Laura Vianna (Teleen) Hughes was born on January 29, 1922 in Ainsworth, NE to Wallace and Nettie (Hildebrand) Teleen. She passed away in Sierra Vista, AZ on June 30, 2024 at the age of 102.

Laura was raised on a farm seven miles northeast of Ainsworth. She attended grade school at District 11. (A one room school house on land donated by her grandfather, Andrew Teleen. Her father had previously attended school there, and later on, her children would attend there.) She acquired her secondary education at Ainsworth High School, graduating in 1940.

As a young lady, she helped her parents on their farm and later worked at Hunt’s Dry Cleaners in Ainsworth. She met the love of her life, T. Donald Hughes, in November 1946 and they were married on June 15, 1947.

Don and Laura made their home in the Sandhills south of Long Pine, NE. To this union, four children were born: Evelyn, Juanita, Byron, and Donna. They relocated to a rural area outside of Springfield, MO in 1953, then returned in 1959 to live nine miles northeast of Ainsworth. They resided there until retirement.

They spent their happy retirement years in the city of Ainsworth. After the loss of her husband, Laura moved to Sierra Vista, AZ in 2001 and lived there the rest of her life.

Laura was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother who lived a country life throughout her productive years. She loved her husband and family and somehow managed to maintain a wonderful home life while helping outdoors with livestock, crops, and gardening.

While growing up, her children had three home cooked meals on most days, a steady supply of home baked cookies in the cookie jar, and always fresh homemade bread. She was a devout Christian. Our Lord was an integral part of her life.

In her spare time, she enjoyed needle crafts, reading, writing cards and letters to friends and family, playing Pitch and King’s Corner, and going to an occasional farm auction. After retirement she and Don regularly enjoyed the auctions in Stuart, NE and dining out at various restaurants in Bassett and Ainsworth. Before moving to Arizona, Laura frequented the Ainsworth Library, the Ainsworth Senior Center, and enjoyed going to Long Pine for lamb fries. Though she moved to Arizona, her heart always stayed in Ainsworth. She was proud to be a hometown girl, and was the longest living member of the Ainsworth High School Class of 1940.

Laura was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Don. She is survived by her four children: daughter, Evelyn Harris (and friend, Bob Kleinschmidt) of Sierra Vista; daughter, Nita (Gary) Cooper of Milford, NE; son, Byron Hughes of McCook, NE; and daughter, Donna Hughes (and friend, Bill Paul) of Sierra Vista. She also is survived by seven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

A Graveside Memorial Service was held on Saturday, August 1, 2026 in the Ainsworth Cemetery. Mike Rudnick officiated at the event. The music selections of “In The Garden” and “The Old Rugged Cross” by Alan Jackson and “Sail Along Silvery Moon by Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra were played. In lieu of flowers, memorials were to be made to the Ainsworth Public Library, 445 N. Main Street, Ainsworth, Nebraska 69210-0207 in Laura’s name. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth assisted with arrangements and online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.