Myron Leroy Townsend

Myron Townsend, 82, Dies Monday

Myron L. Townsend, 82, died Monday morning at the Niobrara Memorial Hospital after an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held this Thursday at 2:00 p.m., from the Peet Chapel with the Rev. James Davis of the Congregational Church officiating. Burial will be at the Harrison Cemetery.

Mrs. Gerald Bardo will be organist, Mrs. James Davis and Mrs. A. F. DeCastro will sing "The Old Rugged Cross," "Lead Kindly Light" and "In the Garden".

Pallbearers are Gail Prell, Rex Heth, Grant Ward, Ed Hales, Earnest Hales and William Hales.

Myron Leroy Townsend was born to Winfield Scott and Jennie E. Stockner Townsend October 6, 1882 at Wyoming, Ill. In 1884 he moved with his parents to Dawes County, Nebr. His father built the first frame building that started Crawford. He and Laura Lydia Hales were married at Crawford in 1907. They came to Wyoming in 1910 and homesteaded in the Whitman community in northern Niobrara County. In 1956 they moved to Lusk.

Besides his widow, survivors include two sons, William Leroy Townsend of Seattle, Wash. and Myron Earle Townsend of Lusk; one daughter, Mrs. Esther Ella Selby of Casper; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

One son, Lorn, died previously.

Thon Book 10
M.L. Townsend Area Resident For 80 Years

Funeral services for Myron Leroy Townsend, 82, who died May 17 were held from the Peet Chapel last Thursday. Mr. Townsend had been a resident of western Nebraska and eastern Wyoming for 80 years.

He was born October 6, 1882 at Wyoming, Ill., the youngest of nine children. When two he moved with his parents in a covered wagon to Crawford. His early boyhood was spent on their homestead where he received his education by reading books while herding cattle. His love for the open air led him to the range and different ranches and roundups where he became a top bronc rider. In late fall he would usually return to his home in Crawford where he worked in his father's bakery and also in harness and saddle shops there during the winter. At the first sign of spring, he would leave for the range roundups and horse breaking. He took part in most rodeos wherever he was, riding at the Cheyenne Frontier Days as one of the top riders in 1905.

After his marriage to Laura Hales in 1907, he operated sawmills, well drills, and threshing machines in the beginning of the mechanical period. He was an excellent blacksmith, making spurs and bridle bits which are still in possession of numerous relatives and friends.

In 1932 he and his family moved to the Divide north of Lusk. In addition to his ranching, he continued to operate his sawmill and well drilling. He moved to Lusk in 1956 where he remained to his death.

In earlier life he enjoyed playing his violin. In later years as he became less active, his time was spent reading and telling stories of the old west.

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