Merle Charles Shelbourn, 75, passed away on November 12, 2021 at his home in Valentine, NE.
Merle was born November 6, 1946 in Valentine, NE to Donald and Ida Rose (Hagedorn) Shelbourn. As a young boy, he grew up on the family ranch in South Dakota, seven miles north of Crookston, NE. Merle attended several small country schools and then graduated from Todd County High School in Mission, SD. He was especially proud of his football and pole vaulting medals in high school.
In 1965, he married Sherry Turgeon. To this union two children were born, Scott and Kim.
In August of 1984, Merle married Terri Fisher. Merle became a step-father to Eric and Ruthie.
Merle began working for the Abbott Bank Group in 1966 and continued working in the banking business for 34 years. He started working in Mission for the Farmers State Bank, then transferred to Scottsbluff and finally to Valentine, NE. Merle moved back to the family ranch in 1978 and went into the ranching business with his father, while also taking a job with the Bank of Valentine. Merle and Terri purchased the family ranch after they got married and lived there until 2015 when Merle retired because of health reasons. In 2015, Merle and Terri purchased a house in Valentine.
Merle loved being a rancher and especially loved riding horses and moving cattle. He said more than once – every man should have one good horse and one good dog. Merle had an exceptional buckskin horse named Buck – and buck he did!! Merle also had a devoted cow dog named Rascal who traveled with him everywhere, on horse and in pickup! Merle enjoyed working on the ranch with his son Scott and grandchildren Dewey and Ben.
Merle was diagnosed with kidney failure in 1999 and received a kidney from his brother Jim Shelbourn on January 9, 2001 on Jim’s birthday at UNMC in Omaha, NE. Receiving Jim’s kidney gave Merle another 20 years of life, which he was so very grateful for. Merle also received a pancreas transplant in August 2001 which gave him 15 years of not being diabetic.
Merle is survived by his wife, Terri of Valentine, NE. Son, Scott (Janet) Shelbourn of Lakeview, SD, daughter, Kim Vickroy of Chicago, Ill. Stepson, Eric Reese of Valentine, NE, and Stepdaughter, Ruthie (Wade) Tinant, of Phoenix, AZ. Brother, Jim(Janette) Shelbourn, of Lakeview, SD. Grandchildren, Mandi Painter of Valentine, NE, Dewey(Dawn) Shelbourn, of Lakeview, SD. Ben Shelbourn, of Bassett, NE. Mandy Painter, of Valentine NE. Jack and Julian Vickroy, of Chicago, Ill. And Charlee Suh Tinant, of Phoenix, AZ. He is also survived a very special Aunt, Mary Blake of Colorado, and three great grandchildren.
Merle was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Ida Rose Shelbourn.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Cherry County Hospital Foundation, PO Box 410, Valentine, NE
Graveside service for Merle Shelbourn age 75 of Valentine will be held on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine. Mr. Shelbourn passed away on Nov. 12 at his home in Valentine. No Visitation will be held. Sandoz Chapel of the Pines is in charge of service arrangements.