Merle Ray Labertew

Merle Ray Labertew, 82, of Melbeta, died Wednesday, February 20, 2008, at his home after fighting his health for eleven years, he is finally resting in peace. His memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, February 25, 2008, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel in Scottsbluff with Owen Anderson officiating. Cremation was at Sunset Memorial Park Crematory in Scottsbluff and inurnment will be at a later date in Creighton Valley Cemetery at Melbeta. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established to Minatare-Melbeta Rescue Unit, Festival of Hope, Prairie Haven Hospice or the donor’s choice. Merle Ray Labertew was born February 3, 1926, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska to John Royce and Thelma Mae (Morris) Labertew. He lived all his life in Western Nebraska. Merle attended elementary school at country schools of Trail, Cedar Canyon and Creighton Valley. He went to high school in Melbeta and graduated in May 1944. He was very active in all sports. After graduating he continued to play town team basketball and baseball for several years, which he enjoyed very much. After graduating from high school he worked on the farm for his Dad and different neighbors until he enlisted in the Navy in the fall of 1945. After being in the Navy for three months he received a medical discharge. He returned home and started farming for himself in 1946. He married his high school sweetheart, Geraldine Rowena Cochran, June 30, 1946, at the Melbeta Methodist Church. Three children were born to this union, Jimmy Ray, Stanley John and Sharon Kay. After they were married they continued to farm until 1975, when they sold their farm and moved into Melbeta. While farming he was on Great Western’s Top Ten Beet Growers for several years. After moving to Melbeta he started working for Platte Valley Livestock Auction and also had cattle of his own. He and Rowena enjoyed spending many hours on their horses riding among their cattle out in the hills south of Melbeta. It was so peaceful and relaxing, they really felt close to God. Merle continued working for Platte Valley Livestock until December 1996, when ill health forced him to quit. While at Platte Valley Livestock he covered lots of country consigning cattle for them, therefore made many very special friends. He missed seeing those people when he had to quit working. He was a 4-H leader for many years and was on the 4-H council. He always helped at the county fair. He served on the Melbeta School Board and after moving into Melbeta was on the town council. He was a member of the Melbeta United Methodist Church and Scottsbluff Elks Lodge. One of the big joys of his life was watching his children and grandchildren grow up and taking part in all their activities. He so enjoyed his seven grandchildren and anxiously waited for some great-grandchildren. Finally he had nine great-grandchildren, he was so proud of them all. One of his favorite pastimes was playing cards, pitch and pinochle. Whenever company came he had to have a game of cards. Also until his health no longer permitted him to, he looked forward to going down town Melbeta every morning for a few pitch games with his farmer friends. Survivors include his wife, Rowena; son, Stanley (Sandy) Labertew of Sylvan Grove, Kansas; daughter, Sharon (Randy) Steinle of Lakin, Kansas; daughter-in-law, Barbara (Bradley) Beutler of Minatare; grandchildren, Shannon Temple (friend, Lee Floth) of Scottsbluff, Brandon (Laura) Labertew of McPherson, Kansas, Britney (Ronald) Tenbrink of Ellsworth, Kansas, Benjamin (Angie) Labertew of Waldo, Kansas, Dustin Steinle of Houston, Texas, Danica Steinle of St. Louis, Missouri and Kyree Steinle of Manhattan, Kansas; great-grandchildren, Drew, Brycen and Lauren Labertew of McPherson, Kansas, Lakyn, Ryan and Paityn Tenbrink of Ellsworth, Kansas, Jase and Maggie Labertew of Waldo, Kansas and Ryan Temple of Scottsbluff; brother, Morris (Shirley) Labertew of Montrose, Colorado, brothers-in-law, Earl Curtis of Casper, Wyoming, Dean Cochran of Mitchell and Forrest (Marge) Cochran of Gering; sisters-in-law, Lois (Ronald) Meier of Gering and Joann (Jack) Corr of Scottsbluff; several very special nieces and nephews from both his and Rowena’s family; three aunts and several cousins. He was preceded in death by son, Jimmy Ray Labertew; parents, John Royce and Thelma; sister, Lois Curtis; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jean and Ralph Vogel; and sister-in-law, Judie Cochran.