Ella Marie (Glines) Peterson Luft was born April 18, 1929 east of Wolbach, Nebraska to Ruel Richard and Bertha Florence (Winfrey) Glines and passed away on August 23, 2012 in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 83 years, 4 months, 5 days. Ella attended rural elementary school in Howard County and Greeley County and she was the salutatorian of the Wolbach High School Class of 1946. Following high school, Ella attended Normal Training at Kearney State College. She taught school from 1946 through 1950 in rural schools in Howard and Greeley counties. On August 5, 1950, Ella was united in marriage to Vaughn E. Peterson in Grand Island, Nebraska. Ella and Vaughn operated Peterson's Service in Cushing and Peterson's Bar and Grill in Kenesaw. Vaughn passed away in 1972 and Ella moved to Seward in 1973 where she operated The Long Branch Saloon. Ella was united in marriage to Robert Lee Luft on August 25, 1975 in Kenesaw. They lived all of their married life in Garland. Ella was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid in Garland. She had many hobbiesquilting, oil painting, watercolors, china painting, playing guitar and organ. She authored an historical fiction book based on family history. Ella enjoyed travel, gardening, walking, friends, and family. Ella is preceded in death by her parents, Ruel and Bertha Glines; her husband, Vaughn Peterson and grandson, Sloane Peterson in April of 2012. Ella is survived by her husband, Robert "Bob" Luft, Garland; son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Meredith Peterson, Pinedale, WY; daughter and son-in-law, Jodene and Donald Cordes, Prosser, NE; stepchildren and spouses, Rodney and Pat Luft, Lincoln, Randall Luft, Santa Rosa, CA, Rachelle and Brian Brown, Waterloo, IA, Rosalind and Dan Eldridge, Ellensburg, WA; brothers and sisters-in-law, Arnold and Jeannie Glines and Arthur and Barbara Glines, all of Central City; sister and brother-in-law, Edna and Edward Hilmer, St. Paul; grandchildren, Michael and Hollie Cordes, Crystal and Tony Krause, Matthew Cordes and fiancé, Jenny Sullivan, Colt Peterson, Ashley (Mrs. Sloane) Peterson, Ryan Luft, Taylor Luft, Risa Eldridge, Jake Luft, Harrison Luft, Parker Luft; great-grandchildren, Kyrstin Peterson, Alexis Fulton, Micha, Hailey, Riley, and Brian Cordes; brother-in-law, Jim Luft, Sherman, TX; sisters-in-law and spouses, Lorraine and Herb Seevers, Sacramento, CA and Donna and Ed Husmann, Conroe, TX; other relatives and a host of friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers, and memories of life shared with Ella.