Ronald James Dorsey lived life to the fullest, from the time he was born on July 9, 1942, until he was called to his Maker on April 4, 2024, at the age of 81. His heart and his dreams were as boundless as the prairie ranches, he worked his entire life and the Sandhills he called home. Ron was a man of many talents and interests. He was fascinated by flight at an early age and earned his pilot’s license at 16. He convinced his brother Keith to use their summer’s wages to buy their first airplane and fly it and a succession of airplanes until health problems precluded him from flying anymore. He loved to collect rocks (especially agates) from every place he visited, and played armchair geologist researching the primal processes responsible for their creation. He had a green thumb and collected and planted flowers and trees on all of his properties. He had a long-time love of wagons and carriages. A random conversation Ron had with an Amish man in Pennsylvania about his buggy lead to the acquisition of a finely crafted buggy. He went so far as to raise his own colts, donkeys, ponies, and mules to pull his prized possessions. He delighted in giving people rides and participating in parades. In his last few years, he developed a passion for avocado toast that he wanted to eat at every opportunity and share with all of his friends.

Rudy L. Landreth, 72, of Morrill, went home Monday, April 1, 2024, surrounded with family after 10 year hard fought battle with cancer. His funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Morrill with Pastor Scott Firminhac officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Scottsbluff. Visitation will be on Thursday, April 4 from 3 - 7 p.m. at Bridgman Funeral Home in Scottsbluff. It is requested that memorials in Rudy’s honor be made in care of the family. Online condolences may be made by viewing Rudy’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Family Funeral Home in Scottsbluff is entrusted with arrangements.

Richard Curtis Merrill, 83, of Tarpon Springs, Florida passed away on March 27, 2024. He was born on August 12, 1940 to Norman B. Merrill and Alta Dille Merrill in Colorado Springs, Colo.. Dick, a diligent worker and loyal friend, dedicated his life to his family and to exemplifying Christ. Dick was the second born of four children. In the Spring of 1945 his family moved from California to the Sandhills of Nebraska where they raised cattle. Dick attended country schools through the 8th grade and then attended Gordon High School. After high school, he went to work full-time as a ranch hand. In 1960, he joined the Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Pendleton, Calif.. It was during this time that he became pen pals with his sister’s (Sally) friend, Vici Torske. The couple inevitably fell in love and, without even meeting each other’s parents, eloped to Las Vegas. Dick married the love of his life on May 18, 1963.

Kim Andrea (Shedeed) Ford, 58, of Omaha, Neb. passed away on Friday, March 22, 2024 following a long battle with Pancreatic cancer. Kim was born on May 16, 1965 to Fred and Lois (Connell) Shedeed in Gordon, Nebraska. She attended Gordon Elementary School then Gordon High School. Kim spent many years in the insurance industry and was a great asset to each of the agencies she worked with throughout their many moves in the military. Kim graduated from St. Martin’s University in Lacey, WA with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

Jack Gottier passed away peacefully on April 6, 2024 in Rapid City, S.D. with his daughters by his side. He was born on January 30, 1950 in Rushville, Nebraska to Marie and Ernest Gottier. He was a lifelong resident of Rushville and a graduate of Rushville High School. After graduating he entered the Navy and was stationed in Naples, Italy from 1969-1972. He was married to Eileen (Loosvelt) Gottier for many years. He is survived by his daughters Natosha Gottier and Niki Lee, granddaughters Soryn and Bryar Lee, sister Judy (Ron) Bruns, Kathy (Jack) Fisher, and brother Bill (Jean) Gottier as well as many nieces and nephews.

On March 16, 2024, William Fred Paul transitioned from living legend to leaving a legacy of truth, justice, compassion, and love to every life he touched. His heart ultimately failed him after 78 vibrant years of never failing anyone else. There was simply no one else like Bill. He commanded respect without ever demanding it. He gave his all to his every pursuit, never holding anything back. He was competitive without ever taking any victory seriously or loss personally. His gruff, stoic demeanor and physically imposing presence belied the wry smile and mischievous glimmer in his eyes that reflected his boyish, gleeful, lion cub of a heart. He was equally content by himself, with his beloved Bev, or amongst the many groups he was always a welcome member of. Nobody bridged socioeconomic and political divides like Bill did, a testament to the fusion of his smalltime hard knocks farm upbringing and the unquenchable intellectual passion he brought to the study of his far-ranging interests. He had a well-earned and well-known reputation for treating rules as merely suggestions. That said, he had no patience when it came to unfairness, injustice, cruelty, laziness, nonsense, or voluntary stupidity. He couldn’t tolerate intolerance.

Linda Joyce Ford left this earthly world on March 20, 2024 surrounded by her family in Cody, Nebraska. Two spine surgeries, a heart attack and triple bypass surgery, uterine, colon, nor breast cancer could knock her down, but two tumors in her pancreas won the hard fought battle. Linda was the eldest of 8 children born to James and Mildred Weisbeck of rural Bennett County on November 30, 1942. Her first 4 years were spent being spoiled by her beloved grandpa Fay...then came along Jim, then Jerry, John, Robert, Mary, Frank and Roxanne and life was never the same. Ha Linda attended school in Martin until she left in her junior year after a heated debate with a “less than knowledgeable idiot teacher.” It was the principle of the matter she said and never regretted it. She enjoyed meeting many inspiring people including Robert Kennedy, Joe Lewis and Meadowlark Lemon.

Justin Young, MD Chris LaRose, PA-C Krystal Rodgers NP-C Forrest Lee Eberly, 80, of Cody Nebraska went home to Jesus on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Forrest (Woody) was born July 15,1943 in Mullen to Forrest Fremont Eberly and Leona (Sieck) Eberly.

June DeVere Leider, 94, of Mitchell, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024, at the Mitchell Care Center. Her funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, March 25, 2024, at the Methodist Church in Mitchell, Nebraska, with Pastor Craig Collins officiating. Interment will follow at the Mitchell City Cemetery. Visitation will be at 9 a.m. at the Mitchell Methodist Church. It is respectfully requested that in lieu of any flowers, memorials in June’s honor be made in care of the Mitchell Methodist Church. Online condolences may be made by viewing June’s memorial page at www.jones-mortuary.com. Jones Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements.

Edwin (Mister Ed) Lee Darnell, 80, of Lakin, Kansas passed away Saturday March 23, 2024, at his home in Lakin, Kansas. Ed was born April 19, 1943, to Walter Earl Sr. and Lyda Mae (McClaskey) Darnell in La Animas, Colorado. Ed grew up and attended school in Las Animas. Ed was 2 days shy of his 21st birthday when he married the love of his life Thelma Louise Miller on April 21, 1963. He had his older brother sign for him to marry. They made their home in Holly, Colorado and eventually made their home in Kansas.