| Walter H. McClellen
GOTHENBURG — Walter H. McClellen, 95, of North Platte
formerly south of Brady, died Feb. 15, 2004, at the Centennial
Park Retirement Village in North Platte.
He was born Oct. 12, 1908, on his parent’s farm near New
Hope, north of Gothenburg, to Jessie and Hilma Nelson McClellen.
He grew up north of Gothenburg and south of Brady. After
graduating from the eighth grade he worked for his uncles Earl
McClellen, north of Brady, and Homer Luke and Alley McClellen at
their farms south of Brady, and for Otto Lind, where he met his
future wife, Otto’s niece, Ila Daniels.
On Feb. 25, 1929, he married Ila Daniels at North Platte and
went to work for Ned Martin south of Maxwell, where he worked on
Ned’s ranch through the Great Depression and started a family
when enough money was saved up. He bought the two farms south of
Brady where his uncles Luke and Alley had lived and had spent
time helping out during his teenage years. They brought up their
children on the farm south of Brady where they raised Herford
and Angus cattle, sheep, hogs, chickens and other poultry. They
put up their own hay, had milk cows and raised corn. He always
had his garden. He enjoyed playing the fiddle, while Ila corded,
for local dances and at the homes of friends and relatives. Even
into his late 80s he drove to area nursing homes to play his
fiddle to entertain the residents. He could always be counted on
to help his neighbors when they needed extra help branding
calves, putting up hay, or doing chores for them if they needed
to go someplace for a few days. He was a very strong believer of
the value of a good education and served on the school board of
Jeffrey Queen School for many years.
Mr. McClellen remained active in the cattle business until
Ila passed away in 1992, where upon he sold his remaining cattle
and land to his sons who were interested in keeping the family
farm going. He moved into one of the Autumn Park Apartments in
North Platte in April of 1994 where he lived until December
2003, before moving to Centennial Park Retirement Village, when
his health began to fail.
Survivors include his sons, Lysle (Velma) McClellen of
Lexington, Lonnie (Kathy) McClellen of Farnam, and Burnell (Sonda)
McClellen of Moorefield; a sister, Pearl (Louis) Page of Brady;
sister-in-law, Edna Phillips of North Platte; 14 grandchildren;
24 great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and many
nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by his parents; a daughter,
Colleen; sons, Merrill and Loren; sisters, Ester and Lilly; and
brothers, Ernest and Wilbert.
A memorial has been established.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Blase Memorial Chapel
in Gothenburg with the Rev. Larry Viter officiating. Burial will
be in Plainview Cemetery south of Maxwell.
Blase Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg is in charge.
Source: The North Platte Telegraph, 18 Feb 2004 |