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Rocky Mountain Obituaries 10-8-12

Betty Louise Lee

Ralph Lohr

Ralph Lohr, 88, of Kersey, Colo., passed away at Centennial Healthcare Center on September 28, 2012.

He was born November 6, 1923 to Edwin and Margaret Lohr of Kersey, Colo. Born and raised in the Galeton, Colo., area, Ralph graduated from the Gill High School and served in the Navy as Seaman First Class. Ralph then moved to Kersey, Colo., where he farmed for over 40 years.



He was a part of the Greeley Christian Church while running his own farm and raising cattle. He was very active in his nieces’ and nephews’ lives and activities. Ralph loved going to the sale barns when he had time.

The surviving family of Ralph wishes to thank all the doctors, nurses, CNA’s, and staff members of Centennial Healthcare Center and Dr. Berntsen for the wonderful care, love, and support they gave to Ralph.



He is survived by his sister Mae Cogburn in Evans, Colo.; his brother Ray (Dorthula) Lohr East of Greeley, Colo.; his brother-in-law Joe Stencel of Eaton, Colo.; 17 nieces and nephews; and numerous great- and great-great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Mildred Lohr, Fern Nelson, Evelyn Stencel, brother Russell Lohr, a nephew, a great-niece, a great-nephew, and a great-great-nephew.

Memorial services were held October 3, 2012 at the Allnutt Macy Chapel.

Interment at Eaton Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Denver Children’s Hospital in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th Street, Greeley, Colo., 80631.

Friends may view the online obituary, sign the guest book & send condolences at http://www.Allnutt.com. ❖

Samuel Dean Templeton

Samuel Dean Templeton, 80, of the Fort Morgan, Colo., area, passed away September 29, 2012 at the Valley View Villa Care Center in Fort Morgan, Colo.

He was born February 13, 1932 in Lincoln County near Genoa, Colo., to Jesse and Hazel Templeton.

Sam married Wilma Marshall on October 27, 1957 in Last Chance, Colo. They ranched south of Brush, Colo., before moving from Last Chance, Colo., to Brush, Colo., in 1981.

He enjoyed doing woodworking projects, working especially with oak, and also liked to sing, dance and play the guitar.

In his younger years, Sam enjoyed bareback, bronc and bull riding. In 1954 he was Champion Bull Rider at the Morgan County Saddle Club Rodeo and in 1955 he was the A.R.C.A. Bull Riding Champion. He was picked All-Around Cowboy in 1954 and 1955 by the Morgan County Saddle Club. He was also a member of the Woodlin Lions Club.

He is survived by three daughters, Patricia Sharp and husband, Tim, Pennie Haller and husband, Larry, all of Woodrow, Colo., and Kristen Templeton of Santa Clara, Calif.; one sister, Eva Ross of Missouri; one brother, Floyd Templeton and wife, Jan, of Santa Rosa, Calif.; grandchildren, Sara Rushman and husband, Josh, Kari Blair and husband, Willi, Kelly Bellendir and husband, Mike, Brandy Haller and Austin Spade; and great-grandchildren, Zachary and Kailey Rushman.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Wilma; brothers, Delbert Templeton and Gene Templeton; sisters, Betty Hayes, Violet Ashlock, Ellen Allen and Ilene Uitich; and his grandson, Eric Russel Haller.

Memorial services were held October 5, 2012, at the Heer Mortuary Chapel.

Interment followed in the Brush Memorial Cemetery. ❖

Betty Louise Lee

Betty Louise Lee, 76, of Grant, Neb., passed away September 22, 2012 at the Golden Ours in Grant, Neb.

She was born April 25, 1936 in Chase County, Neb. She was the second child born to Wayne and Velma Huffman Hampton. When Betty was a young girl she moved to Missouri where she attended elementary school. The family moved to Ogallala, Neb., where she graduated from OHS in 1953.

She worked at a restaurant and for the Bell Telephone company.

Betty married the love of her life, George Lee Jr., on May 17, 1958 at the Saint Luke’s Catholic Church in Ogallala, Neb. Four children were born to their blessed union and they raised their family on their farm home southwest of Elsie, Neb.

She had developed Alzheimers and George was able to care for her with help until December of 2011 when she moved to the Golden Ours Convalescent Home in Grant, Neb.

Betty was an active member of the Elsie Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church. She was a member and had served as an officer in the Altar Society and taught CCD for many years. Betty served in the Elsie Election Board and had been a member of the Happy Days neighborhood card club. While her children were growing up she was a 4-H mom and helped serve meals for the Wallace Roping Club.

