Kenneth Franklin Churchill

Kenneth was born on New Year's Day 1937 to Albert and Virginia Churchill and died at home September 7, 2024.  He was married to Lila Drybread; they raised two boys Brad and Linn along with many others that would work for them over the years.  Some of those became friends that might as well have been family.

Kenneth served in the US Army stationed in Fort Lewis Washington and Eielson AFB Alaska which was considered foreign duty at the time.  He was honorably discharged Private 1st class as an infantryman with a specialty in Light Weapons.

Kenneth was a lifelong rancher and operated a custom haying operation.  Trained to pregnancy check cows, he would "preg check" cows for other area ranchers. One particular testing day, Kenny checked 1,100 cows.  He also performed many emergency c-sections on neighborhood cows. There is no telling how much hay he put up over his haying career.  From the days of the bar mowers and stacks to the swather and bales, he did it all. Putting up hay from Wood Lake to Whitman to all the way south of Gordon. His favorite time of year was calving out the first calf heifers.  He had a natural instinct for cattle, from being able to determine when one would calve before they showed any signs to identifying a sick one across pasture while riding in a pickup and knowing which way a cow was going to move before she did.  Having a mechanical mind, there wasn't much he couldn't fix on the ranch.  Computerized components were the only thing that gave him fits.

He loved all animals and was always admiring the beauty of the wildlife around the ranch, often commenting on how beautiful a particular creature was.  Although he had a tough, cowboy exterior he really was soft hearted.  Kenny always had a dog that would go everywhere with him.

Kenneth competed in several rodeo events winning the bareback riding at Merriman and Valentine. He would travel with Bill Hammond to haze steers for him and would also occasionally compete in team roping.  One of his biggest wins was when his ranch rodeo team won 2nd place at the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo Ranch Rodeo in the early 2000's. He also served several years on the Cherry County Fair and Rodeo Board. Kenneth knew and appreciated a good horse, owning several over the years, but would also ride a rank one if need be. In 2019, he was inducted into the Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame

Kenneth and Lila were best of friends with Buzz and Shirley Kime.  They traveled for 30+ years to the NFR both in Oklahoma City and Las Vegas.  Not only did they travel to the rodeos together, but anytime one couple was invited to a wedding or event of some kind it was understood that the other couple would be in attendance as well. Of course, Kenneth did all the driving.

Kenneth knew no other way of life than being a cowboy.  True to his cowboy ways, he was always there to lend a helping hand to anyone that needed it.  He was a mentor to many, whether it be ranching, horses, roping, or fixing a problem, Kenny had the advice essential for success.

Kenneth's hobbies away from ranching included friendly poker games with neighboring ranchers, going to the casino and betting on college football games.  He also enjoyed watching a good saddle bronc riding.

Kenneth was born a cowboy to a ranching family, lived his life to the fullest, and left nothing on the table.  He had an eye for good cattle, good horses and you always knew where you stood with him.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Virgina, brother Les, sister Helen and his wife Lila. He is survived by sons Brad (Shirley) of Fowler, CO and Linn (Trula) of Valentine, NE. Daughters Bonnie Weaver of Valentine, NE and Jody Kjerstad of Amarillo, TX Bonus extended family members Tom and Chris Davis, Dustin Davis, Molly Aschoff, Kathleen Gilham, Adam Pope, and Maureen "Mo" Thompson and a plethora of other very special friends.

A funeral service for Kenny Churchill age 87 of Valentine will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at 10:00 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. Kenny passed away on Sept. 7, 2024, at his ranch home south of Valentine.