Gary D. Pearson

Local man killed in ranch accident

A Niobrara County man was killed Friday in an apparent ranch accident seven miles south of Manville.

Gary Pearson, 37, died June 18, after falling into a water well house, where he was repairng a water pipeline system on property leased by his employer, Pat Miller.

According to Niobrara County Sheriff Samuel "Bebe" Reed, Pat and Justin Miller found Pearson face down in the water in the well house, where he had "somehow, some way slipped, hit his head on the wall, became unconscious, and fell into the water and drowned."

Although he has not received an official report, Reed said preliminary reports show Peason's lungs were full of water.

Reed said Pearson had gone to the well house to do some repairs on the water pipeline system in the afternoon. When he did not return home as expected by 6 p.m. that evening, Pearson's wife Beckie contacted Miller, who went to look for him.

Lusk Herald
June 23, 1999
Gary D. Pearson

Funeral services for Gary D. Pearson, 37, of Lusk, were held June 22, 1999, at the Manville City Park, with Pastor Gary Walker officiating. Interment was in the Manville Cemetery.

Gary died June 18, 1999, in a ranch accident south of Manville.

He was born to Earl and Esther Pearson on November 2, 1962, in Lusk, the fourth of five children. He was reared and educated in the Lusk area, attending Fairview country School and Lusk High School. He married his wife Beckie, September 21, 1996 on the ranch where they resided until his death.

Gary enjoyed wildlife, fishing, hunting and outdoor activities. The love of his life was his family. At the time of his death he was working for Miller Enterprises. Over the years he worked for many surrounding ranches. He was also a school bus driver.

He is survived by his wife, Beckie, daughters, Ashley Miller, Kayla and Layne (George); his mother, Esther who resides on the ranch; a sister Kathryn and husband Dee Lutt of Wayne, Neb.; brothers, Carl (CJ) and wife Mary of Wright, and Russ and wife Sena of Lusk. He is also survived by nieces and nephews, Tanya, Carla, Cody, Lyle, Lesa, Morgan, Levi, Sena Marie and Melissa, plus many other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Karolyn and father Earl.

Serving as pallbearers were Jerry Morehead, Joe Surbeck, Dwight and Travis Krein, Rod Geisinger, Danny Hanson and John Thurston. Honorary pallbearers are Dick Baker, Mark Thompson and Walt Lashmett.

Bader Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

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