From the Field In Passing Robert J. “Bob” Day, 84, Bonner Springs, Kan., passed away June 10. After serving in the U.S. Army in World War II and then in Korea, Bob returned to the Kansas City area. He attended the University of Kansas, graduating with a degree in journalism. He worked for the American Hereford Association and later became editor of the Hereford Journal. Survivors include his daughter, Julia Kessell, and two grandchildren. Clive Alvord McIrvin, 91, Laurier, Wash., passed away June 12. Clive was a true pioneering cattleman and devoted his life to raising his family and building a ranch on the banks of the Kettle River. After Clive returned from the European Theater in 1945, he and his wife, Ruby, and their two children moved to Laurier to join Clive’s parents, who had purchased the original homestead that was the beginning of Diamond M Ranch. During his life, Clive was active in the Stevens County Cattleman’s Association, serving in many positions from director to president. He also served as Washington Cattleman’s Association vice president. He spent many years as a 4-H club leader and 20 years as superintendent of the beef barn at the NE Washington Fair. Clive is survived by son Len McIrvin; daughters Sharon Pond, Janice Davis, Nancy McRae, Mary Agar and Patsi Parrott; 22 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
Cattle
poem by Linda Meyer, wife of Ray Meyer, EE Ranches Inc., Kansas division manager Cattle, cattle everywhere Cattle, cattle don’t despair Feed is high and pastures are dry Creeks are low, it’s 30 below Sun won’t shine but We can’t whine My wife has a fever But the cows won’t believe her The cows started calving two weeks early In this kinda weather a guy could get surly Our help won’t stay They left when we started feeding hay You might wonder why we do this for a living It’s all about the chance we get at giving Our sweat and our tears Our love and our blood On a sunny day when its crisp and cold The cows are full, happy and bold They welcome our attention to that little wonder At their side we just couldn’t be fonder A new start every spring, a new life We would pay any price How could we be so lucky, or were we chosen? God has the answers, I can’t thank him enough.
52 Hereford World / October 2010
Henrietta Kidwell, 89, Heyworth, Ill., ended her 21-year battle with cancer on July 5. A retired secretary, Henrietta and her late husband, Lyle, farmed near Shirley, Ill., from their marriage in 1947 until 1972, when Lyle became herdsman for E.B. Gee Ranch, East Prairie, Mo. The couple served as managers of NS Polled Herefords, Portland, Ind., from 1979 until their retirement in 1995. For nearly 50 years they raised and showed cattle as Kidwell Herefords and also enjoyed watching their two oldest grandsons exhibit at state and national shows. Henrietta volunteered as a 4-H leader for 10 years and was a past president of the Missouri Poll-ettes. She is survived by a daughter, Becky Simpson; son, Kerry Kidwell; and four grandchildren. Thomas Garvin, 75, Wheaton, Ill., passed away July 30. Chief executive officer of Keebler Co. from 1978 to 1992, Tom was a very successful businessman. During his tenure at Keebler, the company grew from a single product line regional biscuit company with sales of $240 million to the nation’s second largest cookie, cracker and salty snack manufacturer with sales of over $2 billion. He dedicated years to volunteer community service. After his retirement, he served as a member of the Certified Hereford Beef LLC board. He was also an avid sportsman who enjoyed golf, fishing and the Chicago White Sox. Thomas is survived by his wife, Mary; sons, Thomas, Martin, Kevin, Michael and Brian; and daughter, Kathleen. James “Jim” Mrnak, 83, Bowman, N.D., passed away July 21. His love was his ranch and especially Hereford cattle. Jim started his herd 65 years ago. He was very active in community and state activities. He served as a director and president of the North Dakota Hereford Association. He was also a 4-H leader and member of the township board, Bowman County Fair board, school board, church council, Bowman Rotary and the North Dakota Beef Council. Survivors include his wife, Marlene; five children, Connie Hurlburt, Wayne Mrnak, Terry Mrnak, Loren Mrnak and Carla Coplan; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Paul C. Peaslee, 84, Kingwood, W.Va., passed away Aug. 7. Paul owned and operated K-Lou Farms, Peaslee Trucking Co. and Peaslee Mobile Home Transport. He was a member of the American Hereford Association, the West Virginia Polled Hereford Association, and the Wesley United Methodist Church and a past member of the Kingwood Lions Club. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the AF & AM
