Albert E. DeGering

91-year-old pioneer rancher dies

Albert E. DeGering, 91, pioneer rancher of Niobrara County, died Nov. 13 at Bethesda, Md., while he and Mrs. DeGering were visiting in the East.

The funeral service was held Monday afternoon at 2:00 at the Peet Mortuary, and burial was in the Lusk Cemetery. The Rev. Bradley Skinner, Salt Lake City, minister to the Churches of the Rocky Mountain Conference United Church of Christ, officiated. He has been guest minister at the Lusk Congregational Church on Sunday in the absence of the regular pastor, the Rev. Boutwell.

Organist was Mrs. Minerva Watson who accompanied Tim Johnson in the singing of "Beyond the Sunset" and "You Will Never Walk Alone." Casket bearers were James Meng, Henry Wasserburger, Jr. Cody Clark, Ed Boner, Rex Story and Dick David.

He was born the son of Henry and Charlotte DeGering on August 16, 1884, near North Platte, Neb. At the age of six weeks his mother returned with him to Wyoming where he spent his early years with his family north of Wheatland on Cottonwood Creek.

His parents separated when he was 11 and Albert struck out on his own shortly thereafter. He lived with various area ranchers until he started in partnership with Tom Wilson on the Cheyenne River.

He homesteaded on Alum Creek in 1906 and married Ethel Boner July 28, 1913. They started their home 27 miles north of Lusk on Ethel's Coyote Creek homestead and through the years built up a large, modern ranch.

In his younger years, Albert worked with many cattle roundups, serving as foreman of several. He loved the sense of freedom which the wide open spaces provided.

He was a long standing member of the Wyoming Stock Growers Association, the Wyoming Wool Growers Association and the Niobrara County Farm Bureau. He served on his district school board in the 1930's and was a member of the Lusk Congregational Church.

Mr. DeGering retired from ranching in 1971 and moved with his wife to Lusk.

He is survived by his widow, three sons, Milton of Denver, Leonard and John of Lusk; two daughters, Virginia Bryant of Potomac, Md. Esther Higinbotham of Denver; a sister Gail Sullenberger of Auburn, Wash.; 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son Kenneth, a daughter, Nellie Higinbotham, a brother Ray, sisters Eva Ryan and Rose Stanfield, a half brother, John Miller and half sisters Anna Peterson and Minnie Coleman.

A memorial in his honor has been established for the Niobrara Nursing Home Fund.

Images & Attachments

Related/Linked Records