Lillian “Bunny” (Albrecht) Dudley passed peacefully on March 7, 2025, at home surrounded by loved ones.
She was born 90 years ago near Gresham to Louis and Minnie (Corder) Albrecht. She was the much-loved baby sister of David, Louis and “Petsie” (Marie). Her father was a minister, and her parents chose to serve small churches in Nebraska. They encouraged Bunny’s gregarious personality, and she learned her generous giving spirit from her family role models.
Following high school graduation, she attended Doane College where she met her best friend and life partner, Richard “Dick” Dudley. After graduation in 1954, Bunny was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study vocal performance at a music conservatory in Stuttgart, Germany. She then returned to the United States to marry, start a family, and pursue a rewarding career as a kindergarten and music teacher in the Crete Public Schools. She balanced her work raising five children and teaching, with earning her Master’s Degree from UNL, vocal performances, private music instruction, directing choirs at her church, teaching part-time at Doane, and serving the community for multiple terms as the first woman elected to city council.
A published author of books and music, she was proud to obtain her certification as an Orff Schulwerk instructor. When Bunny retired from the school district, she and Dick started a new adventure together working for the Advancement Office in alumni relations at Doane, a cherished opportunity to make many new friends as they traveled the world. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Doane in 2021 for her exemplary service to the community and college.
Bunny was widely known throughout Crete for her generosity; every single day she shared home-baked treats and arrangements of flowers from her garden with neighbors, and/or hand-written letters with friends far and near. In more recent years, she was proud to serve as a leader on the library board and as an active member of the Friends of the Library.
She was a beloved wife of 68 years, the best of mothers, a devoted grandmother and great-grandmother, an affectionate aunt, and dear friend to many. Bunny is survived by her husband, Richard; children, Judy, Krista and David (Dudley), Susan (Rickert), and Kim (Pyper); partners of immediate family, Ron (Rickert), Tom (Slocum), Trudy (Welty), and Ashlee, Amanda, and Racquel (Rickert); grandchildren, Ben, Rob, Sam, Lyman, Lucy, Asher, and Aaron; five great-grandchildren; and her chosen children, Ute, Shin, Fukuko, Gini, Tina, and Peter. She is predeceased by her dear parents, brothers and sister.
A celebration of Bunny’s life will be Thursday, April 17, at 1 p.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Crete. A reception will follow in the church hall from 2 - 4 p.m. Until then, the family invites everyone to sing joyful songs in Bunny’s memory. She would like that.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Bunny's honor are suggested to the Friends of the Crete Public Library or the David F. Albrecht Memorial Scholarship Fund at Doane University.
Arrangements by Lincoln Family Funeral Care. Condolences and stories may be left online at www.lincolnffc.com.
