Paul “Bill” William Schmele, age 91, passed away on July 4, 2024. Born on October 31, 1932, in Rapid City, SD, to Paul William and Sophia Anna (Karinen) Schmele, Bill attended Horse Creek Elementary School and Newell High School. Bill married Alice Blackburn on June 8, 1961, and they were blessed with six children: Nadine (Dwight) Sandoz of St. Paul, NE, Carol (Klemen) Vidic of Ljubljana, Slovenia, Mary (Nathan) Johnson of Grand Forks, ND, Joanne (Brian) Wise of Orange City, Iowa, James “Jimmy” Paul  Schmele, and Donna Phillips of Grand Forks, ND. A dedicated and passionate cattle rancher, Bill was renowned for raising registered Hereford bulls and cultivating a distinguished bloodline of Hereford cattle traced back to England. His exceptional knowledge and intuition about cattle

It is always difficult saying goodbye to someone we love and cherish. Family and friends must say goodbye to their beloved Lovell Kuykendall of Cherokee, Texas, born in Temple, Texas, who passed away at the age of 86, on June 27, 2024. You can send your sympathy in the guestbook provided and share it with the family. He was predeceased by : his parents, James Kuykendall and Zudora Kuykendall. He is survived by: his former life partner Sandra Jones; his brother John; his wife Sandy Kuykendall; his children, Jim Kuykendall of Lake Placid, NY, Karen Blanco (Luis) of Austin, TX and Donna Stewart (Darin) of Olathe, KS; his grandchildren, Clay Stewart (Elle), Alyson Stewart (Will) and Kyle Blanco; his great grandchildren, Lewie and Norman Stewart;

Funeral service for Lila Churchill age 91 of Valentine will be held on Thursday, July 11 at 11:00 AM at the Cherry County Fairgrounds. The Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine. A visitation will be held 1 hour before the funeral at the fairgrounds. Mrs. Churchill passed away on June 26, 2024, at her home south of Valentine. Survivors Husband-Kenny of Valentine Sons-Brad of Cheyenne, WY Linn of Valentine

Keith Robert Fawcett, 64, of Ree Heights, passed away Friday, June 7, 2024, at Highmore Health, after an intense battle with cancer with his wife at his side. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 14, 2024, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Miller, with Rev. Rhonda Wellsandt-Zell officiating.  Lunch will follow at the Miller Community Center and then burial at Morningside Cemetery, Ree Heights, SD.  Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 13, 2024, followed by a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, at the church. Keith was born to Robert and Marjean (Diede) Fawcett as the third child of three, the only son and the 4th generation to thrive on the ranch, which would become known as Fawcett’s Elm Creek Ranch.  Showing cattle in

Eugene E. “Gene” Bock, was a beacon of strength, humbleness, and generosity, a dedicated family man, a friend to all, and a passionate advocate for agriculture education and horned Hereford cattle. Born on July 31, 1957, in Beatrice, Nebraska, Eugene was a man of deep integrity and humor. His dedication to his work and family was unmatched. His laughter was contagious; his patience, legacy, and love for his family and community, unparalleled. Eugene was a man whose grit and savvy were matched only by his love for people, Hereford cattle, and conservation. A member of the Hereford Association, the Tallgrass Prairie Association, and the Natural Resources and Conservation Service, he was a champion of land conservation, reseeding native grasses, terracing farmland, developing water sources, and

James Clarence Caraway was born March 7th, 1970 to Clarence and Mary (Delaney) Caraway. He was welcomed by his sister Barb and then followed by Lori, Mary Kay, Corey, and Jon Caraway. James attended grade school in Lake Benton until 2nd grade when the family moved to Clearfield, SD where he went to country school (Star Prairie Country School). In 4th grade the family moved back to Lake Benton. James was very active throughout Jr High and High School in 4-H, FFA, and MN Junior Hereford Association where he, along with his siblings and several of his friends in the show cattle world, enjoyed shows including county fairs, state fairs, and several Jr National shows all over the country during the summer. James was a

Rainn J. Stadheim, 12 of rural Reeder, ND tragically passed away at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger, ND on Sunday, June 2, 2024. Service of Remembrance will be Saturday, June 8, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. MT at the Dakota Prairie Enrichment Center (formerly the Reeder School) in Reeder, ND. Rev. Phil Hahn will officiate and burial will follow at the Rose Hill Cemetery in Reeder, ND. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, June 7, 2024 at the Centennial Chapel of Evanson Jensen Funeral Homes (700 2nd Avenue South) Hettinger, ND. In lieu of flowers, a Memorial will be established for Rainn by her family. Rainn is survived by her parents, Jeremy and Carrie, her brothers, Pitch, Stone and

