Merle LaVerne Durner, age 87 of Wellfleet, passed away Thursday September 25, 2014.
Merle was born on April 5, 1927 on the homeplace near Wellfleet to John and Dorothy (Garner) Durner. He was the oldest of three children; his twin sisters Jean and Joan were born in 1929. Merle lived all of his life on the homeplace. He attended the Bell Prairie School, riding his horse to and from school. He attended high school in Curtis at the Ag School before going to work for the Orville Kuhlman family for several years. He traveled by train as far as Mississippi showing champion livestock. On July 27, 1952 he was united in marriage to Evelyn Kinney at the Lutheran Church in Wellfleet, and to this union two children were born, Roger and Nancy. They raised their family on the homeplace. Merle was an active supporter of 4-H, serving as a leader for 50 years. He was a co-founder of the Medicine Valley Trail Riders 4-H Club. In the summer time on weekends, you could find him announcing 4-H horseshows. He was president of the Wellfleet Community Club for 6 years. He called many square dances and enjoyed auctioneering and going to auctions. During the 1988 NebraskaLand Days Celebration he was awarded the Trail Boss Award. After working for Kuhlman’s, he ranched with his father at Wellfleet where he enjoyed raising Longhorns. Together they used horses to help construct Highway 83. While working on the family ranch, he also worked construction for Simon’s Construction and Western Engineering.
Merle is survived by his wife Evelyn of Wellfleet; children Roger (Dee) Durner of Wellfleet, and Nancy (Ron) Richardson of North Platte; grandchildren Amy (Jerry )Faulk of Rushville, Jason (Suzanne) Richardson of North Platte, Leslie (Mark) Brown of Merriman, Brooke (Cody) Lee of Grant, Austin (Myriah) Durner of Cozad, and Casey (Shawnee) Durner of Woodlake, NE, Tessa Contreras of Crook, CO, and Tye (Hannah) Bain of Spring Valley, TX; great grandchildren Brock, Blake, and Blair Henry, Daytona Ham, Montana, Monte LaVerne, and Milee Durner, Rowan Lee and Saige Durner; Joel and Jace Contreras, Hadlie and Oaklee Bain; sisters Ramona Jean Elson of Curtis and Verona Joan West of North Platte; sisters-in-law Mary Lou Smolik of Salt Lake City, Roberta Coleman of Imperial and Isabell Kinney of North Platte, Kenneth and Beverly Kinney of Waco, NE; as well as numerous other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws Bill and Hattie Kinney; and brothers-in-law Warren Kinney, Glen Coleman, Jack Smolik, George Elson, and Jake West.
Memorials are suggested to the Lincoln County 4-H Horse Program, Wellfleet Community Club or the Wellfleet/Maywood Fire and Rescue Units. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday September 29, 2014 at the Adams and Swanson Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Greg Boller and Reverend Frank Fitch officiating. Burial will follow at the Wellfleet Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.