Tom Gene

Howell

Tom G. Howell was born Sept. 4, 1931, to Myrl and Sula Fern Howell in the Sandhills south of Thedford, NE. He was the youngest boy in a family of 3 boys and 3 girls.

The family lived in and around Thedford until he was 12 years old. At that time, he went to California with his mother where he graduated from the 8th grade in Monterey, then returned to Thedford and 4 years later he graduated from Thedford High School.

Tom played all sports and excelled in track. He earned a medal at the state track meet for 3 consecutive years in the mile run. He played town team basketball and participated in calf roping and steer wrestling in local rodeos all through the 1950’s. As a young man he worked on Sandhills ranches, where his favorite job was on horseback working cattle. He loved the Sandhills and spent his entire life living in these unique and wonderful hills. (Thousand Hills)

While in high school he started dating a girl who lived 13 miles southwest of Thedford. The road to the Scranton Ranch was long and rough because the year was 1949 and highway 83 was not yet completed. Love prevailed and he married Janet Scranton on Nov. 4, 1950. In the ensuing years they lived on ranches and 3 children, Cindy, Bill and Vic completed their family.

In 1969 they purchased an acreage, 2 miles east of Valentine where they made their home for the next 45 years. Tom worked for Arrow Stage Lines and drove their Black Hills Stage bus schedule from Valentine to Rapid City for 20 years. After the schedule was terminated in 1990, Tom took charters and drove the activity bus for Valentine High School until his retirement in 1996.

Tom enjoyed his retirement to the fullest. Many fishing trips were made to the Missouri River with his fishing buddies in the summers and he also loved playing gin and pitch with his card playing friends at every opportunity. He also loved planting a huge garden every year.

In the fall of 2002 at a low point in his life, Tom came to the realization that he needed the Lord, became a Christian and was baptized in Merritt Dam on July 3, 2005. (I Saw the light).

After they moved into Valentine in 2014 his life quieted down. He played cards with friends at Cherry Hills and watched a lot of TV. Tom was well known for his charismatic personality and smile.

Tom was preceded in death by his son, Vic; his parents, 3 sisters and 2 brothers. He is survived by Jan, his wife of 76 years; daughter, Cindy Schaefer and his son, Bill; 4 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Funeral service for Tom Howell age 95 of Valentine will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 11:00 AM at the Valentine Methodist Church. The burial will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Valentine. No public visitation will be held. Mr. Howell passed away on Nov. 11 at the Cherry County Hospital in Valentine.  Memorials may be made to the Canyon Ride Care Center in his name.