Mildred A. Ladwig

Mildred A. Ladwig, 86, passed away on September 26, 2014, at Niobrara Health and Life Center in Lusk. She was born to Clarence A. and Florence (Bedford) Pinkerton in her grandparents' house 3 miles north of Manville, which still stands today. Her father told her in later years that it was so cold that day that the Doctor's car froze up and cracked the block. Her family lived in a sod two room house dug into a hillside with dirt floors that was on their homestead located south of Rebel Coffey's. When she was six they moved up onto the 77 Hill to the place where she was born. She went to school in Manville, graduating in 1945 as the valedictorian of her class. She then went to work for Doctor Reckling at the Spencer Hospital in Lusk. Dr. Reckling didn't take too long convincing her that nursing might not be her best bet as a career, because she would have to spend too much time on her feet.

She then went to the Lincoln School of Commerce in Lincoln, Nebr. where she graduated with an Executive Secretary diploma. She then went to work for Buck Culver at Western Repair as a bookkeeper.

She married Richard E. Ladwig on April 20, 1947, and lived at the Pinkerton place until after the '49 blizzard, when they moved to the Vetter place southwest of Keeline. A son, Richard, was born while they lived there. Then they moved to the Kechter place, and lived there until 1953. Another son, Ernest, was born while they were there.

The family then moved back to the Pinkerton place and while there, daughter Linda and son Frank were born.

They left the ranch in 1957, starting a nomadic lifestyle following road construction crews around Wyoming and South Dakota. In 1972, they leased the Pinkerton place and later bought it.

Mildred stayed busy at various jobs throughout her life, working again at Western Repair, for Lusk State Bank, for Bob Vollmer, Marathon Oil at Lance Creek, drove the Lance Creek to Lusk school bus, and finished her working career as the clerk for the town of Manville. She enjoyed hunting seasons, processing the game and cooking for the numerous out-of-state friends that hunted on the ranch and came back year after year. She enjoyed camping while hunting in the mountains outside Jackson Hole, and even shot a bull moose that was larger than most of the hunters in her family had ever shot.

When no longer able to live independently, she and Richard moved into Cozy Corner for awhile, before moving to Niobrara Health and Life Center, where she resided until her death. The family truly appreciates the care she was given by the staff during her stay at Cozy Corner and NHLC.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, Clarence (Butch) Pinkerton, and grandson, Brian Ladwig.

She is survived by her husband, Richard; her children, Richard A. (Lois) of Manville, Ernest (Colleen) of Oak Harbor, Wash., Linda (Dean) Butler of Sterling, Colo., and Frank (Dianna) of Manville; ten grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Fri., Oct. 3, 2014, at Pier Funeral Home

Memorials in her name may be made to Cozy Corner, Niobrara Health and Life Center, or the Niobrara Senior Center.

Pier Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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