Delores’ life began on June 18, 1931, in Herington. She was the daughter of Clarence J. “Jake” Schneider and Alice L. (Hedburg) Schneider. Delores attended school in Herington and a member of the Class of 1949. She was united in marriage to Wallace D. “Bill” Granzow on September 20, 1948, at the United Methodist Church in Herington. Delores went to work when she was eleven years old and worked hard all her life. She was an early telephone operator, worked for Bus Stiles Thriftway Grocery, was the secretary for the Tri-County Methodist Parish and spent 20 years at the Herington Hospital as a medical transcriptionist. Delores was a member of the Cosmopolitan Club, United Methodist Women, Herington Hospital Auxiliary, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and the

November 12, 1928 to April 30, 2024 Ralph Dyer passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones on the family farm he grew up on and lived at for the majority of his life. He was born to Donald and Susan Almeda Dyer on November 12, 1928. He graduated from Knoxville High School in 1946 and was a star athlete, being inducted into the Knoxville Schools’ Athletic Hall of Fame. He was married to the love of his life Donna (Fee) Dyer on October 17, 1952.  To this union Ralph and Donna had two sons, Monty and Tim Dyer. After his service in the Korean War in the Air Force, Ralph and Donna settled in rural Pleasantville and raised Hereford Cattle and Ralph

Donald J. Knippling, 89, of Gann Valley, passed away Sunday, April 28. 2024, at Good Samaritan Society in Miller. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 4, 2024, at St. Ann’s Catholic Church, Miller. Burial will follow at St. Placidus Cemetery, Duncan. Visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m., Friday, May 3, 2024, followed by a 7:00 p.m. rosary and prayer service, all at the church. Donald Jerome Knippling was born June 29, 1934 in Wessington Springs, SD, to Joseph Knippling and Eleanor (Etbauer) Knippling. He lived in Arlington Township, Buffalo County his entire life.  He was the oldest of six children. He had two brothers, Jerald (Ardith) and Clayton (Evelyn) and three sisters, Genevieve (John Rank), Joyce (Ken Lawver), and MaryJo (Mark Joens).

David Edward Gottschalk, 87, Byron, Minnesota David Edward Gottschalk was born May 20, 1936, in Rochester, Minnesota. He graduated from Rochester High School in 1954. He was a member of the National Guard Reserves for 5 years. David married Rose Anna O’Byrne in Rochester, MN on June 4, 1954. David passed away April 5, 2024. David was a reputable Registered Hereford cattle breeder since 1961 and a passionate lifetime “Minnesota Hereford Breeder’s Association Hall-Of-Fame member” as well as a National Hereford Association member. He was a Mayo Clinic employee for 21 years from 1957-1978. David was married to his wife Rose for nearly 70 years. David is survived by Rose, and his children Scott (Astrid) of Kimball, MN, Julie (Dean) Albers of Red Wing, MN,

Harley Edward Zens, 73, of Canova passed away peacefully on March 23, 2024 surrounded by his family. Funeral mass will begin at 10:30 am on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at Church of the Epiphany in Epiphany, SD. Visitation will be held Tuesday, March 26 from 5-7 pm with a 7 pm prayer service also at the church. Harley Zens was born on January 13, 1951 as the oldest of 4 children to Clement and Elsie (Ehlke) Zens. He attended country school near their family farm until its closure after he completed the third grade and then attended St. Mary’s Catholic school in Epiphany, SD through the 8th grade. After parochial school, he attended and graduated from Canova High School in 1969. Following high school, he

James “Jim” Dale Bellis, 67, of Aurora, MO passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2024, after a decade-long battle with cancer. He was born in Aurora on March 20, 1956, to Dale and Dorothy Bellis; the oldest of three children. Brought up on the family farm raising cattle, agriculture became one of the passions of his life. Active in FFA, he served as a chapter president, area president, and state secretary. He was mentored by his agriculture teacher, Mr. Jim Golding, who introduced him to Hereford cattle, helped him pick out his first Hereford that started his herd, and empowered him to go to college at Mizzou to become an agriculture teacher. He was a mentor to many aspiring agriculture students. He worked at Wheaton

