Richard Ernest Ladwig

Richard E. Ladwig passed away May 9, 2017 at Niobrara Community Hospital Extended Care Center in Lusk, Wyoming. He was born to William August Frederick and Katerina Wilhelmina (Glandt) Ladwig in Hemingford, Nebraska, on July 4, 1927. The family then moved to Van Tassell, Wyoming in 1928, living at various places in the area, Richard started school at the Star School and during one term, the school consisted of the teacher, six Ladwig children and Lucille (Larson) Shoults. Then the children started riding the bus into Van Tassell and soon after that Katerina moved into Van Tassell to be closer to the school.

In 1934, the family moved to Jireh, Wyoming where the last 3 of 12 children were born. The house they lived in still stands south of US Highway 20. The children went to school in Jireh and Manville.

During his eighth year of school, Richard went to work herding sheep for Raleigh Reed south of Manville. He dutifully traveled by horseback on Sundays to visit his family, sometimes taking them a deer that he ambushed on the way to help feed his brothers and sisters. He worked at various places and eventually went to work for the Clarence Pinkerton's north of Manville.

Richard was drafted into the Army in 1946 and after training he served in Japan with the Army of Occupation, returning in April of 1947.

He married Mildred Pinkerton on April 20, 1947 and they lived at the Pinkerton place until after the '49 Blizzard, when they moved to the Vetter place south west of Keeline. A son, Richard A. 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.

Richard was born with farmer genes in his blood and he enjoyed farming the land and raising cattle. He had a true passion for hunting and for many years never missed a hunting trip to the mountains, with family and friends, to hunt deer, elk, and moose. He also enjoyed helping numerous out-of-state friends that hunted on the ranch and came back year after year. Richard also never found an auction that he could pass up.

When no longer able to live independently, he moved to the Niobrara Community Hospital Extended Care Center in July of 2010, where he resided until his death. The family truly appreciates the care he was given by the excellent staff at NHLC.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred; brothers, William (Bill), and James (Jim); sisters Delyda, Madelene, Autumn, Olga, Ruth, Helen, Josephine, Lucille, and grandson, Brian Ladwig.

He is survived by a brother, Harold (Fern) Ladwig of Douglas, his children, Richard A. (Lois) of Manville, Ernest (Colleen) of Oak Harbor, Washington, Linda (Dean) Butler, Sterling, Colorado; and Frank (Dianna) of Manville; ten grand children, 14 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services at 2 P.M., Friday, May 12 at Pier Funeral Home.

Memorials in his name may be made to the Niobrara Historical Society, Stage Coach Museum.

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