Ray E. Freeman

Ray E. Freeman

Services for Ray E. Freeman were held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 14, in the Peet Mortuary Chapel in Lusk with Rev. Delbert Dick officiating. Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery.

Freeman died Thursday, May 10, 1990, in the Ponderosa Villa Nursing Home in Crawford, Neb. He was born Nov. 9, 1905, in Bonesteel, S.D., the son of Earl and Hattie Freeman.

In 1911, Earl homesteaded with his family on Old Woman Creek, north of Lusk. Ray had 11 years of formal schooling. He went to work and on Nov. 26, 1931, he married Enid Lund, a neighboring ranch girl. To this union were born: Kenneth, Donald and Leona. On Aug, 17, 1980, Enid passed away. On April 22, 1983, Ray married Elaine Kloppel.

From 1938 to 1969, Ray ranched north of Node in the Hat Creek area. In 1969, Ray retired from ranching and moved to Lusk. His son, Kenneth, took over the ranch. Ray lived in Lusk from 1969 to 1983, when he moved to Crawford with Elaine.

Ray was an active Farm Bureau member through the years. He served as county chairman and served on the state board of directors for many years. He was instrumental in the formation of two Farm Bureau Insurance Companies; Western Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and Mountain West Insurance Company of Wyoming. Ray was also a charter member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Lusk.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Enid, and a son Donald.

Survivors include his wife Elaine of Crawford, one son Kenneth Freeman of Lusk, one daughter, Leona Lembke of Brawley, Calif.; two sisters Clara Sporling of Grants Pass, Ore.; and Bertha Hoage of Torrington; four grandchildren; Lindi Nelson of Gillette; Pam Hammond of Brawley, Calif.; Ric Schuyler and Donee Jean Freeman, both of Lusk; and six great grandchildren; Kristi Fernau, Laura Nelson, Kayla Hammond, Eric and Jenifer Schuyler and April Freeman.

For those who wish, memorials to either the Niobrara Senior Center in Lusk or to the Crawford Senior Center in Crawford, Neb., will be appreciated by the family.

Peet Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.

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