Scott Kennedy, age 70, of Philip, SD, died on Tuesday, February 13, 2024 in a horse accident in Wickenburg, AZ. Scott James Kennedy was born on February 10, 1954 in Rapid City, SD. Scott was the fourth child of Howard & Dorothy Kennedy. He attended school in Philip from elementary through high school, graduating in 1972. During his school days, he played football, baseball, basketball and rodeoed. His basketball team went to state his senior year, which was quite a highlight to his life thus far. Scott started team roping after graduating high school. In the fall of 1973, the Kennedy families bought a ranch in Faith, SD. Shortly after high school graduation, at the age of 19, Scott moved to Faith with his cousin,

We bid farewell to Wayne on Friday, February 9th, 2024, one week after his 82nd birthday, at St Vincent Hospital due to complications from surgery. Wayne was born February 2, 1942, in Orrville, Ohio to Ross and Irene Clapper Brillhart. Wayne was the middle child of six children. In 1946 at the age of four, his family moved to Montana to the Three Mile area of the Bitterroot Valley. A couple of years later his dad purchased a ranch a Lolo, MT, where he spent the next twenty years. He attended Lolo grade school, graduated from Missoula County High and then on to Northern Montana College in Havre, MT. He graduated in Farm and Ranch Management. This is where he met his wife Shirlee Cure,

James Dewey Bennett, 90, of Knoll Crest Farms, Red House, Virginia passed away peacefully on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at his residence on Knoll Crest Farm. He was the devoted husband of Barbara Scott Bennett for 66 years. Born on April 11, 1933, in Campbell County, Virginia he was the son of the late Paul Dewey Bennett and Hannah Baldwin Jennings Bennett. He was an active member of Providence Baptist Church. James proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army. He was honorably discharged from the service in 1957, one month early to get home in time for planting. Upon his return, he married his childhood sweetheart, Barbara. Over a 60-year career in the beef seedstock cattle business, James was a

Gayla Renee Berens, born on January 20, 1954, in Quinter, KS, peacefully returned to the embrace of our Heavenly Father on December 27, 2023 after spending Christmas surrounded by her family. Gayla’s life was a testament to her faith and devotion to God. Through her actions, she demonstrated a deep love and care for her family and neighbors, always placing their needs before her own. Gayla’s selflessness and compassionate nature inspired all who had the privilege of knowing her. In the face of adversity, Gayla remained steadfast, displaying resilience, perseverance, and an unyielding trust in God’s plan. Her determination and unshakeable faith were a shining example of what it means to walk with grace and strength. Gayla leaves behind her husband, Wayne, and her father,

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our esteemed Cattlemen’s Congress Board Chairman, Jarold Callahan. A devout agriculturalist, life-long leader, and champion of the cattle industry, Callahan has easily become one of the most outstanding figures in the livestock world. Callahan’s unparalleled vision and unwavering devotion to the cattle industry were the driving forces behind the founding of Cattlemen’s Congress, evolving into the ‘World’s Largest and Most Elite Show.’ As the CEO of Express Ranches, the world’s largest seedstock operation, Callahan stood as one of the most influential figures in the cattle industry. His dedication extended to serving as a beacon of inspiration for the upcoming generation, urging them to think creatively and venture beyond conventional boundaries in the livestock industry.

Jessie David Howard, a coach and rancher of Sabinal, TX passed away on December 11, 2023 at the age of 90. Born February 24, 1933 in Concan, TX to Mary Elizabeth Coleman Howard and Jessie S. Howard. He attended Sabinal High School where he participated in everything from FFA, basketball and football under Coach Ralph Curtis. His love of sports lead him to a lifetime of adventures in playing and coaching. After high school he earned a scholarship to Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. On his way to register for his second year in college he stopped by the post office where he received a letter, he was drafted by the US Army during the Korean conflict. He was in the US Army for

Clarence Edward Caraway, was born May 17, 1944 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to George John Caraway and Harriett Winifred (Platner) Caraway.  He attended grade school at Marion Rural Independent, one year of high school at Alburnett Iowa and graduated from Linn Mar High School in Marion Iowa in 1962.  He was active in 4-H and FFA and developed his love for fitting and showing cattle.  He worked at Colonial Bakery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa while helping his dad on the farm.  He moved to Redfield, South Dakota and worked for Walter Schultz and continued his love of Hereford Cattle.  In 1966, he came to Minnesota and was hired at Delaney Herefords as a herdsman where he showed cattle all over the upper Midwest.  On June