Obituaries

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.

Come share in the memorial service for Barbara (Foster) Morlang, age 82 of Rolla MO, formerly of Ainsworth. Barbara passed from this life into the next on Wednesday, August 3 in Rolla after a valiant 12-year battle with multiple myeloma. A Celebration of her Life will be held Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. in the New Apostolic Church, 940 N. 1st Street, Ainsworth. A light lunch will be provided after. Memorials in Barbara’s name may be made to the Brown County Hospital Auxiliary.

Erika Christene Cox was born to Henry and Wilamene Cox on July 11, 1955, and brought home to Calf Creek Ranch north of Mullen. There she joined her siblings Judith, Kay, and A.B. She passed this life on August 14, 2022, at her home in Mullen.

Ardith Mardell (Hale/ Bauer) Morton died May 10, 2022, at her home in Cheney, WA at the age of 95. She was born October 10 , 1926, at Tuthill, SD to Taylor and Mae Hale. She was raised in the Eli area, going to school at Eli. She completed high school at Cody High School in 1944. After graduation Ardith signed up to train in a wartime nursing program for the military in Washington state. That program was halted when the war ended, and Ardith proceeded to obtain her nursing degree through Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA and received her nursing degree on January 8, 1946.