Loreen Louise (Kumm) Belgum, 83, of Scottsbluff, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, February 5, 2022. Her funeral service will be held at 10:30am on Thursday, February 10, 2022 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Scottsbluff with Pastor Phil Found officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff. Visitation will be from 4-7pm at Bridgman Funeal Home in Scottsbluff on Wednesday, February 9. Suggested Memorials are the Foundation of Women’s Cancers, Regional West Hospice Services, or St. John’s Lutheran Church in Scottsbluff. Online condolences may be made by viewing Loreen’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Funeral Home in Scottsbluff is entrusted with arrangements.
Loreen Louise (Kumm) Belgum was born January 19, 1939, at Pilger, Nebraska to Raymond & Hulda (Koehlmoos) Kumm at Pilger Nebraska. She was baptized on February 12, 1939, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Pilger. At the age of 10, her family moved to Julesburg, Colorado where she attended elementary school in a one-room country schoolhouse. Loreen was the only student in her 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade classes. She was confirmed at the Big Springs Lutheran Church on March 29, 1953. Loreen went to High School in Julesburg, Colorado, graduating in 1957. She married Marvin Belgum on July 6, 1957, and they were blessed with four children.
In September 1958 they moved to Scottsbluff, Nebraska where her mother-in-law, Della moved in with them. Della was deaf, so Loreen needed to learn Sign Language to communicate with her. This became a blessing later on in life to communicate with Marvin. Loreen worked at different jobs throughout her life, including Montgomery Ward’s, Baumgartner’s, JC Penny, Bernards Cleaners, and as a Nursing Assistant at Heritage Health Care. While working there in 1986 her husband Marvin suffered a head injury from a scaffolding fall. She drove to Craig Hospital in Denver twice a week for nine months, until he was transferred to the Veterans Home in Scottsbluff, where he resided for 14 years. With Marvin being speech impaired, sign language became a blessing to both of them. She would say the Lord prepared her and kept her faith going.
She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Scottsbluff Nebraska since 1958 where she was a Sunday School Teacher until after Marvin was injured. She was active in Boy/Girl Scouts for 23 years. Loreen enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, watching old movies, and some traveling. During her life, she was a caregiver for five family members and one dear companion.
Loreen is preceded in death by her husband of 42 years Marvin, son Mark, her parents, sister Janice Collins and brother Melvin Kumm, numerous beloved in-laws, 2 nieces, 3 nephews, and her later in life companion Joe Murphy.
Loreen is survived by her children Mike (Sherry) Belgum, Matt Belgum, Lisa Doremus; grandchildren Whitney (Will) Callen, LynDee (Randy) Riggs, Heidi Belgum, Brei Doremus (Clint Harris), Xavier Chaney-Belgum; great-grandchildren Raven and Morgan Riggs; sister Joyce Ash, Brother Marlin Kumm; sister-in-law Betty Frank, numerous nieces and nephews, and son-in-law Brett Harris who loved and cared for not only Mark but also Loreen during her last months.
Loreen’s family wishes to thank Regional West Hospice and all of those who have cared for her during her illness. A very special thank you to Pastor Philip Found for all of his support and spiritual guidance during this difficult time.
