Obituaries

Virginia Cress Vaughn Witte passed away at the Cherry County Hospital on November 1, 2025 at the age of 90. Virginia, better known as Ginny, was born to Victor Clair and Joy Stillwell Vaughn on June 30, 1935. Ginny married Gilbert J. Witte on July 19, 1952. They were blessed with four children, Vicky Cumbow, Duane Witte, Gordon Witte and Gina Keller. Gilbert and Ginny settled in the German Settlement. Ginny was a homemaker and helpmate to Gilbert on their ranching and farming operation.

Darlene (Steele) Huddle, 93, passed away October 31, 2025, in Yankton, SD. Darlene was born in Winner, SD on April 21, 1932, and spent her childhood years in Clearfield, SD. Some of her best childhood memories were of working alongside her father in the towns’ one grocery store, which her family owned and operated.

Jerry Lee Knispel passed away on October 18, 2025 in hospice in Rapid City SD after a long illness. He was born to Marcella (Newsom) Knispel and James M.

Dennis Dean Heermann was born in Burke, SD, April 19, 1938. He was born to Alnard and Hilda Heermann (Ludemann). Dennis lived his early life on a farm by Jamison. His family then moved to a farm near Naper, NE. Dennis walked to country school a half a mile from his family farm and then graduated from Naper High School in 1956.

Loren Dean Elliott, age 79, of Valentine, NE, passed away October 25, 2025, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, NE. Loren was born August 2, 1946, in Thedford, NE, to Harry and Tracy Elliott. He attended Antelope Valley and Thedford Elementary Schools and graduated from Thedford High School in 1965.

Steven Keith Lurz was born September 13, 1963, in Valentine, NE. He passed away on October 17, 2025, at his sister’s home in Lyons, NE.

Caitlin Harlow Huggins peacefully passed away October 17, 2025, aided by hospice, and surrounded by her loving family. Caitlin was born in Williamsburg, VA and raised, along with her sister, Audra Harlow Noah, by her loving parents, John and June Harlow. She is survived by her parents, her sister, her husband, Mike Huggins, and her two wonderful children, Jackson and Mackenzie Huggins.

Geneva Darlene Thomas was born September 5, 1936 in Colome, SD to Meredith and Edna Lampitt Stone. Most of her childhood was spent growing up in Milboro, SD.

Jerry Ray Haas was born on November 25, 1964, at 12:55 a.m. in Ainsworth, NE, to Kenneth and Marilyn (Wahl) Haas of Valentine. He was delivered by Dr. Floyd Shiffmiller. Baptism by Rev. Warren G. Spellman on April 11, 1965, at the Valentine Methodist Church.

Longtime Valentine businessman, John Miller, passed away on October 6, 2025, at home surrounded by his family after a battle with cancer. John Howard Miller was born in Valentine, NE on June 6, 1953, to Howard and Sally Miller.