Dick N. Herren

Dick N. Herren passed away peacefully, February 24, 2017, the day before his 96th Birthday, at his home in Harrison, Nebraska. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 on Thursday, March 2 at the Harrison Bible Church, 1/4 mile north of Harrison. Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron will be in charge of arrangements.

He was born February 25, 1921 at the J Bar L Ranch, southwest of Harrison, the son of Martin Edward and Retta Herren. He married Jacqueline Broderick on September 12, 1949 in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Dick was a very hard-working and adventurous man. At the age of 16 he graduated from Torrington High School and decided to join the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) after hearing Franklin Delano Roosevelt on the radio, looking to enlist young men, using the lure of 'romance and adventure' – something Dick couldn't pass up. He left the CCC in 1940 and joined the Wyoming National Guard 115th Cavalry. In the five years that Dick served the United States Army he was a horse holder, leading horses that were packing machine guns and ammunition; took part in the filming of "The Bugle Sounds"; defended America's west coast against potential invasion by the Japanese in the wake of Pearl Harbor; served with the 13th Armored Division out of Camp Polk, LA, where he chose to drive tanks; and fought in France and Germany as a tank commander under General Patton's 103rd Armored Division. He was honorably discharged in 1945 as a Sergeant.

After his discharge, Dick and his brother, George, decided to go into the feed business, thus creating Herren Brothers. They purchased a lumber business in Harrison where the feed business soon expanded into windmills, lumber, and True Value hardware. They also employed a crew of carpenters that built houses around town. Eventually the business grew into three stores, located in Harrison and Crawford, NE and Guernsey, WY.

Dick was a member of Legion Post #1 in Van Tassell, WY; the Harrison VFW; and the American's Lumber Association. He also served on the Security First Bank Board and the Community of Harrison Board and served as Harrison's Mayor for a time.

He lived life to the fullest and enjoyed spending time with his family. He was known to take his granddaughters on many hiking and lake adventures. He enjoyed spending time at Herren Bros., where he would most likely be found first thing in the morning, looking forward to visiting with and helping customers. He also enjoyed taking photographs, writing, reading, and telling stories about his many adventures.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jacqueline; sister, Coza Shelley of Cedar City, UT; three children, Synthia Chambers of Palm Coast, FL, John (Terry) Herren of Harrison, NE, and Kimberly (Kevin) Flaherty of Gering, NE; 8 granddaughters; 5 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Retta; siblings: George Herren, Hilda Teske, Clyde Herren, and an infant brother; grandsons, Joshua and Jonathan Chambers; and Son-in-Law, Jon Chambers.

Memorials may be designated to the Harrison VFW or the Harrison Volunteer Fire Department.

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