James "Jim" McKinley Ringer

Jim Ringer, Niobrara Assessor, Dies Saturday of Cancer at Keeline Home

James M. Ringer, 68, Niobrara County Assessor for the past nine years and Niobrara resident for 36 years died Saturday at his home in Keeline of cancer.

Mr. Ringer, a Democrat, was three times a successful candidate for Assessor in normally Republican Niobrara County. He was first elected in 1954 and was reelected in 1958 and 1962.

Mr. Ringer had been suffering from cancer of the throat for some time and only recently returned to Lusk from the Penrose Cancer Clinic in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Funeral services were held from the Peet Chapel Wednesday with the Rev. Leroy Kellerman of St. Paul's Lutheran Church officiating. Burial was in the Lusk Cemetery.

Frank Kuhn sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Mrs. A. F. DeCastro was the organist.

Pallbearers were: George Sylvester, Harry Fernau, Jr., Harold Rogers, Curtis Freeman, Lloyd Coleman and Lee Thomas.

Honorary pallbearers were: G. L. Pfeifer, S. E. West, Frank Bozart, Emery Gaukel, Charles Vaughan, Gene Payne, William Haines, Jack Groshart, Earl McKay, Wilbur Brittel, Andrew McMaster, Max Bird, Cecil Toby and R. C. Bafford.

James McKinley Ringer was born July 28, 1896 at Savannah, Mo. the son of Edgar and Nora Ringer. He received his education in the schools of Mills, County, Iowa near Council Bluffs. At 20 he moved to Hemingford, Nebr. with his family. February 24, 1920 he and Florence Schipper were married at Hemingford. Mr. Ringer farmed until 1928 when they moved to their present home at Keeline.

Mr. Ringer's principal occupation during his residence in Niobrara County was ranching. For many years he drove the school bus in the Keeline community and served as a 4-H leader. He was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Evangelical Lutheran Church.

He served first as a community chairman of the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service and then as Niobrara Chairman.

He is survived by his wife, Florence, three daughters, Mrs. Betty Thomas, Billings, Mont., Mrs. Bonnie Taylor, Denver and Mrs. Josephine Haworth, Keeline; one son, James E. Ringer, Anaheim, Calif.; six grandchildren, Robert and Donald Thomas, Billings, James and Deborah Ringer and Terri Jo Haworth, Keeline and Holli Ann Ringer, Las Vegas, Nev.; two brothers, Louis Ringer, Portland and Durward Ringer of Edgemont; five sisters, Miss Nettie Ringer, Edgemont, Mrs. Ethel Howard, Coin, Iowa, Mrs. Goldie Cass, Alliance, Nebr., Mrs. Blanch Tollman, Denver and Mrs. Opal Walden, Crawford.

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