikki Sinn, of Gibbon, and had two sons, Jack who passed away at birth, and Brandt Garrett Godberson.
Brandt owned and operated the Godberson Mortuary in Kearney and Elm Creek and later took over the Gibbon Mortuary after Miller and Jean retired to Arizona. The mortuaries were later sold to O’Brien-Straatmann-Redinger Funeral Home, of Kearney.
Brandt was active in many organizations. He was an Eagle Scout. Brandt was a member of the Kearney Elks Club. He was a charter member of the Gibbon American Legion SALs and Tehama Shrine Temple. He was also a city councilman for many years in Gibbon. He was a long-time member of the Nebraska Funeral Directors Association. He was a member of the Ft. Kearney Bass Fishing Club. He enjoyed paintball, bowling, gun collecting, antiques, and gourmet cooking. He was a die-hard Husker fan and enjoyed time with family.
Survivors include his sons, J. Derek, of Reno, Nevada, and B. Garrett Godberson, of Broken Bow; brother, Robert “Bobby John” (Pam) Godberson, of Kearney; sister, Janell Beveridge, of Paxton; cousin, Mike Stalder, of Kearney; nephew, Austin Godberson, of Gibbon; nieces, Taylor (Alex) Gomez, of Kearney, and Tara Beveridge, of Loveland, Colorado; father-in-law, Duane “Duke” Sinn, of Grand Island; sister-in-law, Karen (Doug) Fritzler, of Sterling, Colorado; great-niece, Rowan Godberson; and great-nephews, Lincoln Ramirez, and Alex Gomez Jr. Brandt; as well as many friends from his many years in Gibbon, and fellow funeral directors across the state.
Brandt was preceded in death by his wife, Vikki and his parents, John Miller and Helen Jan Godberson. Brandt’s mother passed away one month before him. He was also preceded in death by grandparents, John P. “Jack” and Helen Godberson and Albert “Pete” and Gladys Brandt; mother-in-law, Gilda Sinn; brother-in law, Joseph “Jody” Beveridge; and an infant son, Jack Godberson.