A Celebration of Life Service for Denise W. Johnsen-Hultine will be Friday, April 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. at Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, with Pastor Kevin Lund officiating.

A private interment will be held at the Sutton Cemetery in Sutton.

Denise Wilhelmina Johnsen-Hultine, 74, of Holdrege passed away March 28, 2025, at CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln. She was born May 17, 1950, in Geneva, the eldest of three children, to Richard and Helen (Rath) Smith. Denise grew up in Sutton where she attended Sutton Public Schools and graduated from Sutton High School in 1968. She went on to pursue a career in nursing, earning her degree from Bryan College of Health Sciences. With a heart devoted to caring for others, Denise dedicated 45 years of service to Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege, where she worked in a variety of nursing roles and touched countless lives.

Denise was married three times during her life. She first married Robert Miller, with whom she had two children, Abigail Carin and Austin Peter. She later married Arthur “Rocky” Johnsen, and finally reunited with her high school sweetheart, Bruce Hultine, who survives her.

Denise had a deep love for quilting, crafting, gardening, traveling, cooking, and especially the Christmas season— snowmen being a particular favorite. Her greatest joy, however, came from spending time with her family and friends. She was a longtime member of Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Helen Smith of Grafton.

Left to cherish her memory are her beloved husband, Bruce Hultine of Holdrege; her children, Abigail (Mike) Henderson of Kearney, and Austin (Kristin) Miller of Wilton, CT; Bruce’s children, Brent Hultine of Hastings, and Aimee (Jeff) Schlegel of Lincoln; her grandchildren, Madelyn and Connor Henderson of Kearney, and Morgan Framke of Lincoln; her sister, Cheryl (Dave) Boer of Sioux Falls, SD; her brother, Steve (Jane) Smith of Grafton; along with extended family and dear friends.

A visitation will be Thursday, April 3, 2025, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with the family present to greet friends from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

Memorials in Denise’s honor are suggested to the family for a later designation.

Expressions of sympathy and support may be shared with the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com.

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is entrusted with the arrangements.