Duane Pelster
1941 — 2017
Duane Leonard Pelster, 75, of Ericson, Nebraska died February 11, 2017 at the Valley County Health Systems Hospital in Ord, Nebraska.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burwell. Visitation will be Thursday from 5 – 7 p.m. at Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell. Fr. John Kakkuzhiyil will officiate. Burial will be in Cottonwood Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Ericson Fire & Rescue or Garfield County Rural Fire Department.
Duane was born February 15, 1941 in Dalton, Nebraska to Raymond and Katherine (Josten) Pelster. He graduated from Wheeler Central High School in 1957. After graduation he was in the National Guard.
Duane married Nancy Malmsten on November 21, 1961 in Burwell. They lived on the Malmsten ranch in Garfield County until moving into Ericson; where Duane was co-owner of the Ericson Livestock Market. In 1973 they moved to the ranch west of Ericson.
Duane was active in 4-H as a leader, the Sandhills Cattle Association, school board, judging horse shows and St. Theresa’s Catholic Church.He was a member of the AQHA and NRA and enjoyed participating in rodeo’s as a steer wrestler. Duane received the Outstanding Grassland Conservation Award in 1991 and the Leopold Conservation Award in 2014.
Duane enjoyed family, reading, team roping, team penning, horse sales and going to grandchildren activities.
Duane is survived by his wife, Nancy Pelster of Ericson, Nebraska. Three daughters, Lezlie and Marshall Wier of Burwell, Nebraska, Vonda and Dr. Roy Schnell of North Platte, Nebraska and Tara and Steve McKay of Ericson, Nebraska. Nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Two bro-thers, Raymond, Jr. and Janice Pelster of Thornton, Colorado and Edwin Pelster of Bismarck, North Dakota. Three sisters, Marguerite and Larry Siders of Fremont, Nebraska, Mary Jane and Bill Hoefener of York, Nebraska and Linda and Randy Jochum of Osmond, Nebraska and a brother-in-law, Albert Kersten of Fremont, Nebraska.
Duane was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Marlene Kersten.
