Glenda Jardine

Glenda Joy (Bast) Jardine was born May 20, 1949, to Alvin and Pearl Bast of Fairbury, Nebraska.Glenda loved to joke that her birth was a complete surprise to her parents, who had no idea they were having twins - her unexpected arrival followed the birth of her brother. She also joked that she was grateful her parents ignored a suggestion to name the twins "Shoes" and "Stocking." Sadly, her twin brother, Glen Leroy, died about seven years later from injuries suffered after a fall from a tree.Glenda often recalled that a happy part of her childhood story was the birth of another brother, Leroy David, in 1957. He later became well known and well liked as Jefferson County Treasurer and as an excellent organist. Glenda liked to joke that after she married, left Fairbury, and then returned many years later, she was almost forgotten in town and was simply known as "Leroy's sister. She graduated from Fairbury High School in 1967 and attended Fairbury Junior College. Growing up in Fairbury, an important part of her life was being active in the Fairbury Methodist Church. She remembered earning 25 cents a week on a small paper route and pledging five cents of it to the Methodist Church as it constructed a new building. Though her contribution was small, she was deeply touched when the church building committee sent her a note of appreciation. At Fairbury Junior College, Glenda served as editor of the student newspaper and was a founder and active member of the Fairbury Junior Historical Society. She was a member of the honor fraternity Phi Theta Kappa and was awarded a trip to a national Phi Theta Kappa event in Washington, D.C. After graduating from Fairbury Junior College, she attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and earned a degree in religion. On June 1, 1969, Glenda married Bill Jardine, a former Endicott Methodist pastor, and followed him in ministry while living in Bertrand, Hemingford, York, Minden, and Sutton. During those years, she graduated from St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri, and served alongside her husband in churches neighboring his, including Lushton, Arborville, Republican City, and Bloomington.When Bill retired in 2001, they returned to Glenda's hometown of Fairbury. She served as pastor of St. John United Church of Christ in Western for 20 years, and also served the Western United Methodist Church for a short time until it closed. After that, she became active again in Fairbury Methodist Church, serving on the church board, chairing the Worship Committee, participating in Methodist Women, and serving as a delegate to the Methodist Conference.Glenda was also an active member and officer of the Fairbury chapter of P.E.O., served on the Board of Fairbury Community Concert, volunteered with CASA (a program that works with children), and participated in Nebraska SHIP (Senior Health Information Program). She loved to sew and earned blue and purple ribbons for entries at the Jefferson County Fair. A very important part of Glenda's life was her family. She is survived by her husband, Bill Jardine; her children, Robert Jardine (Larissa) and David Jardine (Elizabeth); her daughter, Diana Marshall (William); her grandchildren, Sean and Kayden (Bradshaw), Evelyne (Ellsworth, Maine), and William (Lincoln); and her brother, Leroy Bast (Fairbury).Glenda died February 27 at Fairbury Hospital, shortly after being diagnosed with bone cancer in January. She leaves a giant and painful hole in the hearts of those who loved her and will be deeply missed by her many friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Pearl Bast; her twin brother, Glen Leroy; and her aunts, Ellis McKee, Fern Hinz, and Lula Preston. Services are Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at the Methodist Church with the burial in the Fairbury Cemetery. Memorials will go to the Family’s Choice. The family will greet friends on Tuesday evening from 5 – 7 at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home. www.gerdesmeyerfh.com

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