Dewey L. Ellsworth

Dewey Ellsworth, 83, of Lusk passed away Thursday, March 31, 2016 at Niobrara Health and Life Center.

Visitation will be at 12:00 p.m. Monday April 4th with services to follow at 1:00 p.m. at Pier Funeral Home, Lusk, WY, with Pastor David Shaner officiating. Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday April 5th at the Crawford, Nebraska Cemetery.

Dewey was born July 21, 1932, in Crawford, NE, to Wilbur and Mary (Reynoldson) Ellsworth. As a young boy he helped his parents on the family farm and went to a country school in Belmont, NE.

At the age of 19 he married Eva Cunningham and to this union 3 daughters were born. They later divorced and Dewey and his children moved south of Crawford where he helped his mom and dad farm.

In 1964 Dewey and his children moved to Lusk, and he lived there until his passing. He worked in the oil fields as a roughneck and later became a driller. In the late 70's he built and opened the Six Arrow Truck Stop, Café and Bar (now known as the 3 Sisters) in Manville. In the late 80's he bought and ran the Silver Dollar Bar in Lusk. In the mid 90's he built Dewey's Place in Moorcroft.

In 1996 he met the love of his life, Mary Rose Freeman. They lived and worked her ranch north of Lusk and were able to do some traveling. They moved into Lusk in 2013 when Mary's health was failing.

Dewey made his way through life tempered by hard work as a farmer, rancher, rough-neck, and restaurant and bar owner. While he had the hard edge of a man seasoned by unforgiving land and vocation, he cared for those close to him with unflinching loyalty. He wore his imperfections openly, thus teaching those around him the value of authenticity. Dewey was Dewey, and anybody who ever met him could say they met the real Dewey. His exit was fitting, he had a tangle with one of his bulls and passed due to complications from the encounter.

He is survived by his daughters, Linda (Chuck) Schoenewald, Moorcroft, Susan (Marc) Millard, Moorcroft and Connie Wennblom, Gillette; grandchildren, Daryl Schoenewald, Lusk, and Dewey Schoenewald, Moorcroft; great-grandchildren, Cole and Taylor Schoenewald, Moorcroft; niece, Norma Jean Williams, Lyman, WY; great-nephews, Shane (Debbie) McKenna, Holladay, UT, David (Cindy) Bolen, Buffalo, NY, Chad (Kim) Bolen, Nibley, UT, Ray (Jessica) Binkerd, McMinnville, OR; great-niece, Michele (Damain) Smith, Providence, UT; and many great-great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Margaret Lyburg, infant sister Bonnie Ellsworth, and longtime partner Mary Rose Freeman.

The family suggests memorials to the Lusk Senior Center.

Pier Funeral Home assisted the family.