Betty was a wonderful person with many talents. She deeply loved her family. She was an excellent cook, baker and seamstress. She enjoyed scrapbooking, refinishing old furniture, crocheting, knitting and gardening. She made an excellent homemade jelly from fruit she had grown in her garden.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, George; three daughters, Kathy (Dennis) O’Dell of Evans, Colo., Carma (Duane) Weisbrook of Bushnell, Neb., and Karen Newbrey of Longmont, Colo.; son George (Leslie) Lee the third: eight grandchildren, Timothy and Tyler (finace Katherine) Weisbrook, Derek (finace Brandy) Huntley, Dakota and Tristen Newbrey, and Tailor, Ellen and George Cordell Lee; in-laws, Marilyn Hampton, Jim (Dorie) Lee, William (Janet) Lee, Vince Lee, and Jim Longcor; many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Harold Hampton.

Memorial services were held September 25, 2012 at 10:30 at Mother of Sorrows Catholic Church.

Burial was in the Grant cemetery. ❖

Owen J. Powell

Owen J. “O.J.” Powell, 86, of Flagler, Colo., passed away September 23, 2012 at the Lincoln Community Hospital in Hugo, Colo.

He was born June 8, 1926 in Campo, Colo., the son of Owen Ezekiel and Ethel Mae (Jenkins) Powell.

On December 8, 1944 Owen was united in marriage to Elsie Mae Miller in Goodland, Kan. They shared over 55 years of marriage before Elsie passed away on August 18, 1999. To this union they shared six children, Paulette Louise, Marilyn June, Pamela Jean, Stephen Douglas, Royce Merle and Randy Craig.

Owen was a great father, husband and a well respected neighbor of the Flagler community that he loved so much. He was a construction foreman for most of his life where he built houses from the ground up. Owen always had a gift for fixing all kinds of farm machinery and just about anything you can think of that needed to be fixed. Fixing things was really his only hobby. You could always find O.J. in the garage working on something. He worked for various farmers in Flagler, Colo., area where he enjoyed helping farm the land. Most of all, Owen loved his family and friends and he will miss all of his coffee buddies at the co-op in Flagler, Colo. He will be dearly missed by all and his spirit will continue on in all of their daily lives forever.

He is survived by his six children, Paulette Powell of LochBuie, Colo., Marilyn Dunn of Flagler, Colo., Pamela Powell of Flagler, Colo., Stephen Powell of Divide, Colo., Royce Powell of Flagler, Colo., and Randy Powell of Denver, Colo.; two sisters, Pearl Peterson of Alamosa, Colo., and Irene Bohlender of La Salle, Colo.; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Elsie; two brothers; and one grandson.

Memorial services were held September 27, 2012, at 1st Congregational Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Flagler Ambulance Fund P.O. Box 101 Flagler, Colo., 80815. ❖

Earl John Berens

Earl John Berens, 85, long-time Burlington, Colo., resident, passed away September 23, 2012, at the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital.

He was born April 17, 1927, in Walker, Kan., to Herman Fidelias and Elizabeth Veronica (Staab) Berens. He was one of 12 children. He graduated from Bethune High School in 1945, then enlisted in the Navy, serving on a troop transport. After being discharged in 1946, Earl returned to Burlington and began farming.

Earl met Darlene Schmidt, a nurse at the Burlington Hospital, on a blind date in January 1949. Earl and Darlene married on August 4, 1949, at the St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church in Burlington, Colo. This union was blessed with seven children: Kelvin, Stephen, David, Mark, Chris, Renee and infant Peter.

In 1955, Earl received a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Colorado A&M in Fort Collins, Colo., and practiced in Dodge, Neb., for 25 years. While in Dodge, “Doc” could also be found actively involved in the VFW and American Legion and working with youth in 4-H and Little League baseball.

Earl was well read and enjoyed public speaking and was often the keynote speaker during Memorial Day remembrances. He also immensely enjoyed playing cards with family, indoctrinating daughter-in-laws into the finer points of the game and playing sheephead with friends on Sunday morning after church.

After retiring in 1981, Earl, Darlene and Renee moved to Burlington, Colo. While in Burlington, Colo., Earl renewed his love affair with farming, enjoyed traveling with Darlene and was a dedicated member of St. Catherine of Sienna parish. Above all, Earl enjoyed time with his family. The sky was always bluer, the food was always tastier and the cards were always better when he was surrounded by his family.

