Howard Dean Burton, Sr., 87, of Arapahoe and formerly of Bingham, Nebr., passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 4, 2015, in the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.

Howard was born October 22, 1927 at Alliance, Nebr., to Charles and Ida (Gray) Burton. He was the oldest of seven children. He grew up on the family ranch and attended high school in Curtis, Nebr., graduating in 1945.

He attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, before being drafted into the Army. After his discharge he returned to the family ranch.

On April 10, 1953 Howard was united in marriage to Helen Schwaderer in Alliance. To this union four children were born, Gene Jim, Howard II, and Dena. Howard continued to ranch with his father, managing the family business in Wray, Colorado for many years. The family returned to Bingham, Nebr. where Howard worked the ranch for the remainder of his work career. He loved the Nebraska sandhills, the cattle and the horses.

In August 2014 Howard moved to Arapahoe to live near his daughter, where he was known in the community as the “gator man,” as he drove his John Deere Gator around town to do his shopping and visiting.

Preceding him in death were his wife Helen, daughter Dena Wernsman, his parents, three brothers and a sister.

Survivors include three sons: Gene (Jane) Burton of Norton, Kan., Jim (Peggy) Burton of Grant, and Howard II (Mary) Burton of Mesa, Ariz.; son-in-law Jeff Wernsman of Arapahoe; two sisters: Irma (Keith) Hodges of Bingham and Pauline Prewitt of Camp Verde, Ariz. Also ten grandchildren: Jeffrey (Angela) Burton, Eric (Jenny) Burton, Patrick Burton, Megan (Dusty) Marquardt, Leslie (Zach) West, Howard III (Jamie) Burton, Kevin Burton, Christine Burton, Austin Wernsman and Tanner Wernsman; and ten great-grandchildren: Aineka, Xzavior, Teaghan, Masie, Alex, Ethan, Jake, Luke, Easton and Lillie; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Thursday, June 11, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Draucker Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will be Friday, June 12, at 10 a.m. in Draucker Funeral Home with Rev. Eric Wait of New Hope Church officiating.

Interment is in the Bingham Cemetery on Friday at 2 p.m. A memorial has been established to the Hyannis Fire Department. Online condolences may be sent to drauckerfuneralhome.com.

Draucker Funeral Home of Ogallala is in charge of arrangements.