Yuma County, Colorado
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Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

Walter E. Houston, 5 North 43 West


In 1900 Furnas County, Nebraska, Bennett Houston is 38, Nancy Houston 36 Wife, Walter Houston 16 Son, Cora Houston 10 Daughter, Enola Houston 6 Daughter, and Minnie Houston 3 Daughter.

February 1903
Bennett H. Houston, widowed, born February 22, 1861 in Schuyler County, Missouri to Nick Houston, a farmer, died April 7, 1926 in Clay County, Missouri, to be buried in Beaver City, Nebraska. The informant was W.E. Houston of Buckingham, Colorado.

1909 "North Pole" items in the Wray Rattler "Mr. Henson and Walter Houston are helping to halter break some young mules for Mr. Bradford."
Walter proved up a quarter in section 5, 5N 43W in 1912, and another in section 6 in 1916.

September 1913 Holyoke "Mr. Hill of Bertrand Neb. made 2 trip to Holyoke this week for a visi with the family of P. B. Houston."
September 1917 ". P. B. Houston of McCook, Neb., attended the fair at Holyoke. "

May 1914 "Walter Houston, one of the prosperous farmers of the hill country south of Holyoke, reports having recently seen a herd of nine antelope in the hills one day last week. The antelope are now protected by the game law and will of course increase in numbers. Walter called at the Herald office when in Holyoke this week and had his name enrolled as one of the Herald readers."

"We omitted the item last week of the issuance of a marriage license to Walter Houston of Holyoke and Miss Minnie Leich of Beaver City on Wednesday, July 15, 1914."

Walter Edward Houston registered for WWI in Chase County, farming near Holyoke, born March 4, 1884.

In 1920 Chase County, Nebraska, Walter E. "Huston" is 35, born in Nebraska, Minnie A. Huston 30 Wife, Kansas Glenn D. Huston 4 Son, Raymon M. Huston 3 Son, both born in Colorado, and Delpha M. Huston 1 Daughter born in Nebraska.

April 1922

In 1930 Weld County, Colorado, Walter E. Houston 46, Minnie A. Houston 40 Wife, Glenn Houston 14 Son, Raymond Houston 13 Son, Delpha Houston 11 Daughter, Olive Houston 9 Daughter, Sonnie Houston 7 Daughter, Fay Houston 2 Daughter, and Bennett Houston 0 Son.

In 1940 Weld County, Colorado, Walter E. Houston is farming, 56, Minnie A. Houston 50 Wife, Louise E. Houston 17 Daughter, Fay H. Houston 12 Daughter, and Bennie R. Houston 10 Son.

Walter E Houston BIRTH 4 Mar 1884 Nuckolls County, Nebraska, DEATH 17 Dec 1957 (aged 73) Sterling, Logan County, Colorado, BURIAL Mount Hope Cemetery Imperial, Chase County, Nebraska, MEMORIAL ID 89056918

1960 Greeley "Mrs. Minnie Houston is in a Sterling hospital after .suffering a heart attack."

Minnie Agnes Leech Houston BIRTH 29 Jan 1890 Kansas, DEATH 27 Apr 1967 (aged 77) Imperial, Chase County, Nebraska, BURIAL Mount Hope Cemetery, MEMORIAL ID 89057008 ·

GLEN

In 1940 Chase County, Nebraska, Glen D. Huston is a mechanic, 24, with Marguerite Huston 22 Wife.

