Obituaries

Frank Ivan Stewart was born August 17,1929 in Atkinson toFrank and Iva Stewart. After losing his mom at the age of 4 1/2, he and younger sister, Phyllis, lived with their grandparents, Emanuel and Minnie Keefer. He often told his family that he thought his grandma was a saint. He thought the world of her. He graduated from Rock County High School in 1948.

Bob Johnston Jr., age 75, died Saturday, September 17, 2022, in Valentine with family by his side. Bob was born in Scottsbluff, April 18, 1947, to Bob Johnston Sr. and Frances Jean Johnston. He was the oldest of three.

Josephine Ella Sorenson, 85, of Big River, CA. Josephine was born on March 1, 1937, in Ainsworth to Floyd M Keller and Ella C. Nielsen-Keller. Josephine was raised on her parent’s ranch near Elsmere.

Memorial services for James Albert Lurz, Sr., 79, and Gladyce Lucille (Iodine) Lurz (Thornton) 75, of Ainsworth will be held at 1:00 p.m. October 1, 2022, in Valentine, at the Methodist Church.

Darwin C. Grooms was born July 5, 1943 to Clyde and Virginia (Brown) Grooms in Valentine. He grew up and attended grade school in a one room schoolhouse in Sparks. He went to high school in Valentine.

On August 15, 2022, Willard W Marshall age 73 traded his prosthetic legs for wings and departed this earth. He leaves behind to grieve: his partner in life, Janet Kleinert, life long friend Charliss Marshall, two children, Amanda Marshall Wegher (Michael) and Willard Marshall Jr plus six step children, Jeremy Grace (Amy), Ryan Huyett, Tiffany Martinez (Anthony), LaShalle Hughes-Hardt, Kaylee Kleinert (Katie) and James Blue, eleven grandchildren plus a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

Jerry Kerr was born on February 5, 1941 to Lloyd and Laura (Becker) Kerr in Valentine. The youngest of five, Jerry and his brothers Jack, George, and Willie were known to be full of antics much to their mother’s chagrin. He attended Valentine High School, prior to his enlistment in the United States Navy in 1959, at age 18.

Barbara Elaine (Foster) Morlang, 82, of Rolla, Mo., (formerly of Ainsworth) passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at Presbyterian Manor in Rolla, MO. She went peacefully from this life into the next surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be held Saturday September 10 at 10:00 a.m. in the New Apostolic Church, 940 West 1st Street, Ainsworth.

Curtis Daniel Johnson, Curt, of Douglas, WY, passed away Sunday, August 21, at the Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, WY from a sudden and brief illness. He was 75 years old.

Wendy Jo (Zirnig) Lowder was born on October 5, 1976, to Joseph and Margy Zirnig in Valentine, and passed away August 21,2022 at home. Wendy attended District #21 at Norden and then graduated from Keya Paha County High School in 1995.