Lonnie passed away on Friday, April 24, 2026, at Plainview Manor in Plainview. Stonacek Memorial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Lonnie was born on July 19, 1941, in Madrid, NE, to Henry and Thelma Greist Waters. She attended Imperial High School and graduated with the class of 1959. Lonnie married Delvin N. Gardner on January 2, 1960, in Oregon. The two of them loved going to the grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's activities. Lonnie worked various jobs for many various nursing homes and also worked at Michael Foods in Plainview. She also worked as a janitor at the Osmond schools. She loved baking cinnamon rolls and homemade candy at Christmas time.

Lonnie is survived by her children Rick (Bette) Gardner of Osmond, Ronda (Clark) Nelsen of Omaha and Brenda (Neil) Wattier of Osmond; daughter-in-law Kim Gardner (LeRoy) of O'Neill; grandchildren Jenifer (Nick) Krienert of Osmond, Calvin (Andrea) Gardner of Osmond, Tami Sprigler of Yankton SD, Keigh Gardner of Iowa, AJ (Kylie) Gerdes of Omaha, Matt (Katie) Gerdes of Wayne, Lucas (Lauren) Nelson of Lincoln, Sara Gardner of Pierce, Megan (Bryce) Olson of Lyons, Joshua Wattier (Carrie) of Wausa and Kayla Wattier (Leo) of Norfolk; greatgrandchildren Hayle Fiance (Levi) Fredrick of Laural; Caydence and Gage Krienert of Osmond; Tessa, Kaleb, and Kendra Gardner of Osmond, James Umberger (girlfriend Maggie Hansen) of South Dakota, Memory and Echo German of South Dakota, Barrett and Jax Gerdes of Omaha, Isabella Gerdes of Wayne, Owen and Zoey Nelson of Lincoln, Bailey and McKennah Tuttle of Lyons, Shaylee and Cailynn Gardner of Pierce, Vayden, Aria, Daliha, and Alliayah Wattier of Wausa and Chester Eddy and Hazel Saldana of Norfolk; great-great-granddaughter Harper Umberger; sister Deloris Sample of Red Oak, IA; sisters-in-law Carol Gardner of Colorado, Leveta Reynolds of Parker, CO, and LeAnn Goff of Imperial, NE, and brother-in-law Vernon 'Butch' (Pam) Gardner of Oregon.

Lonnie was preceded in death by her husband Delvin; son Randy Gardner; daughter Cristi Green; grandson Travis Gardner; granddaughter Tina Gerdes; nephews Darin Gardner, Nathan Gardner and Aaron Gardner; sister Betty Vobora; brothers Vernard and Kermit Waters; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Richard Reynolds, Duane Goff, Donna Waters, Pauline and Gilbert Brandt, Maurine and Gale Ransdell, Myron Gardner, Larry and Shirley Gardner and Dennis Holmes.

Condolences can be expressed to the family online at www.stonacekfuneralchapel. com.