Obituaries

Ellen Jean Cross was born on August 20, 1959 to her parents, Thomas Haver and Mary Ellen (Baker) Cross in Deadwood, SD. She passed away peacefully, at home, on August 16, 2024.

Barbara Gail Chubb was born July 25, 1962, in Valentine, to Leo and Iris (Miller) Chubb. All her schooling was in Valentine, where she graduated in 1981.

Rita Ann Scheuring was born May 22, 1940, in Beresford, SD, to Nicholas and Genevieve (O’Connor) Scheuring. She graduated from Beresford High School and attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, IA. Rita was a middle school secretary for many years at Hoover Middle School in Sioux City.

Sue Ellen Hallock was born September 18, 1946, in Ainsworth, to Glen A. and Ruth G. (Jamison) Hallock and passed away August 2, 2024. She had two sisters, Connie and Betty, and two brothers, Ernest and Steve. Sue attended the country school near the family home and graduated from Keya Paha County High School in 1964.

David (Dave) Francis Gudgel passed away July 7. 2024, at Seven Lakes Memory Care in Loveland, CO, at the age of 85. He was the eldest child of Francis and Helen Gudgel, born August 17, 1938, in Ainsworth.

Kathy Marie ( Joseph) Horvath, age 59, was born in Valentine, March 16, 1965, to Kenneth Edgar Joseph and Laura Lee (Demeritt) Joseph Reed. She lost her battle with cancer June 13, 2024, in Ashville, NC surrounded by her friends and family.

Lifelong resident of Valentine, Ruth E. Harms passed away August 3, 2024 at the age of 99. Born December 21, 1924, to Edward and Maisie Johnson in Valentine. Ruthie was the fourth of six children. Ruthie married the love of her life, Leslie Harms, June 30, 1942. To this marriage they added three sons; Tommy Joe, Jerry Dan, and Kevin Clarke (K.C.)

Dean S. Jochem, 85, of Ainsworth, passed away July 28, 2024, at Brookestone View in Broken Bow. Dean was born in Ainsworth, Nebraska, July 30, 1938, to parents Oscar and Pearl (Claver) Jochem. He and his older sister, Barbara, were raised on the ranch his father acquired in 1937.

Charles Walter “Shot” (Erny) Kenton hung up his cowboy hat for the last time here on Earth, August 1, 2024. Born June 12, 1951, to Genevieve Hamilton (Erny) Kenton and the late Charles Walter Erny, in Alliance. He spent his childhood growing up in Thedford, Broken Bow, Kearney and Lexington with his mother and her children, Cathy, Deb, Sherri, Tammy, and Fred. After his grandfather’s death, the family returned to the family ranch, north of Thedford. In his high school years, he attended Thedford High School where he was in the graduating class of 1969. During this time is when he began one of his favorite rodeo sports, Bareback Bronc riding. In 1968, his junior year, he competed at the Nebraska State High School Rodeo finals where he won the chance to compete at the National High School Rodeo finals in Topeka, KS.

Alden (Al) B. Smith, age 91, passed away on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at Gateway Gardens in Winder, GA. A Celebration of Life was held Saturday, August 10, 2024 at Restoration Church in Bethlehem, GA. Interment followed at Barrow Memorial Cemetery in Winder, GA .