obituaries

Feb 26, 2025

Melanie Dawn (Retzlaff) Bourne, 51, of Clinton, NE, passed away unexpectedly at her home on February 26, 2025.

Melanie was born on March 15, 1973, in Gordon, Nebraska, to Kendall Retzlaff and Sharon (Shedeed) Retzlaff Judd.

Melanie graduated from Rushville High School in 1991. Following graduation, Melanie worked various jobs, including a nanny job at...

Feb 25, 2025

Barbara Jean Rapp, 70, passed away peacefully February 25, 2025, at Niobrara Community Hospital after a two-year courageous and determined battle with pancreatic and colon cancer. A Catholic Rosary is being held Sunday, March 2, 2025, at 5:00 pm and a funeral service Monday, March 3, 2025, at 10:00 am at St. Leo's Catholic Church with overflow for the...

Jan 28, 2025

A service to honor Karen Morris Whitney, 82, will be held Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. at the Newcastle Senior Center, a reception will follow.  Cremation has taken place with the cremains to be buried in the Lusk Cemetery under the direction of Pier Funeral Home.

Karen passed away peacefully at Shepherd of the Valley...

Jan 5, 2025

Karen Sue Hicks (Desmond) was born in Longmont, Colorado on May 25, 1957. She went to her heavenly home with Jesus on January 5, 2025 at her farm home near Lusk, Wyoming. She spent her childhood in Loveland, CO, and graduated from Loveland High School in 1975. On November 14, 1975 she was married to Paul Hicks from Berthoud,...

Nov 30, 2024

Prosper Pierre Etchemendy 10/6/1931-10/22/2025.

Dad was born on October 6, 1931, in Montrose Colorado to French Basque immigrants Pierre and Anna Etchemendy. He spent his young years in the mountains of Colorado herding sheep with the Basque herders honing his ag skills, his Basque language and way of life. Dad was fluent in the Basque language both...

Nov 30, 2024

William Harley Cushman, age 88, was at home when he left this world to go to heaven on May 4, 2025. Graveside services will be held at the Jireh Cemetery Highway 85, North Jireh Rd, Keeline, Wyoming, on Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 1 pm, with a reception to follow at the Shooting Sports Arena at the Niobrara County...

Nov 30, 2024

Brad Kant, age 58, of Lance Creek, Wyoming, passed away on Sunday, January 12, at the Central Wyoming Hospice in Casper after a long battle with cancer. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, January 18, 2025, at the Pier Funeral Home in Lusk, Wyoming. Interment will follow in the Lusk Cemetery. Brad was born...

Nov 29, 2024

Joy Evonne Ellingson Kaltenheuser, age 91, formerly of Lusk and Torrington, Wyoming, died November 29, 2024, in Rochester, Minnesota. The public is invited to a celebration of life for Joy on Saturday, December 7th, at the Congregational Church at 2:00 p.m. in Lusk, Wyoming.

Joy was born September 23, 1933, in McCallsburg, Iowa, and graduated from McCallsburg...

Oct 30, 2024

Larry Ray Bone came roaring into the world March 28, 1957 in Lusk, WY. His proud parents were Don and Lois Bone also of Lusk.

Larry spent the entirety of his educational career and the majority of his life in Lusk. He was very interested in fast cars as a young man and built himself one from...

Oct 22, 2024

Norma Jean Willson, born November 17, 1930, to Joseph and Francis Konrath, passed away October 22, 2024, in Jackson, Wyoming, at 93, after a brief illness. A Rosary will be recited at 1:00 PM on Friday, November 1, 2024, at St. Leo's Catholic Church, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 1:30. A reception for friends and family...

Oct 18, 2024

Chuck Engebretsen, age 79, of Lost Springs, Wyoming, died on Friday, October 18, 2024, at the family ranch. Services will be held at 1:00 PM, Friday, October 25, 2024, at The Lusk Congregational Church in Lusk, Wyoming. Interment will follow at the Lusk Cemetery.

Sep 29, 2024

Andrew "Jack" Anderson, age 78, of Douglas, Wyoming, passed away on September 29th, and Wyoming passed away on September 29, 2024, in Casper, Wyoming. A graveside service will be held at 3:00 pm on Friday, October 4th, 2024, at the Lusk Cemetery.

He is survived by his son, John Anderson of San Antonio, Texas, his wife, Denyse,...

Sep 3, 2024

Ralph Arthur Barndt was born on August 15, 1943, in Billings, MT. He passed away unexpectedly at Niobrara Community Hospital on September 3, 2024. Ralph is the 2nd of 5 children born to Clyde and Alice Barndt of Bridger, MT. He grew up in Bridger, MT, and moved to Edmonds, WA when he was 16 to help his brother...

Sep 2, 2024

A private family service will be held for Pete Hansen, age 89, of Lusk, he died September 2nd, 2024 at the Niobrara Community Hospital.  The family requests no flowers, should you wish a memorial may be made to the Lusk Ambulance or the Niobrara County Library.

Masonic graveside rights will be conducted by Lusk Lodge #24, with...

Aug 22, 2024

Karen Kay Hogan (Huffman), age 79, of Lusk, WY, passed away peacefully August 22, 2024, at Central Wyoming Hospice Center in Casper, WY. Karen was born August 11, 1945, in Limon, Colorado, to Sylvan and Lena Mae (Tull) Huffman. Karen was the youngest of 4 siblings, Lawerance Sylvan, Dolores Darline, and George Lowell. Karen was the apple of her...

Aug 19, 2024

Patricia Marie Garner passed away on August 19, 2024, at the age of 95.  She was born on March 17, 1929, in rural Sioux County, Nebraska, to Jess Christian and Kathryn Doyle Eberspecher.  She was the oldest of eight children.  She attended grade school at Bodarc District 6, the same country school where 7 of her grandchildren attended in...

Aug 16, 2024

Donnie Heckert, age 91, of Van Tassell, Wyoming, died at his home on Friday, August 16, 2024. Per his wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024, at Prairie Hills Community Center.

Donald Heckert age 91 died August 16, 2024 at his home in Van Tassel, Wyoming.  Memorial services...

Jul 13, 2024

Niobrara County lost a hummingbird early Saturday morning, July 13, 2024. Carla Reed, 90, passed away at the Niobrara County Memorial Hospital following a short illness and following a treasured 90th birthday celebration earlier this year.

Through all seasons and phases of her life, Carla was the safe harbor for all in the storms of her family's...

Jun 28, 2024

Karen Beth Green Gilbert was born in Billings, Montana, on March 14, 1941, and died on June 28, 2024. at the Niobrara Community Hospital in Lusk.. She was the middle child of Clarence Clark Green and Opal Elizabeth Hatheway Green.

She was raised in Pryor, Montana, where she attended grade school and then bussed 20 miles to...

Jun 6, 2024

John Cody Thompson

August 25, 1942 – June 6, 2024

John Cody Thompson was born August 25, 1942, in Chadron, Nebraska, the oldest son of John Russell

Thompson and Mary Jo Norman Thompson.

Russ and Mary Jo relocated to Niobrara County shortly after Cody's birth, settling for a short time at...