Obituaries

Craig Alan Welliver, 73, of Lead, SD passed away at home on Saturday, May 20, 2023. Craig was born in Lexington to Vernon and Elleanor (Dodge) Welliver on February 18, 1950.

Ralph Elden Salyards passed away on Thursday May 11, 2023 at Gordon Countryside care at the ripe old age of 77. He was born on February 9, 1946, to Elden and Fern (Papke) Salyards in Sterling, CO. He was the oldest of three children and attended school in Haxtun, CO where he graduated. He was shortly thereafter drafted into the US Army on December 22, 1965. He was honorably discharged into reserves in November 1967 and was honorably discharged completely from the Army in 1971.

Viola Louise Nollett was born on June 13, 1934 to Peter N. and Rosetta (Robertson) Nollett at her parents rural Todd County, SD home where she grew up. As she was the only child, she spent a lot of quality time with her Dad and became his “hired man”, helping with the farming, haying and caring for the cattle, sheep and hogs. She attended grade school at Bull Creek Country School. She graduated from Valentine High School in 1952. The last semester of High School she worked mornings at the Nebraska State Bank and then full time after graduation. Duties were teller, posting machine operator and proof machine operator for two years as that was a new machine in the banking industry.

Arline J. Lurz, 83, formerly of Beemer, died Monday, May 8, 2023 at Parson’s House in Omaha. Funeral service was Tuesday, May 16 at United Methodist Church in Wisner with Rev. Chuck Rager officiating. Private family interment will be at a later date at Harmony Cemetery, rural Valentine. Memorials may be made to the Beemer Senior Center and Beemer American Legion Auxiliary. Arrangements by Stokely Funeral Home.

Earlene ( Ruff) Kuhl, 100, of North Platte, formerly of Valentine, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 11, 2023 at Linden Court. Earlene was born on December 16, 1922 in North Bend, the daughter of Earl and Lula (Settles) Ruff.

Erma Gwen Tetherow, 88, passed away May 10, 2023 in Valentine. She was born January 3, 1935 to Henry and Irene (Petersen) Osterhoudt at Curtis. Erma grew up on her parents’ farms in Frontier County where she always had a love for the animals, especially the dogs and horses.

Meredith Duane “Punk” Worth was born on April 3, 1931, in Winner, SD to Elwood and Frances (McBride) Worth. Punk passed away in his ranch home surrounded by loved ones May 2, 2023, at the age of 92 years and 29 days. After Meredith was born, his mother took him home in a shoebox. He was so small (weighing just four pounds at birth), his mom called him her little “Pumpkin Seed”. It didn’t take long for “Pumpkin Seed” to become “Punk”, and to this day, many people do not know Punk’s given name on his birth certificate. Punk attended numerous grade schools in Keya Paha County and graduated from Keya Paha County High School in 1948. On May 18, 1952, Punk married Enid Lorraine Graham in Ainsworth. To this union, two children were born: son, Ronald Scott, and daughter, Lorraine Alice. May 18 of this year would have marked Punk and Enid’s 71st wedding anniversary.

Merle Wayne Weihe, 64, of Gordon, passed away peacefully at his home on November 28, 2022. Merle was born November 23, 1958, in Valentine, to Rudolph and Alice (Hoffman) Weihe.

James Edwin Wilson, 75, passed away on December 12, 2022, at Oak Hill Hospital, in Brooksville, FL after a brief unexpected illness. Jim, beloved husband, father, grandfather, greatgrandfather is well known for his love of family, outdoors and helping others. Jim and his wife, Eileen, were married and retired to Springhill, FL in 2009. There in Florida, they made a beautiful home to spend time with family, fishing, helping friends and neighbors and just enjoying retirement. He has left behind family and friends that will forever love and miss him.

Danny Duane Daniels was born on July 24, 1958, to Duane Dale Dan iels and Mary Elizabeth (Harris) Daniels in Ainsworth. He passed away suddenly on April 21, 2023, at the CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, with Teri by his side, at the age of 64. Dan lived his entire life in Ainsworth. Dan attended Lila McAndrew Grade School and Ainsworth High School, graduating in 1977.