Ray Jerome Shelbourn

Ray Jerome Shelbourn was born the youngest son of Ray Edward and Lelah Elizabeth (Polen) Shelbourn on April 27, 1937 in Valentine, NE. He passed away March 8, 2023 at the age of 85 at Linden Court in North Platte, NE.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Mary Frances ‘Mitzi’ (Childers) Shelbourn, sisters Emma Grooms and Violet Ripley, brothers Gordon Shelbourn, Walter Shelbourn, George Shelbourn, and his parents.

He is survived by his children: Robert (Marla) Shelbourn of Valentine, Steven (Natalie) Shelbourn of Keensburg, CO, Elizabeth Shelbourn of Valentine, and Scott (Robin) Shelbourn of Yukon, OK; granddaughter, Maribeth Shelbourn of Rockwood, TN and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ray Jerome Shelbourn was born in a house south of the old Valentine High School during a snowstorm. His mother was the only family member present at his birth so she chose to name him Ray Jerome, even though his brothers and sisters had said they wanted to name him Jerry. When his mother brought him home, his siblings called him Jerry and that is what he went by his entire life.

Jerry grew up on the family farm north of the Kewanee School in Todd County, SD. He attended country school until the 4th grade and finished his schooling in Valentine; graduating in 1955. He worked on various ranches during the summertime helping area ranchers put up hay. In the winter of 1956, he worked on the GC Young ranch feeding cows.

Jerry met his wife, Mary Frances (Mitzi) Childers, at a dance at the Red Barn south of Valentine, and they were married on October 6, 1957. Jerry and Mitzi moved to the McMurtrey ranch southwest of Nenzel, NE to work for Hub and Muriel McMurtrey. It was here they raised their family (Robert, Steve, Elizabeth and Scott) and taught them the the rewards of hard work, honest living and how to be good caretakers of the land and livestock. Jerry valued his years at the McMurtrey ranch working with family. He enjoyed riding good horses in his life. Two favorites were Old Baldy, who was delivered by semi to the Peterson flat, where Jerry saddled him and had him broke by the time he got him to the house, and Buck, a great cow horse that was so rough riding he’d pony him to the pasture where they were going to sort cattle instead of riding him there.

From 1975 to 1992, the family lived at and worked the GC Young Ranch south of Valentine. Here Jerry and Mitzi developed life-long friendships with their neighbors and enjoyed card games, ice fishing and taking the annual “after haying” tubing trip down the Niobrara River.

They moved to their house in Valentine in the spring of 1992. Jerry, with his beloved dog Brandy and trusted horse Andy, went to work for the Valentine Livestock Auction as the yardman. He loved visiting with people and getting to know them. Jerry was a dedicated employee until his retirement in 2016 at the age of 79. Jerry was well known for leaving things (facilities, land, & cattle) better than the way he found them. When asked what motivated him, he said he loved working, and trying things to see if he could make them better. After retirement, Jerry enjoyed his occasional trips with his special friend, Altha Nielsen to Wendover, NV to try their luck at the local casinos. To be around his valued friends, he continued to work part time on sale days through the spring of 2022.

A graveside service is planned for April 28, 2023 at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine, NE. Holmes Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.