Ladd M. Reeves

Ladd Marsh Reeves, 80, of Archer, Nebraska, died Saturday, January 11, 2025, at Grand Island Regional Hospital in Grand Island, Nebraska. Celebration of Life will be on January 26, 2025 from 12 to 3 p.m. at Solt-Wagner Community Room in Central City Nebraska.
Memorials are suggested in the form of donations to TeamMates Mentoring at www.teammates.org. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com.
Ladd was born on October 30, 1944, to Theodore Christian ("T.C.") and Portia (Marsh) Reeves in Central City, Nebraska. He grew up in rural Central City attending District 39 country school and graduated from Central City High School in 1963. He was a very proud member of the one and only undefeated football team in Central City history and a State FFA officer. Upon graduation Ladd attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for one year before returning to the family farm where he worked alongside his father farming and raising cattle. During this time, he attended the Montana Western College of Auctioneering. Ladd then began his auctioneering career which later grew into a real estate and appraisal business known as Flatland Realty and Auction in Central City, Nebraska.
Ladd's greatest joy was his family. He was a loving, supporting husband and an engaged father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle who always wanted the best for his family. He was a tireless farmer and rancher who cared about the land and loved nature. An avid horseman, he never met an animal he didn't love except for a certain Charolais bull, which has become a part of the Reeves family lore. He was a tremendous historian of the people and events of Merrick County and had a reverence for the Native American culture that he instilled into his family and friends. He took great pride in teaching this history and archeology to many Central City 5th grade science students while hosting tours of the family pasture in Howard County. Throughout his years of rodeo announcing and auctioneering he was always more than willing to swap a story with anyone who had one to share and it usually included a life lesson that you could carry with you forever.
Ladd was a member of the Natural Resources District for over 20 years, he was a board member of the Nebraska Resource Commission, a member of the Merrick County Fair Board, and the Lone Tree Rodeo Association, and greatly enjoyed being a TeamMates Mentor in Central City.
On February 14, 2006, Ladd married Jan Medina in Grand Island, Nebraska. Together they enjoyed going to the family pasture, woodworking, blacksmithing, hunting, and attending every event or game in which the grandchildren participated. Ladd was extremely proud of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Ladd is survived by his wife Jan Reeves of Archer, Nebraska, sons Doug (Kathy) Reeves of Archer, NE, Kurt (Bridgette) Reeves of Central City, NE, daughters Carmen (Simon) Lester of Omaha, NE, Julie Hutchinson of Lincoln, NE; stepchildren Jennifer (Greg) Lani and Brian Francis, both of Fullerton, NE; grandchildren Nathan (Chase) Reeves, Zach (Erin) Reeves, Sydnie (Braden Winters) Reeves, Makala Reeves, Matt Reeves, Devaya Hutchinson and Adonis Hutchinson; great grandchildren Lawson and Andi Reeves. He is also survived by his siblings, sisters Virginia Fraser and Kathleen Owens, and brother Don Reeves, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ladd was preceded in death by his father Theodore Reeves, mother Portia Reeves, infant son Daniel John Reeves and stepson Randy Francis.