"Rebekah" Christopher Andrew Gardner was born on April 17, 1989, in Fort Collins, Colorado to Lyle and Carol (Pargiter) Gardner and passed away on July 4, 2022, in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 33 years, 2 months and 17 days.

Christopher attended and graduated from Potter-Dix High School with the Class of 2007. Chris then attended West Point Military Academy in New York and was honorably discharged on June 6, 2010. Chris moved back home for a few years before making Seward home six years ago. Chris was employed at Hughes Brothers, Inc. until January of 2022. Chris then moved to Lincoln to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Chris had a love of running and enjoyed participating in half and full marathons. He was a mentor to many including his sister, Charlotte and nephew, Tayden. They especially enjoyed running the Good Life Halfsy together. Chris loved spending time with family and friends, which included dog, Izzy and cat, Sassy.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Christopher recently requested to be known as Rebekah and was welcomed with open arms. She participated in local Pride events and was able to travel to Denver in June to attend PrideFest with her closest friends.

Rebekah was preceded in death by her grandfather, Robert Gardner.

Survivors include her father, Lyle Gardner, Fort Collins, CO; mother, Carol and husband, Scott Young, Tallahassee, FL; siblings, Nicole Gilson, Corapeake, NC, Robert Gardner, Kimball, NE, Charlotte and husband, Scott Runcie, Seward, NE; nieces and nephews: Skylar, Marissa, Brylee, Serenity, Tayden, Bryker, Henrick, and Charlie; grandmother, Katherine and husband, Max Moyer; aunts, Brenda Gardner and Lorraine Bryom, and a host of friends. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of a life shared with Rebekah.