| Mable Ragan | |
 | |
| Birth: | 1 February 1901 Nebraska, USA |
| Death: | 30 April 2013 Nebraska, USA |
| Age: | 112 years, 88 days |
| Country: |  USA
|
| Validated | |
Mable Gladys Ragan (née Steiner; 1 February 1901 – 30 April 2013) was an American supercentenarian whose age is validated by the Gerontology Research Group (GRG). At the time of her death, she was the oldest known living person in Nebraska.
Biography
Mable Ragan was born as Mable Gladys Steiner on 1 February 1901 near Newman Grove, on a farm by the Looking Glass Creek in Nebraska, United States. Her parents were Hans Christian Steiner and Wilhemina "Minnie" Peterson. She moved with her family to Newman Grove when her father Hans purchased a jewelry store in Newman Grove from his brother Fred Steiner. Mable started to school, first grade, in Newman Grove. A few years later Fred Steiner went into the ministry and sold his Albion jewelry store to brother Hans. The family put all their possessions on the train freight car and moved to Albion. Mable started 3rd grade in Albion and her teacher was Myrtle Pittenger Gillion. Mable was left handed but the teachers made her change to the right hand. She was baptized and confirmed in the Albion Methodist Church by Rev. Maine on 6 July 1913. She completed Junior High and Albion High School and graduated in 1919. Mable had taken Normal Training to teach school but her father wanted her to work in the jewelry store. She was paid $90.00 for a month, 6 days a week. Hans kept $45.00 for her room and board. From 1919-1921 she worked at Steiner’s Jewelry.
Mable married Floyd Elmer Ragan on 18 July 1921. The couple moved to Julesburg, CO to start a jewelry store. After a few years they moved to Omaha and while her husband went to medical school (2 yrs. pre-med., 4 yrs. medical school and 1 yr. intern) Mable worked for an Omaha Jewelry Company to put her husband through school. In 1930 they moved to Seward, Nebraska and set up a medical practice. Mable joined the Order of the Easter Star in Seward, NE. They had one daughter, Jean Helen. Mable divorced Floyd in 1936 and moved to Albion with Jean. Mable once again worked for her father at the jewelry store. All four Steiner brothers were trained as watch makers and jewelers, and Mabel too learned the watch trade.
Later Mable was Deputy County Treasurer for 9 years. She went to work for Kansas Nebraska Gas Company until she retired. After she retired she worked ½ days in the County Superintendents office for five years and worked for Albion Public Library until she retired again at the age of 80. She was a faithful member of the United Methodist Church from 1913 to 2013. On 27 March 2013, she was presented the Imhoff award, an honored award for the Nebraska Easter Star, for her many years of service since 1930.
Mable Ragan died at the Good Samaritan Society – Wolf Memorial Home in Albion, Nebraska, United States on 30 April 2013 at the age of 112 years, 88 days. At the time of her death, she had two grandchildren, one great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
References
- Gerontology Research Group
- Mable Ragan, oldest Nebraskan, to mark her 112th birthday Albion News Online, 29 January 2013
- Mable G. Ragan Obituary Levander Funeral Homes, 30 April 2013
- Mable Gladys Steiner Ragan Find A Grave