Masonic Lodge No. 90. He also served as past Farmer’s Day chairman for the Preston County Buckwheat Festival. Paul is survived by his lovely wife of 65 years, Mary Louise Moyers Peaslee; a son, Rick Peaslee; a daughter, Paula Peaslee; and two grandchildren. Clarence “Curley” Werner, 78, Valley City, N.D., passed away Sept. 5. Curley joined the Army in February 1948 and served for 11 months with the 11th Airborne Division as a paratrooper and medic in Sendai, Japan. He was discharged in February 1950, returned to Bismarck, N.D., and became a bricklayer. He started Werner Masonry Construction in 1960. During this time, he enjoyed racing stockcars and assisted in the establishment of The North Dakota Racing Association and then served as its president in 1961. He raced for two more years and then became interested in raising Arabian horses. In 1964 he moved the family and the horses to a farm north of Valley City, N.D. Here he developed and operated Circle Masonry Construction and Werner Circle “C” Ranch. Along with the registered Arabian horses, he began raising and showing registered polled Herefords and registered Quarter horses. He served on the board for the North Dakota Polled Hereford Association (NPHA) for many years, serving as president for one term. In 1990 he was presented with its “Man of the Year” award. For 18 years he served on the North Dakota Winter Show livestock board, representing the NPHA. He was a member of the Elks and the American Legion and a lifetime member of the Dazey Sodbusters Association. Curley is survived by his loving wife, Beverly, of 55 years; his five children, Shauna Klepfel, Teresa Gorder, Nyla Yanish, Sheila Wallace and James Werner; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Rebecca “Becky” Sellman, 55, Crawford, Neb., died suddenly at home on the ranch on, Sept. 5. She showed Hereford steers in 4-H, and a highlight of her life was watching her children and grandchildren do the same. Becky was a 4-H club leader for many years and served on the 4-H council. On Nov. 24, 1973, she married her soul mate, Marshall Sellman, Jr. (Butch). They moved to the Table community southeast of Crawford, Neb., where they built the Sellman Ranch and raised their three children. Butch and Becky worked side by side to become successful ranchers. The Sellman Ranch and her family were the center of her life. Becky enjoyed ranch life and took great pride in baling hay, fixing fence, pulling a calf, and participating in all the adventures that nature and ranch life provide. The last few years, Becky spent her time and expertise at The Ranch House in Crawford. Becky was actively involved in the Crawford Historical Society, Nebraska Hereford Women, American Hereford Women and the Ya-Yas of Crawford. Becky is survived by her husband, Butch; her sons, Adam and Ryan; daughter, Georganne Shaw; four grandchildren; and her parents, George and Lois Payton. HW
The 2010 champion Kansas 4-H livestock judging team includes three junior Hereford members. Pictured (l to r) are: Brooke, Cody and Brady Jensen, Courtland, and Jake Ohlde, Palmer.
State Association News Kentucky Hereford Association
2010-2011 Kentucky Hereford Association board of directors (seated, l to r) are: Tim Wolf, Alexandria; Lowell Atwood, Stanford; Tony Staples, Brandenburg; John Thomas, Richmond, president; and Earlene Thomas, Richmond, secretary/treasurer. Directors (standing, l to r) are: Vince Popplewell, Russell Springs; Dr. L.W. Beckley, Irvine; Scott Burks, Park City; Eric Thomas, Richmond; and Charlie Boyd Sr., Mays Lick. www.hereford.org