Yuma County, Colorado
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Yuma County Pioneer Photographs:

Simon and Mabel (Houk) Ranum, 5 North 43 West


SIMON'S FAMILY

In 1880 Cottonwood County, Minnesota, Ole "Renum" is 51, Karin Renum 44 Wife, John Renum 18 Son, Ole Johan Renum 12 Son, Simeon Renum 12 Son, Gabriel Renum 9 Son, Sarah Renum 6 Daughter, Ninth Sipter Renum 4 Son, and Jacob Renum 2 Son.

November 1896 Lincoln, Nebraska, "Simon Ranum, the prisoner who broke his leg in the last attempt at breaking out of the county jail, was up for trial yesterday before Judge Cornish on the charge of assault with intent to commit rape. The crime is alleged to have been committed on the person of Catharine Westover, the seven-year-old daughter of Nelson Westover about a year ago. Colonel Philpott was appointed to defend Ranum and before the trial was allowed to proceed he filed a motion to quash the information and when this was overruled, he filed a demurrer to the information, claiming that it did not state a crime under the age of consent law. This was overruled and the trial proceeded. Only three witnesses were examined during the afternoon, the most important of them being the little girl herself. She testified that Ranum had approached her while he was on a visit to her home, three miles south of the city. She and her sister were in a small play house at the time, and when her sister, who is fifteen years old, went out, Ranum took liberties with her person, though he did not succeed in committing rape. The girl told a straightforward story which agreed with the evidence given by her sister. At 5 o'clock the trial was adjourned till Monday.

MABEL'S FAMILY

Elizabeth Lucretia Robbins Houk BIRTH 25 Dec 1848 Clay City, Clay County, Indiana, DEATH 5 Jun 1891 (aged 42) Giltner, Hamilton County, Nebraska, BURIAL Lerton Cemetery Giltner, Hamilton County, Nebraska, MEMORIAL ID 61228181

One on-line Giltner cemetery list has:
Houk, Elizabeth L. (wife of Jas) died June 5 1891 aged 42y 5m 11d
Houk, (infant child of M.W. and M.) Jan 19 1888

James Kapoka Houk BIRTH 1844 Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, DEATH 1925 (aged 80–81) BURIAL Evergreen Memorial Park McMinnville, Yamhill County, Oregon, MEMORIAL ID 110936215





This claim was a mile west of Simon Ranum's claim.


"Estate of JAMES HOUK Deceased.
Notice is hereby given that a duly verified petition has been filed in the County Court of the County of Yuma, Colorado, in the matter of the estate of James Houk, deceased, asking for a judicial ascertainment and determination of the heirs of such deceased, and setting forth that the names of all persons who are or claim to be heirs of the deceased so far as known to the petitioner, are as follows, to-wit:
Miles Houk, Independence, Oregon, Son. Emma Beacon, Whiteson, Oregon, Daughter. Pearl Fuller, Blackwell, Oklahoma, Daughter. Phebie Stahlnecker, Grand Island, Nebraska, Daughter. Mable Ranum, Alvin, Colorado, daughter. James William Houk, Monmouth, Oregon, Son. Sylvia Houk, Wichita, Kansas, Daughter. Doyle Houk, San Pedro, California.
Hearing to be held June 27, 1932. "





SIMON AND MABEL

Mabel "Howk", 20, born in Nebraska, to James and Elizabeth, married Simon Ranum on February 3, 1904 in Lincoln, Nebraska.

In 1910 Lincoln, Simon "Ramim" is 41 Head, Mable Ramim 25 Wife, Oliver J. Ramim 5 Son, Albert E. Ramim 1 Son, Opal K. Ramim 0 Daughter, and Keran Ramim 73 Mother.

In 1920 Yuma County, Simon Ranum is 50, Mabel Ranum 35 Wife, Oliver J. Ranum 15 Son, Erma M. Ranum 4 Daughter, Eula L. Ranum 2 Daughter, and C. Lislie Miner 10 Nephew.


Simon proved up 80 acres in section 35, 5N 43W in 1921.

December 1923 Missouri Valley items in the Holyoke paper "Oliver Ranum spent Monday evening visiting at tho Wood home."