He is survived by his wife Darlene; six children, Kelvin Berens and wife Dawn of Elkhorn, Neb., Stephen Berens and wife Elizabeth Bryant of Los Angeles, Calif., David Berens and wife Luann of Stratton, Colo., Mark Berens and wife Gerri of Kingwood, Texas, Chris Berens and wife Peggy of Bennington, Neb., and Renee Berens of Mason, Texas; 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; siblings Pat Berens of Sierra Vista, Ariz., Arleen Swartz of Denver, Colo., and Joe Berens of Bethune, Colo.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant son Peter, five brothers and three sisters.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church in Burlington, Colo., and may be left at or sent to the Bank of Burlington, Burlington, Colo. ❖

Norma Bell Morris

Norma Bell Morris, 84, a native and lifelong resident of Cheyenne, Wyo., passed away October 2, 2012 in the comfort of her own home.

She was born September 5, 1928, and grew up on her family’s ranch, the Polo Ranch in Cheyenne, Wyo. Norma graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in business education. During her time at the university, she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, she served as Cheyenne’s Miss Frontier, and she also served as the Gator Bowl Queen during Wyoming’s 1950 victory. Norma met John Morris at the university, and the two wed in 1952.

After John’s military service, they purchased the Polo Ranch from the Bell family, and they resided on the ranch up until the last few years when they moved into town due to Norma’s struggle with Alzheimer’s.

John and Norma maintained a home on the ranch, and Norma found peace going out to the ranch up until the very end. Her love for her family, ranching and the outdoors were the center of her life.

Norma was a true pioneer who had a love for all animals, including thoroughbred horses, which were one of the Polo Ranch’s entities. Norma’s passion for ranching and agriculture was exemplified through her commitment to the local and state community. She was member of the Wheels Organization, the Cheyenne Old West Museum, the Wyoming and National Cattle Associations, the American Jockey Club and the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame. Norma and John also had a love for art and annually hosted the artist party for the Western Art Show.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years, John Morris; and her three daughters, Betsy Bell Graham of Cheyenne, Wyo., Karen Morris Gowdy and Curt Gowdy Jr. of New Canaan, Conn., and Marcy Morris Habbe and Dr. Tom Habbe of Rapid City, S.D.; 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by one grandson.

Memorial services were held October 5, 2012 at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Private family interment followed at Olivet Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Research and the Old West Museum, 4610 Carey Ave., Cheyenne, Wyo., 82001.

Condolences may be offered to the family online by going to http://www.SchraderFuneral.com. ❖

Robert Thomas

Robert Allen Thomas, 66, of Larkspur, Colo., passed away September 2, 2012 at home.

He was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1945 and the family moved to the Green Valley Ranch in Larkspur, Colo., in 1950. He attended school in Larkspur, Colo., was an active member of 4-H and the counties livestock judging program, had the Grand Champion Steer at the County Fair, played high school basketball, was a member of the Dance Band, and graduated from Douglas County High School in 1963.

He attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Animal Production degree in 1968. It was at CSU where he and Betty met. They were married in September of that year and moved back to the family ranch in Larkspur, Colo. Bob worked for Castle Rock Feed for several years before joining Keyston Bros Riding Goods of Denver, Colo., in 1982, serving as Branch Manager overseeing saddle and strap goods manufacturing and wholesale sales.

Bob and Betty were blessed with two sons and the family pursued Bob’s love of horses and rodeo. He volunteered at the Douglas County Fair with the rodeo events and 4-H livestock, becoming a board member in 1982. In 1985 the family moved to Reno, Nev., where Bob became Vice President of Keyston Bros., Riding Goods located in Sparks, Nev.

In 1992, Keyston Bros. opened Horseman’s Headquarters retail store in Castle Rock, Colo., and Bob and Betty returned to Douglas County in 1994. A second retail store was soon opened in Fort Collins, Colo., with Bob managing both stores. As Keyston changed their business focus the Fort Collins, Colo., store was closed and Bob purchased the Castle Rock, Colo., location.

Being back in Colorado allowed Bob the opportunity to rejoin the Douglas County Fair Board where he volunteered with the rodeo, vendor booths and became fair manager. He proudly served as a board member and treasurer for 19 years.

Other interests included calf roping, team roping, Western movies and books, sports and ranching. He was a past member of the Douglas County Sherriff’s Posse and a member, for 31 years, of Western English Sales Association (WESA).

He is survived by Betty, his loving wife of 43 years; two sons, James R. Thomas (Rebecca) and their son Teegan, Scott D. Thomas (Amie) and their daughters, Gracie Sue and Charlye; a brother, James D. Thomas, and four cousins.

Memorial services were held September 7, 2012 at the Douglas County Event Center in Castle Rock, Colo.

Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Douglas County Fair Foundation Scholarship Fund, 500 Fairgrounds Drive, Castle Rock, Colo., 80104.

The family encourages friends to visit Bob’s online guest book where visitors may contribute their own stories, messages and memories. This collection will be printed for Bob’s grandchildren, as a tribute to their “Papa.” To sign the on-line register book, visit http://www.OlingerAndrews.com. ❖


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