Vernon LeRoy Oatman

1935 - 2024

Vernon Oatman, 89, of Broken Bow, Neb., passed away Dec. 6, 2024, at the Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell.

Vernon LeRoy Oatman was born March 3, 1935, at Ainsworth to LeRoy LaSelle and Elsie Maurine (Rolston) Oatman. He was the youngest of the five children; his siblings were Marjorie, Robert "Bob," Dale and Iloe.

Vernon was raised on the Oatman Ranch 20 miles south of Johnstown. The family then purchased a ranch 10 miles south of Ainsworth, where they lived for approximately eight years, and then traded it for a ranch 10 miles west of Ainsworth.

Vernon attended the Voss-Wrage school south of Wood Lake, from second grade through eighth grade, where he rode his horse seven miles to school each day. After his eight grade year, he attended the Ag School at Curtis for two years and then continued his high school education (freshman through senior years) in Ainsworth, graduating in 1952.

While in high school he was a member of the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association.  In 1948, he rode his first cow at the first sanctioned high school rodeo in Curtis and, in 1951, he was the All-Around Cowboy at the open FFA Rodeo in Ainsworth.

After graduation Vernon worked on ranches, roped in three different roping clubs, rode cows and picked up broncs for six years steady in Nebraska and South Dakota.

Vernon married Velma Jeanne Painter from Springview on July 25, 1957, in Lawton, Okla. At that time, Vernon was serving in the United States Army as a helicopter flying crew chief, which he loved dearly and, in 1958, he was transferred to Fort Hood, Texas, with the same position. In his spare time, while stationed in Texas, he helped numerous people with their horses and goats.

Vernon was released from the Army Jan. 10, 1959, at which time he and his wife had a ranch job waiting for them in Clearfield, S.D.  Shortly thereafter, they moved to Nebraska.

While working at the Ansel Wrage Ranch north of Valentine, they began their family. They had three children; all three were born in the same Ainsworth hospital where Vern was born - daughter Tammy LaRae; son Kem LeRoy; and daughter Lesa Lyn, who was born while Vern worked at the Hanna Ranch just north of Brownlee. 

In 1964, Vernon and his family moved from Brownlee to Broken Bow and he took a job with the Nebraska Brand Commission. In 1977, Vernon and Velma proudly opened their own business, V-Bar Trailer Sales. The entrepreneur tradition continued onto other family members and today, seven family members have started and/or own their business in the Broken Bow area. Vernon was very proud of his family and their achievements.

In 1991, V-Bar began donating the use of a horse trailer to the Nebraska High School Rodeo Queen and then went on to donate the use of a trailer to the Nebraska High School Rodeo Timed Event Cowboy Champion. To-date, this tradition continues.

Vernon remained very active in the Nebraska High School Rodeo Association throughout the years. He not only put on the Broken Bow High School Rodeo for several years, he also volunteered at several high school rodeos and junior rodeos throughout the state. Vernon and Velma loved rodeos and kids and donated to the NHSRA scholarship fund for more than 25 years.

V-Bar also sponsored a ranch rodeo team for over 10 years which it consisted of Vernon's family members. He judged several rodeos and ranch rodeos for many years as well as coordinating, sponsoring and working several ranch rodeos and junior rodeos in Broken Bow.

One of Vernon's greatest passions was rodeo and, for over 40 years, he attended the Timed Event Championships at the Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, Okla.

Vernon ran cattle and raised horses, even to this day. He stood more than one stallion for over 30 years, trained his own horses and took in horses for other people to ride. He and John Sennett started the 4-H horse roping events in the Custer County program and helped with several horse events at the Custer County Fairgrounds. Vernon was a 4-H horse leader for over 10 years, with a practice arena at his place since 1969 for everyone to use.

Vern's arena has held numerous family get-togethers, practices and annual fun days and, over the years, his arena also seen new beginnings, great achievements, a handful of broncs, a few mishaps ending in a dirt bath and many smiles, laughter and memories created by his family and friends.

Vernon received several awards: Honorary Chapter Farmer FFA, Chamber of Commerce Board of Director, Custer County Crop Improvement Association, Feeders and Breeders, Friend of 4-H, Friend of Custer County Fair, Manning Feeds and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Vernon also received two awards which were the most cherished of all. The first was received by both Vernon and Velma in 2012 at the Nebraska High School Rodeo given by Bill and Marge Manning for their support and love of rodeo. The second was in 2014 when Vernon was inducted into the Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame. Vernon also had the honor of being on the board of directors for the Nebraska Sandhills Cowboy Association.

Vernon is survived by his wife Velma of Broken Bow; kids Tammy (Casey) Flynn of Broken Bow, Kem (Kimberly) Oatman of Broken Bow and Lesa Oatman (Mitch Vodehnal) of Burwell; seven grandkids Sadye (Andy) Taylor, Travin Flynn, Lance Oatman, Jill Oatman, Destri (Jordan) Millsap, Shaley (Dustin) Miller and Jacy Millsap (Kaleb White); five great-grandkids Remi, Mesa, Hazen, Beckett and Ryker; sister Iloe Arent of Marshfield, Wisc.; and sister-in-law Shirley Swan of Springview; several nieces and nephews; special friends; as well as others dear to his heart.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Elsie Oatman; sister and brother-in-law Marjorie (Reece) Bligh; brothers and sisters-in-law Bob and Alberta Oatman and Dale and Delmira Oatman; brother-in-law Les Arent; niece and nephew Janet (Clyde) Brewer; and nephew David LeRoy Oatman.

Memorial services will be Saturday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m. at the V-Bar Trailer Sales shop with Pastor John Parsons officiating. Private inurnment will be in the Broken Bow Cemetery.

Visitation and time to greet the family will be Friday, Dec. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Govier Brother Mortuary.

Memorials are suggested to the Custer County Foundation in memory of Vernon Oatman.

Words of encouragement and remembrance can be left at www.govierbrothers.com.