May 1934 "Mrs. Simon Ranum has been on the sick list this week. Miss Ula came home Saturday to help take care of her. "

My mother Jennie Oman Monk taught the Thomas School in that time, and Orval, Lorene, and Blanche Ranum were among her students.
Jennie wrote in 2005 "I did a real dumb thing after spending one night at their home. In those days a teacher was often invited to spend a night with a family. After a good supper we visited a while. Mrs. Ranum had a big sore on her face next to her mouth. She kept a white salve on it, but I could hardly stand to look at her. I slept upstairs, going up there by a ladder, and in the night I felt snow on my quilt. I got up early and told them I was going to school. They warned me that no one would be at school, but I thought I just couldn't look at Mrs. Ranum much longer, so he said he'd send Bud (Orval, a 5th grader and real smart). We started walking against the northeast wind with little visibility with the snow and kept holding hands and we made it (probably 3/4 mile across the pasture) to the schoolhouse. I was so happy to see Mr. Sheldon and he said "get it (he had a new Chevy) and we'll take Bud home." It turned out to be a 3-day blizzard. I've re-lived that visit many times. Mrs. Ranum died a few years later. One of the older girls married a Wray boy and he was successful as a carpenter."

October 1932 "S. Ranum of Alvin neighborhood returned home last Friday after having visited relatives a few months at Slayton and other places in Minnesota. Mr. Ranum went back to Minnesota last April. He really made the trip for the benefit of his health and his friends will be pleased to know that he returned home greatly improved.
While in Minnesota he spent much of his time at fishing and we imagine he has some pretty good fish stories to tell his dry land Colorado friends. While away Mr. Ranum visited the strike district in Iowa where the farmers are holding their crops and other farm products for higher prices. Mr. Ranum managed to get through the picket lines without difficulty but he saw a number of truck drivers who were stopped by the men guarding the highways."

August 1938 Lincoln "Mr. and Mrs. H. R. Berggren announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Janet, to F. Willard Ranum, of Denver, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Ranum of Lincoln. The wedding will take place Sept. 4 at the home of the bride's parents. Attendants will be Miss Dorothy McCloney and Leland Beiggren. The couple will live in Denver."
In 1940 Denver, F Willard Ranum 25 Head Janet B Ranum 26 Wife.
Frances Willard Ranum BIRTH 24 Nov 1914 Murray, Cass County, Nebraska, USA DEATH 14 Feb 1988 (aged 73) Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, USA BURIAL Fairmount Cemetery Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA MEMORIAL ID 18651705. This is Simon's nephew, son of Septer Nine Ranum 1875-1960.

In 1940 Yuma County, Simon Ranum is 72, Mabel Ranum 55 Wife, Oliver J. Ranum 35 Son, Orvil W. Ranum 18 Son, Blanch V. Ranum 12 Daughter, and Lorene M. Ranum 52 Daughter.

August 1945
Simon Ranum BIRTH 23 Oct 1867 Carver, Carver County, Minnesota, DEATH 30 Nov 1947 (aged 80) Boulder City, Clark County, Nevada, BURIAL Riverside Cemetery Sterling, Logan County, Colorado, MEMORIAL ID 18658891
"Simon Ranum, a former resident of Wray, died November 30 at Las Vegas, Nevada, where he had been making his home with.... His remains were brought to Sterling for burial last week. Mr. Ranum leaves his wife, Mrs. Mabel Ranum of Sterling, two sons, Oliver of Wray and... of Boulder City, Nev.; and daughters, Mrs. Oscar Shively of Denver, Mrs. Phil Carson of Las Vegas, Mrs. Blanche Lybarger, Sidney, Neb., and Mrs. Lorene Otteson of Iliff.
The deceased was born at Carver, Minn., in 1867. He came to Colorado in 1918 and lived northwest of Alvin until a year ago, when he was hurt and retired from farming. He has since lived in Nevada."
Mabel Houk Ranum BIRTH 26 Aug 1885 Giltner, Hamilton County, Nebraska, DEATH 24 Aug 1951 (aged 65) Holyoke, Phillips County, Colorado, BURIAL Riverside Cemetery Sterling, Logan County, Colorado, MEMORIAL ID 18658889.
" Mrs. Mabel Ranum, 67, of Holyoke, Colo., died Friday, August 24, in Holyoke after an illness of several months.
Mrs. Ranum was born August 26, 1883, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Houk. She married Simon Ranum in Lincln, Neb., and moved to Wray, Colo., in 1918, where she and Mr. Ranum took a homestead. Mr. Ranum died in October of 1947.
Surviving Mrs. Ranum are two sons, Oliver Ranum of Wray, and Orville Ranum of Boulder City, Nev., and four daughters, Mrs. Ulah Carson of Las Vegas, Nev., Mrs. Blanche Lybarger of Sidney, Neb., Mrs. Irma Shivley of Denver, and Mrs. Lorraine Ottosen of Proctor.
Private services were held at 3 p.m. today at the A.D. Jackson & Son mortuary, with Reverend Vernon Hanks officiating. Burial was at Riverside cemetery.

