Robert (Bob) Erwin Brown of Hay Springs, NE passed away August 2, 2011, at the Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Alliance, NE.
Bob was born June 27, 1928, in Valley, NE to Archie E. and Leta M. (McDuffee) Brown. At the age of four, his family moved to their homestead five miles south of Lingle, Wyoming. There, he and his big sister, Arlene, grew up and attended school in Lingle. Bob always chuckled when telling how the bus drivers built their own buses on a truck chassis and heated it with the exhaust pipe. It was here that Bob learn to farm and raise livestock, all the while keeping a sharp eye out for rattlers. They raised wheat and other small grains and had a small cattle herd. Fall brought the hunting season, and Bob hunted with his father, Archie, and brother-in-law, Joe Schneider, often in the Laramie Peak area. At age 18, Bob was stricken with polio and had to wear leg braces and use crutches from then on. They had a Case tractor outfitted with a drawbar step and hydraulics, which was a godsend for Bob. We kids all remember riding on the fender, keeping Bob company. It was here that we all developed our baseball arms as we carried a pocket full of rocks, and there were always plenty of jackrabbits. Grandpa Brown passed away in ’53, and Bob did all the farming from then on. In 1959, Grandma and Bob bought a dry land farm south of Hay Springs and moved there to be closer to us (Schneider’s). The homestead at Lingle was sold shortly thereafter. Lingle was never forgotten, though, as a Lingle newspaper always came in the mail. Bob continued to farm until the early 70’s, when he had had enough of the heat and dust and rented out the farm. Bob stayed on the farm until moving to Pioneer Manor in Hay Springs in 2000, and then on to Good Samaritan in Alliance in 2007.
Survivors include a niece, Launa Means of Scottsbluff; nephews, Joe Schneider Jr. of Minneapolis, Tom Schneider of Alliance, and Rick Schneider of Hay Springs; 14 great nieces/nephews; 21 great-great nieces/nephews; and 1 great-great-great nephew.
Preceding Bob in death were his parents, his sister, Loretta Arlene Schneider, and brother-in-law, Joe G Schneider.
Memorials may be made to the Hay Springs Vol. Fire Dept. Building Fund. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Drabbels Mortuary, PO Box 443, Hay Springs, NE 69347.
Funeral services were held on Monday, August 8, 2011, at the United Methodist Church in Hay Springs with Pastor Rod Heilbrun officiating. Interment followed at the Hay Springs Cemetery.
Online condolences can be made to www.chamberlainchapel.com. Chamberlain Drabbels Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
