GOTHENBURG — Walter H. McClellen, 95, of North Platte formerly south of Brady, died Feb. 15, 2004, at the Centennial Park Retirement Village in North Platte.

He was born Oct. 12, 1908, on his parent’s farm near New Hope, north of Gothenburg, to Jessie and Hilma Nelson McClellen. He grew up north of Gothenburg and south of Brady. After graduating from the eighth grade he worked for his uncles Earl McClellen, north of Brady, and Homer Luke and Alley McClellen at their farms south of Brady, and for Otto Lind, where he met his future wife, Otto’s niece, Ila Daniels.

On Feb. 25, 1929, he married Ila Daniels at North Platte and went to work for Ned Martin south of Maxwell, where he worked on Ned’s ranch through the Great Depression and started a family when enough money was saved up. He bought the two farms south of Brady where his uncles Luke and Alley had lived and had spent time helping out during his teenage years. They brought up their children on the farm south of Brady where they raised Herford and Angus cattle, sheep, hogs, chickens and other poultry. They put up their own hay, had milk cows and raised corn. He always had his garden. He enjoyed playing the fiddle, while Ila corded, for local dances and at the homes of friends and relatives. Even into his late 80s he drove to area nursing homes to play his fiddle to entertain the residents. He could always be counted on to help his neighbors when they needed extra help branding calves, putting up hay, or doing chores for them if they needed to go someplace for a few days. He was a very strong believer of the value of a good education and served on the school board of Jeffrey Queen School for many years.

Mr. McClellen remained active in the cattle business until Ila passed away in 1992, where upon he sold his remaining cattle and land to his sons who were interested in keeping the family farm going. He moved into one of the Autumn Park Apartments in North Platte in April of 1994 where he lived until December 2003, before moving to Centennial Park Retirement Village, when his health began to fail.

Survivors include his sons, Lysle (Velma) McClellen of Lexington, Lonnie (Kathy) McClellen of Farnam, and Burnell (Sonda) McClellen of Moorefield; a sister, Pearl (Louis) Page of Brady; sister-in-law, Edna Phillips of North Platte; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Colleen; sons, Merrill and Loren; sisters, Ester and Lilly; and brothers, Ernest and Wilbert.

A memorial has been established.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Blase Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg with the Rev. Larry Viter officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Cemetery south of Maxwell.

Blase Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg is in charge.

The North Platte Telegraph, 18 Feb 2004