Her heirs were " Erma M. Shivley, 5635 West 27th Street, Denver, Colorado, Daughter. Ula Carson, Box 385, North Las Vegas, Nevada, Daughter, Orville W. Ranum, Box 543, Boulder City, Nevada, Son, Blanche Lybarger, 1715 Sioux Villa, Sidney, Nebraska. Daughter, Lorene Ottosen, Proctor, Colorado, Daughter, Oliver J. Ranum, Wray, Colorado, Son."

ORVILLE "BUD"

August 1944 "Cpl. Orville Ranum writes his father, Mr. Simon Ranum, from the Admiralty Islands, under date of July 11. Cpl. Ranum's letter follows: Dear Dad: I haven't had any mail for two weeks now, but I just had an urge to write. I try to write you about once a week but sometimes it's longer than that before I get the job done. Finally got a letter off to Oliver last night. It takes about two months for his letters to get here, so what little news he has is out of date. We have a radio now so we get the news pretty hot. The static is pretty bad here though. It rained like hell this morning and most of the forenoon. And I don't mean a sprinkle either. That always brings out the mosquitoes and they're “power diving” around my ears now. It will be swell when someday I can sit in a closed in house and laugh at them. I got the Wray Rattler yesterday with my new address on it. It was the May 20th issue I believe. The latest one I've received so far. Thanks for having the address changed. If everyooe kept the publishers informed on the correct address it would speed up the whole postal system. But that would be expecting too much. I was reading today that the postal department was getting ready for the big Xmas business already. I don't want any presents sent to me this year, not because I wouldn't appreciate the spirit behind them, but because they're that much else to carry around and no place lor mem. For example, the cookies, candy and gum I got last year were all spoiled when they got to me. My girl sent me a swell billfold and a framed picture of herself. The picture was the only thing of value to me at the time. I put the billfold away somewhere but it's probably moulded away by now. This climate is darned hard on anything. Your presents I'm using alright but I really didn't need them. So there's nothing I really need, as we can get almost any essential item needed through regular issue or buy it from the exchanges. There is very little to be complained about along that line. We're supposed to get beer over here soon, but so far I've seen very little to drink. The Navy and Air Corps have it.. Well I wrote more than I'd expected to so maybe it's best to rest on my laurels for the time being. It's my bedtime anyway. So long and write soon. Love, Bud"
Orville Warren Ranum 1922–2015
Orville "Bud" W. Ranum, of Boulder City, passed away Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, at his home. He lived a full life to the age of 93. He was born Jan. 18, 1922, on a cold winter’s day, in the farm house his father built, on the eastern plains of Colorado. He was the sixth child to Simon and Mabel Ranum. Although he was named after Orville Wright, he always went by the name of Bud. He grew up working the farm his family had near Wray, Colo. Their home was a small three room house with no electricity or running water. Along with his parents, he lived with an older brother, Oliver; two older sisters, Erma and Ulah; and two younger sisters, Blanche and Lorene. The Great Depression and then the Dust Bowl made it so that Bud left home at 17 to work for the Civilian Conservation Corps. He sent what money he could back home to help support his parents and younger sisters, who were still living on the farm. Later, he found other work in Denver, before joining the Army in 1942. He was shipped out to the Pacific and was stationed at bases in Australia, New Guinea, and finally, Japan (after they surrendered) until he was discharged in December of 1945. He made his way to Las Vegas, in the spring of 1946, to work in a cabinet shop for his brother-inlaw, Phil Carson (Ulah’s husband). In 1947, he got a job at the Bureau of Reclamation in Boulder City, and promptly moved to Boulder City where he lived for the rest of his life. It was at the Bureau where he met, and soon married, Janice Abernethy, a red haired, blue eyed beauty from North Carolina. They never had any children, but they did get a Siamese cat. At the age of 50, he retired and had a home built and outfitted exactly as they wanted. Janice retired around the same time and they began to travel and see the world. But, in 1977, after returning from a trip to Hawaii, it was discovered Janice had inoperable cancer and passed away not to soon afterwards. Bud never remarried, but later in life he had several lady friends, at separate times, who would travel with him to spots on the globe. Bud was active in community affairs and was generous to various charities. Besides traveling, he enjoyed reading and watching nature documentaries and science programs on TV. Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Janice Abernethy Ranum, 1977; his brothers, Albert Ranum, 1917 and Oliver Ranum, 1974; and also by sisters, Opal Ranum 1915, Ulah Carson 1997, Erma Shivley 2011, and Blanche Myers, February 2015. He is survived by his sister, Lorene Ottosen; and numerous nephews; nieces; and their children.

ULAH

July 1935 "The Misses Erma and Ula Ranum spent Saturday night and Sunday with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Ranum. The girls are working in Wray."

