Glen Dee “Red” Barner, age 89, of Stapleton passed away February 7, 2015 at Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte. Red was born on July 31, 1925 in Stapleton, Ne, the second of eight children born to Chet and Edith (Utterback) Barner. He graduated from Baker Rural High School in Stapleton, NE in 1944. After a brief stay in Californian, Red moved back to Stapleton in 1947. He married Leona Cash on June 23, 1948. The couple raised 6 kids, Joleen, Don, Glenda, Teresa, Kyle, and Trent. Lenona passed away in July 2010 after 62 years of marriage.
Red lived 87 of his 89 years 10 miles west of Stapleton on the family farm. As a self proclaimed “Old Sandhiller” the Sandhills were his home. Red loved farming and ranching. He still had a few cows 2 weeks before he passed. In addition to farming and ranching, he had a few other occupations in order to make ends meet- custom corn shelling, shearing sheep, and he was a licensed electrician. He had a strong belief in service to his community, and was involved in many organizations, which included, the School Board, Elks Club, Fire Department, County Commissioner for 24 years, and Logan County Fair Board President for 35 years, starting in 1953. Red got a kick out of “educating” the city folk, whether relatives or boy/girl friends as to how life was on the farm! He enjoyed the mountains and visited Montana many times. Red kept his quick wit one line humor right to the end.
Rodeo was Red’s first love. He entered his first rodeo in 1944. The arena “fence” was made up of parked cars. His bareback horse made it out between two parked cars, he got his rigging back a week later. Red competed regularly statewide, as well as out of state from 1944 through the mid 60’s. His regular events were, Bareback Bronc Riding, Bull Dogging (steer wrestling), Bull Riding, and the Wild Horse Race. He won numerous events at numerous rodeos, including the Nebraska Amateur Cowboy Association All Around Title and Bull Dogging Title in 1953. He then dusted off his bull rope and bareback rig for the first Old Timers rodeo in Hyannis in 1974. He continued to compete and place every year in the dogging at the Old Timers Rodeo until winning the Bull Dogging title with a time of 7 flat at the age of 52. Red helped produce rodeos throughout the state in the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, while working for a couple different stock contractors, doing everything from “flanking” to Arena director. He liked the interaction with the cowboys, but more importantly he liked the handling and the performance of the stock, mainly the bucking horses and bulls. He followed rodeo right to the end, staying up late to watch the National Finals Rodeo in December. Red was a true “Sandhills Cowboy”.
Survivors include daughters, Joleen Blake, Glenda (Jack) Krebs all of North Platte, and Teresa (Steve) Facka of Dickens, NE; sons, Don (Joan) Barner of Wallace, Kyle (Veda) Barner of Big Sky MT, and Trent (Marissa) Barner of Reno, NV; grandchildren, Casey Blake and Allyson (Mark) Dennis, Jay Dee Barner, Andy Barner, Koby Krebs, Justin Krebs, Shane (Ashley) Mathers, Malery Mathers, Tad Mathers, Stacy (Dan) Iske, and Deonna Smith; several great and great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Norma May Christian of AZ, and Pam Wright of Merna, NE; brothers, Myron (Jan) Barner of North Platte, Byron (Elaine) Barner of Lincoln, Ne, and Lemoyne Barner of CA.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Leona; brother and sister-in-law, Earl Dean and Leni Barner; sister and brother-in-law, June and Dean Hanna; and a son-in-law, Ken Blake.
Memorials may be made to the Loup Valley Cemetery and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Graveside services will be 3:00 p.m. today, Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at the Loup Valley Cemetery in Stapleton, NE, on land donated by his grandfather, with the Reverend Harun Gatobu officiating. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. today, February 10, 2015 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home in North Platte which is in charge of arrangements.