Mike Walters

Michael Edward Walters was born in Alliance, NE on January 11, 1943, to Edward Francis and Marian Lee (Rousey) Walters of rural Hemingford, NE. He was the first of eight children born to them. He died January 13, 2019.

Mike grew up on his parent’s farm near Hemingford, and attended the rural school there. He then attended Saint Agnes Academy in Alliance while staying with his Grandmother Rousey at the apartment house that she owned. He credited his job of emptying all the trash from all the floors at the apartment house as the cause of his prowess on the speed track during his high school years. He graduated from Saint Agnes in 1960. After high school he moved to the Nebraska sandhills, southeast of Gordon, where he went to work for the Vinton Ranch, as a cowboy, an occupation he held until his death. He was drafted into the US Army in August 1964, and served in the 504 Military Police, where he trained for urban combat and riot control. His unit demonstrated their techniques personally for President of the United States, Lyndon B. Johnson. Then in August of 1965 the 504 Military Police were sent to Vietnam where they landed at Qui Nhon, this is where Mike spent the rest of his tour. In August 1966 he returned home from Vietnam and was honorably discharged from the Army. After that he went back to work on the Vinton Ranch. On September 2, 1967, Mike married Mary Ann Merrill, then in August 1968 Mike moved to the Norman Merrill ranch southeast of Gordon where their son Joshua was born in 1971, and he lived out the rest of his life as a rancher there.

Mike, with his faithful horse, Buster, served as parking assistant and director for the Sheridan County Fair & Rodeo starting with the National Bicentennial in 1976. Mike was a life member of the Tri-State Old-Time Cowboys Memorial. He was elected as a board member for the Gordon Rural Fire Protection District in February of 1984. He started with the Sheridan County Sheriffs department as a reserve in October 1984. He joined the Cherry County Sheriffs posse in 1990. All of these positions he held until his death. He was for a while a board member for Pleasant Point Community Church where he was baptized in 1985, and later the Gordon Berean Church. Mike was also a member of the Bordeaux Creek Muzzle Loader Association for over 40 years.

Mike is survived by his wife Mary Ann; son Joshua; brothers: William (Suz) of Omaha, NE, Don (Phyllis) of Dakota Dunes, SD, Tom (Geneice) of Marsland, NE, sisters: Mary Ann (Dennis) Cahill of Battle Mountain, NV, Veronica (Chuck) Miller of Minatare, NE, Dorothy (Dave) Kelley of Pharr, TX and many nieces and nephews.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents, brother James J. and nephew Jeramy Walters.

Funeral services will be held Thursday January 17, 2019, 10:00 AM at Pleasant Point Community Church. Burial with Military Honors will be held at the Nebraska Veterans Cemetery in Alliance. A memorial has been established for the Pleasant Point Community Church or the Gordon Rural Fire Protection District and donations may be sent in care of Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home, PO Box 366, Gordon, NE 69343.