"The belated announcement of a local young couple was made this week. Phillip Carson, who is at present working at Keensburg, Colo., and Ulah Ranum of Denver, were married at Castle Rock, Wyo., on May 1st. 1937. Mr. Carson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Carson of Wray, and Mrs. Carson is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Ranum of north east of Wray. Mr. Carson Is employed by the Mountain States Telephone Co., at Keensburg. The newlyweds visited here over the week end and Mrs. Carson remained for the balance of the week. A trip to the mountains will comprise their belated honeymoon."
Ulah Lucille Ranum Carson 1917–1997

OLIVER

August 1928 "Oliver Ranum of the north part of the country was placed under arrest by sheriff Yates last Saturday charged with stealing a gun, holster and hunting knife from Tod Weaver of near Wray. Ranum had been employed as a farm hand by Mr. Weaver and the stuff was taken while Mr. and Mrs. Weaver were away from home. A preliminary hearing was held Monday and the case was set for trial for next Saturday in justice court."
Oliver James Ranum 1904–1975

Albert Earl Ranum 1908–1917

Opal Ranum 1910–1915
"Five year old Opal Ranum of Havelock succumbs
Convulsions took place sixteen days after little one was attacked by bulldog which had rabies.
Opal, five-year old daughter of Simon Ranum of Norwood Park, of Havelock. died at her father's home Monday noon. Death was due to rabies. The child had been ill since Saturday morning and had suffered convulsions for several hours.
Saturday evening, May 22, the little girl was standing on the front porch of the Ranum home when James Lewis, a newspaper carrier, approached with the evening papers. He was accompanied by a bulldog, the property of his father, W.W. Lewis. Neighbors said the dog had been fighting, and that there were traces of froth about his mouth. He ran onto the porch and bit the girl in the face.
The child was attended to by Dr. H.A. Fulton. Saturday night, as soon as he had learned of the facts of the case, he wired to Philadelphia for the Pasteur treatment. The dog was killed and its head sent to Dr. William F. Wild, state bacteriologist. Doctor Wild found symptoms of rabies.
The child's face was terribly lacerated. For a few days, however, she appeared to be improving. The treatment was received from the Philadelphia laboratory and administered each day. It was planned to continue the treatments for twenty-five days at the end of which the danger would have been over. As hydrophobia usually does not make its appearance for from eight days to six months, the doctors were unable to determine whether or not the child was affected.
Last Saturday morning, the patient began to show symptoms. She had difficulty swallowing, her heartbeats were more rapid than usual and she was extremely nervous. Gradually she grew worse and by Monday morning she was in convulsions. Death occurred at 12 o'clock. Sixteen of the twenty-five treatments had been concluded.

Erma May Ranum Shivley 1915–2011
Erma Shivley, 96, of Boulder City, passed away on Sept. 17, 2011. She was born on May 30, 1915, in Lincoln, Neb., to Simon Ranum and Mabel Houk Ranum.
When Erma was a young girl her family moved to a farm in Eastern Colorado. Around the age of 23 she moved to Denver, and met and married Oscar Shivley. Erma had been a resident of Boulder City since moving here in 1975 from Denver. She loved to work in the garden and enjoyed the beauty of her flowers. When she was younger she enjoyed doing needlepoint. Erma is survived by her son, Robert, and his wife, a brother and two sisters. She was predeceased by her first born son, Jimmy D. Shivley, in 1963. Also by two brothers, Oliver Ranum, in 1974, and Albert Ranum, in 1917. Erma also had a sister, Opal Ranum, who died in June of 1915 at the age of 5.



Blanche Viola Ranum Myers 1925–2015

Lorene May Ranum Ottosen 1927–2020
"Lorene Ottosen, 92, of Sterling, died on Sunday, January 26, 2020 in Sterling. Visitation will be at Tennant Funeral Home on Thursday, January 30, from 4 pm to 6 pm. Private family service will be held at Tennant Funeral Home. Inurnment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Ottosen was born to Simon Ranum and Mabel Houk on the family farm northeast of Wray in Alvin, CO on June 23, 1927. She married Roy Ottosen on August 10, 1945 in St. Francis, Kansas. The Ottosen’s raised their seven children, living in Proctor from 1946 until moving to Crook in 1952; then to Iliff in 1954, and to Sterling in 1957. Mrs. Ottosen was an avid gardener and loved spending time outdoors among her beautiful flower beds. She also had a love of country western music and western movies.
She is survived by her sons Robert Ottosen of Scottsdale, AZ, Dale Ottosen of Sterling; daughters Carol Arnold of Durango, Lori Fuller of Sterling, 13 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband Roy Ottosen, sons Larry Ottosen and Dean Ottosen; daughter Ladonna Mannon, three brothers; Oliver, Albert, Orville, and four sisters; Opal, Erma, Ulah, and Blanche."


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