Harold E. Hamilton was born January 30, 1930 to Thelma and Ransom Hamilton near Ellsworth, Nebraska.

He passed away on July 8, 2021, at the age of 91 with his wife Eleanor by his side. Harold grew up on the Hamilton Valley Ranch.

As a teenager, Harold was always working with electronics, sometimes being scolded by his mother for leaving projects all around the kitchen. During high school, Harold took electronics classes through the mail. After graduating high school in Gordon, Nebraska

Vance Retzlaff, 63, of Chadron, passed away in an accident near Hemingford on Friday, July 16, 2021.

He was born September 23, 1957 in Rushville, NE, to Robert and Lois (Evans) Retzlaff.

Many know Vance from Ag Repair, his father’s tractor repair business, where he worked with Verlin and Bob.  He was a diesel/tractor mechanic and went on to operate his own shop after his father retired.    In addition to being a talented mechanic, Vance was an avid motorcycle rider who

Larry Lon Ellis passed away Friday, July 16th, 2021, at the age of 82.

Larry was born in Bennett County on December 9, 1938, to Jack and Pauline (Sigman) Ellis. 

He was preceded in death by son, Paul Ellis, and parents Jack Ellis, Pauline and Buck Howton, Pete and Gladys Sigman and many dear friends. Survivors include daughters Lonna Johnson (Jeff), Pam Young (Randy). Grandchildren Trenton Belsky, Janessa Pinney (Brandon), Bo Johnson (Jackie), Annie Johnson, Kyle Young, and Seth Young

Ernest Lewis Bigelow, 75, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2021, at his residence in Merriman, NE.

Ernie was born on March 7, 1946 in Seattle, WA to Verlia May Parmenter and Allen Ernest Bigelow. His family later moved to Iowa where his four younger siblings were born. His family relocated again to Kansas City and found themselves faced with many hardships. As a child, Ernie found two foster families that he spent time with that loved him as their own.

Ernie Bigelow enlisted in the United

On July 3, 2021, Dorothy Conner passed away at Pioneer Manor in Hay Springs. She was 98 years old.  

She was born into a loving, lively family in the Sandhills south of Gordon and attended Gordon High School.  Dorothy married Martin Conner on 3 July 1941 and raised their 1st son while teaching school during his WW II service. After Martin returned from service, he worked at the Saults ranch where Dorothy taught school and raised her family. 

Dorothy was always active in the

Leo passed away on June 23, 2021 at the age of 96. Leo was born on October 25, 1924 in Hay Springs, Nebraska to Mark and Anna (Serbousek).

Leo grew up on his parents ranch south of Rushville and attended school in a one room country school and after graduating he started classes at the Lincoln Aviation Institute. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on July 13, 1944 and was discharged February 10, 1946.

On June 29, 1946 Leo married Faye Mitchell and they had three children, sons Monte and

Donald Merle Kruger, age 84, passed away peacefully on June 28, 2021. 

Funeral services will be held at the Berean church in Chadron on 4th and Shelton street at 10 AM Saturday, July 3rd with burial south of Gordon at Mount Hope cemetery with pastors Justin Schefcik and Jason Gantz officiating. 

Donald M. (Butch) Kruger was born July 18, 1936 to Max and Marie (Budd) Kruger on the Budd ranch in South Dakota along with his twin sister, Donna. They  joined a brother, Max B. 2

Lila Jean Higgs Addie Freitag Major passed away September 26, 2019.  Lila was born October 1, 1933 in Rushville Nebraska to William Eugene Higgs and Stella Rose (Krotz) Higgs who lived near Porcupine South Dakota.  She was the first of their six children.  She spent her early life on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in Pine Ridge South Dakota.  She graduated high school from Notre Dame Academy in Omaha Nebraska. 

She married George Layton Addie in 1952 and had four