Obituaries

Erma Ruth (Monroe) Todd was born to parents, Texas Jack Monroe and Grace Ella (Stephens) Monroe on March 29, 1927, at the Sandhills General Hospital at the corner of 2nd and Main Street in Valentine. Her life came to an end at the Cherry County Hospital in Valentine when Erma entered Heaven, August 2, 2021, at the age of 94 years.

Theodore “Ted” John Sponem, 69, passed away at his home surrounded by family on August 1, 2021. He was born in Madison, WI on November 19, 1951 to George and Pearl (Regelein) Sponem. The family moved from Mount Horeb to Jefferson in 1955 where they farmed.

Steven N. Daniels was born to Noral and Shirley (Wrage) Daniels on March 3, 1948. He was welcomed home by two older sisters, Connie Lou and Shirley Ann. Later, they were joined by younger brother, Chuck.

Darrel W. Smith, 78, of Valentine, passed away Thursday, July 29, 2021 at the Cherry County Hospital in Valentine.

Martha Mary (Raycher) Higgins was born in Richland, PA on January 18, 1919 to Andrew and Martha (Mock) Raycher. Before she was three years of age they moved to Monarch WY, then to Story, WY in the Spring of 1927. Times were tough and life was hard but good. Story was a town of between 200 to 300 people, gravel roads, no electricity, Model “T” Fords and a one-room school house. Martha’s memories centered around their grocery store, dance pavilion, water wheel to generate electricity, swimming pool, ice house, motorized ice saw to harvest ice from the swimming pool, hamburger business, soda fountain and numerous other things her father had built. At age 12 her mother died after a long illness. For high school and normal training Martha attended St. Agnes Academy in Alliance and graduated in 1936.

James Dade “JD” Ross was born March 1, 1936 in Schell City, MO to Martin and Christine Ross. He went to grade school and graduated high school in Crookston. On his 18th birthday he left for Cape Cod, MA to serve in the U.S. Air Force for four years. JD was honorably discharged and came back to Crookston to help his dad with the gas station business. On June 8, 1958, he married Kathryn Starkjohann and in that union they had a son, Mike, and a daughter, Kay. On October 31, 1967 they moved from Valentine to Sparks to live in the house he built on the ranch where Kathryn grew up. There they raised their children, cattle, and quarter horses, which is what he was most passionate about.

Jesse Keith Cordier, beloved grandson, son, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, age 27, departed this earth to go home to heaven on March, 20, 2021. Jesse was born May, 10, 1993 in Montevideo, MN to the late Joseph Anthony Cordier of St Francis, SD and Paulette Bordeaux Young of Garretson, SD.

William E. Dew, 94, our gentleman cowboy, went to his heavenly home on July 21, 2020, surrounded by family.

Ruby Mae Weston Graham was born on September 7, 1943, to John Earl and Joella (Ellis) Weston in Ainsworth. Ruby attended grade school at the Cottonwood School which is located in the yard at the Weston Ranch.

LoAnn “Ann” Philamalee Guillory was born on June 22, 1936 to Ora and Pearl Philamalee in Cherry County. She passed unexpectedly on June 19, 2021 at her home in Bastrop, TX.