Glen Dale Houston BIRTH 20 Apr 1915 Yuma County, Colorado, DEATH 18 Dec 2003 (aged 88) Imperial, Chase County, Nebraska, BURIAL Mount Hope Cemetery Imperial, Chase County, Nebraska, MEMORIAL ID 87407854.
"Glen Dale Houston was the first of eight children born at home on April 20, 1915, in Yuma County, Colo. in the sandhills near Wray, Colo. to Walter and Minnie (Leech) Houston.
He passed away early Dec. 18, 2003, at the Imperial Manor.
When he was five years old his family moved to Buckingham, Colo. where he was raised and graduated from high school in 1934.
In 1936 he moved to Imperial to work for his uncle Hugh Leech at the Leech Chevrolet Garage.
He married Marguerite Edith Drabing on June 4, 1938 in St. Francis, Kan.
He was drafted into the Army on Dec. 20, 1943. He served with the 256 Engineer Combat Battallion, Technician Fourth Grade and fought in battles in Rhineland, Germany.
While serving in the Army he received the Eamet Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal and Victory Ribbon and received an honorable discharge on May 2, 1946 at the war’s end.
When the war ended he returned to Imperial to work for his uncle again, and following that worked for several irrigation companies in Chase County.
In 1963 their nieces Linda and Vicki Banks came to live with them following the death of their parents, Marguerite’s sister Ferne and her husband Leland Banks, who were killed in an automobile accident.
Glen is survived by his wife, Marguerite Houston; his sister Lorene (Tiny) Miller and husband Dewey of Colorado Springs, Colo.,; his sister Fay Rogers of Fort Morgan, Colo.; Bennett Houston of Longmont, Colo. and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Raymond, his infant sister Rose Marie and sisters Delpha Thomas and Olive Willet.
Services were held Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003, at 10 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Imperial, Neb. with Pastor Murray Schmechel officiating.
Pianist was Mrs. Marcia Bauerle and singers were Mr. and Mrs. Irvin and Garneta Bauerle.
Casketbearers were members of the VFW Post #4688 in Imperial, Neb.
Military Rites were by VFW Post #4688, Imperial.
Interment was at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial with Liewer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Edith Marguerite 'Mickey' Drabing Houston BIRTH 7 May 1917 Holyoke, Phillips County, Colorado, DEATH 25 Jan 2005 (aged 87) Imperial, Chase County, Nebraska, BURIAL Mount Hope Cemetery Imperial, Chase County, Nebraska, PLOT A121W2S MEMORIAL ID 87407958.



Micky Houston, age 87, passed away early Tuesday morning, Jan. 25, 2005, at the Imperial Manor Nursing Home in Imperial, Neb.
Survivors include nieces Linda Banks of Erie, Colo., Vicky Fuhrer and husband Keith of Newman Grove, Neb.; and sister-in-law Lourene Miller and husband Dewey of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Jan. 28, 2005, at the United Methodist Church in Imperial with Pastor Murray Schmechel officiating.
Interment will follow at Mount Hope cemetery in Imperial.
Visitation will be held today (Thursday afternoon), from 2-6 p.m. at the funeral home in Imperial.
A memorial has been established to the Imperial Manor Nursing Home and the Imperial Community Center of Imperial.

RAYMOND

Raymond Burl Houston BIRTH 23 Sep 1916 Buckingham, Weld County, Colorado, DEATH 12 Sep 1952 (aged 35) BURIAL Mount Hope Cemetery Imperial, Chase County, Nebraska, PLOT A54E3 MEMORIAL ID 89058398,
"Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Houston of Buckingham have been notified by the Red Cross that their son, Lt. Raymond Houston of Imperial, Nebr., was killed in action in Korea on Sept. 12.
Lt. Houston was a B-29 observer. Details of circumstances surrounding his death have not yet been received by his parents. Lt. Houston received his commission in World War II. He was recalled to active duty about a rear ago and took special training at Lake Charles, La. While there he underwent a serious operation. He was ordered to Korea on Aug. 3.
Arrangements for memorial services are being held up pending further information from the War Department.
Lt. Houston was born Sept. 23, 1916. at Wray and moved to Buckingham with his parents when be was a youngster. Following his graduation from Buckingham high in 1935, he worked for an uncle in a garage at Imperial, Nebr., later going to Colorado Springs where he was inducted into the armed forces during World War II. He was married to the former Elsie Mae Malcolm of Imperial, in May, 1945.
His last letter to his wife was dated Sept. 10.
Other survivors include a daughter, Mary Kay, ten months old; two brothers, Glen, Imperial, Nebr. and Bennett, who is in the Air Force at Chanute Field, I11., four sisters; Mrs. Delphia Thomas, Lamar, Nebr., Mrs. Olive Willet, Forks, Wash.. Mrs. Lourene Miller Colorado Springs, and Mrs. Faye Rogers, Fort Morgan. Lt. Houston's maternal grandmother, Mrs Nettie Leach, lives at Beaver City, Nebraska. Several aunts and uncles and nieces and nephews also survive."

