Valoris E. Luehrs
Valoris E. Luehrs, 79, of Crofton, Neb., died Thursday (Feb. 28, 2002) at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the United Church of Christ-Congregational in Crofton with the Rev. Gary Kimm officiating. Burial will be in the Crofton City Cemetery with military rites by the Crofton American Legion Post No. 128.
Pallbearers are Jim Hames, John Merkel, Jim Wortmann, Dennis Merkel, Dave Donner and Don Hofmaier.
Visitation will be held from 3-9 p.m. Sunday at Wintz Funeral Home, Crofton.
He was born June 13, 1922, at Ainsworth, Neb., to Charles Luehrs and Alma Gaskins. He grew up in the Ainsworth area and graduated from Long Pine High School in Long Pine, Neb.
He lived in Long Pine and worked for Northwestern Railroad.
He married Doretta Ruth Lake on Aug. 20, 1940, in Chadron, Neb.
He entered the U.S. Navy on May 31, 1944, and received the rank of Water Tender 2nd Class. He served on the destroyer ship U.S.S. Hadley and was discharged March 29, 1946.
He then worked at the Mead (Neb.) ordinance plant until 1956. He lived and worked in Saudi Arabia at the Power Plant owned by Arabian American Oil Company for four years.
He moved back to Montana in 1961. He worked at Fort Peck Dam in Fort Peck, Mont. From there, he worked at Gavins Point Dam, Yankton, as a power house operator until his retirement in 1984.
He and his wife built their home in 1984.
He was a member of the Crofton American Legion Post No. 128 and Ernest-Bowyer VFW Post No. 791 in Yankton.
He loved to play pool, cribbage and go fishing. He greatly adored his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Doretta Ruth Luehrs, Crofton, Neb.; four children: Roger (Meltem) Luehrs, Los Angeles, Calif.; Karen (Lauren) Jensen, Colfax, Wash.; Steve (DelRae) Luehrs, Reeds Springs, Mo.; and Diana (Dave) McClintock, Crofton; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; three brothers: Dean Luehrs, Medford, Ore., and Donald Luehrs and Charles J. "Jr." Luehrs, both of Long Pine, Neb.; and two sisters: Donna Benson, Norfolk, Neb., and A. Jean Burkinshaw, Long Pine.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson.