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Jo Ann Brown

Atkinson — Jo Ann Brown, 88, of Atkinson, died Friday, Mar...

Hugh L. James


Hugh L. James

Hugh L. James, age 67, of Bassett, passed away on Friday, Nov. 25, 2011, at Avera St. Anthony's Hospital in O'Neill.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at the United Methodist Church in Bassett with Pastor Bonnie Forney and Pastor Gary Graesser officiating. Special music was offered by Kathy Magnussen and Pastor Sam and Mary Courts. Special reflections were given by Parker James and Russell Wentworth.

Pallbearers were Russ Wentworth, Andrew Steinhauser, Brad Arrowsmith, Carl Frauen, Marty Larson, Tom Laible, Shawn Coleman and Curt Weber.

Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Gary Leach, Scott Rysdon, Keith Wright, Rodney Palmer, Lawrence Roy, Howard Miller, Charles Everett, Scott Robinson, Jack Poulson, Walter Porter and Chris Hartman.

Interment services were held at the Chambers Cemetery in Chambers at 3 p.m. under the direction of Hoch Funeral Home of Bassett. Memorials were directed to the family in his name to be used for a future designation.

Hugh was born on Feb. 29, 1944, in Phoenix, AZ, to Alfred and Leona (McAllister) James. He attended a rural school near Amelia, and St. Joseph Elementary in Atkinson, before graduating from Burwell High School.

Hugh married Carma Harkins of Chambers on July 18, 1963. To this union two children were born, Monte Al and Shana Lee. After marrying Carma, they moved to Ericson, where he helped his father build and operate the Ericson Livestock Market. In 1975, Hugh, Carma and two children, bought their ranch on the Niobrara River between Bassett and Springview. This was his home for 36 years until the time of his death.

Hugh grew up on the James Family homestead west of Amelia, deep in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills. His childhood and teenage years were spent working the family ranch with his father and brothers. Hugh loved to share stories with his grandchildren about milking cattle and taking the cream to town on Saturday night for their weekly outing. He began buying and selling cattle at the early age of 17, making frequent runs to the eastern states to purchase Holstein cattle, and never stopped. His career as a rancher and cattle buyer spanned over 50 years until the time of his death. He took a lot of pride in supplying cattle to some of the largest dairies in the nation.

Hugh was an avid hunter and fisherman. His favorite pastime was fishing with friends and family in his airboat on the Niobrara River. He also enjoyed turkey and deer hunting on his ranch.

Hugh adored his three grandsons, Parker Thomas James, Shaylor Hugh Platt and Shayce William Platt. Hugh anxiously awaited the time family and friends would come to the ranch for the weekend. He was often seen in the old ranch truck with a load of kids and dogs driving throughout the ranch, picking mulberries and taking the kids for a dip in the river.

Survivors include: his wife, Carma James of Bassett; son, Monte James and grandson, Parker of Yankton, SD; daughter, Shana Platt and husband Nick and grandsons, Shaylor and Shayce, also of Yankton; mother-in-law, Lela Harkins of O'Neill; sister-in-law, Sharon (Marvin) Larson of Ewing; brother-in-law, Ralph (Lynn Harkins of Wichita Falls, Texas; along with two step-grandchildren; three nieces; three nephews; and loyal cattle working companions, Pepper and Freckles.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Leona James; brothers, Paul and Jesse James and father-in-law, Albert Harkins.

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