DELPHA

Walter James Thomas(1943–) 01/08/1943 • Imperial East, Chase, Nebraska, USA 1943 Lester Lee Thomas(1952–) 4/12/1952 • Holyoke, Phillips, Colorado, USA

Delpha May Thomas, 79 years of age, from Hastings, died on Monday, Sept. 29, 1997 at the Kensington in Hastings, Neb. Delpha was born on May 7, 1918 in Chase County, Neb. to Walter E. and Minnie A. (Leech) Houston. She graduated from Buckingham High School in Buckingham, Colo. and attended Colorado Teacher College in Greeley. She taught in country schools in Chase County.
On March 21, 1942 she married Lee A. Thomas in St. Francis Kan. They lived in Lamar, Neb. until moving to Colorado Springs, Colo. in 1974. In 1984 they moved to Loveland, Colo. and Lee died in 1988. Delpha moved to Kenesaw, Neb. in 1993 and to The Kensington in Hastings in 1995. She was a member of the World Wide Church of God.
Survivors include two sons, Walter Thomas and his wife Sandy of Pueblo, Colo. and Lester Thomas and his wife Mary of Kenesaw; one daughter, Janette Kuehn and her husband, John of Heartwell; 10 grandchildren and one great grandson; two brothers Glen Houston and his wife, Marguerite of Imperial, Neb. and Ben Houston and his wife Anita of Longmont, Colo; two sisters, Lourene "Tiny" Miller and her husband, Dewey of Colorado Springs, Colo. and Faye Rogers of Fort Morgan, Colo. She is preceded in death by her husband, one brother and two sisters.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Oct 3, 1999, 11 a.m. at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Minden with the Reverend Donald Becker officiating. Graveside services will be on Saturday at the Loveland Burial Park in Loveland at 9:30 a.m. MST with Mr. Bill Bixby officiating." "

OLIVE

Olive B. Houston Willett BIRTH 7 Oct 1920 Chase County, Nebraska, DEATH 8 Jan 1996 (aged 75) Port Discovery, Jefferson County, Washington, BURIAL Mount Angeles Memorial Park Port Angeles, Clallam County, Washington, PLOT Communion Chapel Mausoleum MEMORIAL ID 19343969.

Alvin Roy Willett 1914–1977
Ray Willett Gender: Male Marriage Date: 5 Dec 1936 Marriage Place: Clackamas, Oregon, USA Spouse: Violet Bristol

1940 Clallam County Alorie Tillett 25 Head Vialet Tillett 20 Wife Alvin Roy Tillett 2 Son Geraldine Tillett 1 Daughter Monra Tillett 5/12 Daughter Thomas Willett 29 Brother.

BIRTH 3 NOV 1914 • Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada DEATH 6/26/1977 • Forks, Clallam, Washington,

George Wilson Barnes Birth Date: 8 Apr 1918 Birth Place: Missouri Death Date: 18 Sep 1982 Death Place: Orange

Alvin Roy Willett 1914–1977 Knute Wilson Barnes 1942–Knute Wilson Barnes Knute Wilson Barnes Birth Date: 18 Jan 1942 Gender: Male Mother's Maiden Name: Houston Birth County: Santa Clara

LOUISE/LORENE

Dewey E Miller BIRTH 15 Sep 1917 Haxtun, Phillips County, Colorado, DEATH 28 Apr 2008 (aged 90) Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, BURIAL Memorial Gardens Cemetery and Mausoleum Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, MEMORIAL ID 70635217
"Dewey Eugene Miller passed away Monday at St. Francis Hospice & Palliative Care Center. Dewey was born in Haxtun, Colorado to Jake & Elsie Miller. He was raised in Buckingham, Colorado and later moved to Colorado Springs. He married Lourene "Tiny" Houston on January 25, 1941. He served in the Army during World War II. He retired in 1982 after 25 years as a building manager from School District 11. He and his wife are long-time natives of Colorado Springs and attended the Grace Presbyterian Church. He had a love for hunting, fishing, and was a member of the International Polka Club. Dewey is survived by his wife of 67 years, Lourene; two daughters & sons-in-law, Kathy & Paul Apland; Betty & Clinton Meek and one son and daughter-in-law, Eugene G. & Marilyn Miller; 6 granddaughters and their spouses: Brenda & Bill Borders, Diane & Keith Drake, Amy & Monte Jackson, Christine & Phillip Garcia, Teri & Darin Sharp, and Jennifer & Clint Dillie; and 10 great-grandchildren Samantha, Kaitlyn, Alyson, Alisha, Brianna, Collin, Megan, Austin, Danielle, and Ryan. He is also survived by three sisters & one brother-in-law: Katie Mitzel and Elsie Livengood of Greeley, Ann & Orie Hill of Briggsdale, one brother George Miller of Grand Junction and numerous nieces & nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers Elmer Miller and Carl Miller.

Katherine Miller

Event Type: Baptism Baptism Date: 3 Apr 1958 Baptism Place: Colorado Springs, Colorado, Church: Boulder Street United Presbyterian Church Father: Dewey E Miller Mother: Lourene Ellen Miller

1965 "The marriage of Miss Katherine Miller and Paul H. Apland took place at 2 p.m. Jan. 3, at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The Rev. William Leonard Jr. officiated at the double ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dewey E. Miller of 811 E. St. Vrain St. The bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Apland. After a honeymoon in Winter Park, the couple will reside in Fountain."

BEN

Ask Ben Houston how many cattle he's raised over the years on his central Weld County ranch and he just smiles.
"Too many," he says.
Houston and his wife of 59 years, Nita, have owned the Aristocrat Angus Ranch west of Platteville since 1965. But that is only part of the reason they will be named the 2010 Friend of the National Western Stock Show by the Red Meat Club of Denver at the stock show next month.
Mike Thoren, CEO of JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding of Greeley, will be the guest speaker at this year's dinner, which will be in the National Western Club at 6 p.m. Jan. 14.
Ben and Nita are natives of northeast Weld - he was born and raised on the family's Angus ranch south of Buckingham, she grew up in New Raymer where her parents owned and operated the Lambert Drug Store for several years.
"I started making and serving sodas at the soda fountain when I was 10 years old," Nita said, noting with a smile that today's youngsters wouldn't even know what a soda fountain was.
Ben's parents had homesteaded in Phillips County, south of Holyoke, before buying the ranch in northeast Weld. He attended school at Buckingham until the ninth grade, then stayed with family friends in Sterling where he graduated from high school.
He was the youngest of the seven children of Walter and Minnie Houston, pioneer Angus cattle breeders; she was the youngest of five children.
He exhibited his first Angus steer, with his father, at the National Western in 1938, and that was to eventually lead to a long association with the National Western, considered the Super Bowl of livestock shows.
After Ben and Nita were married in 1950, he spent four years in the Air Force – an older brother, a bombardier/navigator was killed during the Korean War – and while in the service he attended the University of Illinois. When they returned to Weld, he managed Angus and Polled Hereford ranches before he and Nita bought the Platteville ranch.
By that time, he had developed his key eye for quality cattle.
Just three years after establishing the ranch, he took Nobelman to grand champion honors at the International Livestock Show in Chicago. He called the bull "one of the best ones we've had," but by far not the only one. Black Revolution was the grand champion bull in 1971 and Ankonian Catalyst in 1973 at the National Western. Then, for five consecutive years, Aristocrat had the grand champion or reserve champion carcass at the National Western Fed Beef Contest, and, in 1994, the ranch had a pen of five steers that were named supreme champions over 50 sire groups representing 19 breeds from nine states at the Great Western Beef Expo.
In 1976, Ben was elected to the executive committee of the National Western and in 1985 he was elected president of that group which is responsible for the operation of the show. He continues as chairman emeritus of the committee.
At about the same time, Nita, along with Nancy Petry, took over the committee that plans and stages the annual Citizen of the West gala, which, since 1978, has honored those that demonstrate Western heritage and way of life. The event has raised, annually, in excess of $100,000 for college scholarships.
"We take care of every single detail, right down to the color of the napkins," Nita said of her committee.
Ben was a Citizen of the West in 1995, joining other Weld notables such as Kenny Monfort, W.D. Farr and Hank Brown, was inducted into the Colorado Agriculture Hall of Fame in 1996 and has won several other awards such as having his portrait hung at the Saddle and Sirloin Club Portrait Gallery in Louisville, Ky., in 2002.
Aristocrat added its own embryo transplant barn in 1982 where research is conducted regularly in association with Colorado State University, an affiliation Houston strongly believes in.
In 1992, the ranch began a business venture with Ukraine and helped that country build its cattle industry. The ranch has sent live cattle as well as semen and embryos to the eastern European nation. Exports have also been made to Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, Argentina and Costa Rica, and the ranch is a regular host to international visitors.

FAY

Helen Faye Rogers BIRTH 18 May 1927 DEATH 11 May 2013 (aged 85) BURIAL United Presbyterian Church Memorial Garden Fort Morgan, Colorado, MEMORIAL ID 212796364.

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