John Edward Harshfield

John Edward Harshfield, 50, of Sutherland, died Feb. 21, 2010, at Great Plains Regional Medical Center in North Platte.
John was born May 14, 1959, to Walter Theodore "Ted" and Elaine Mae Dodson Harshfield at Sutherland.
He attended grade school at District 104 and graduated as valedictorian with the class of 1976 from Sutherland High School. John's father died a month before John's graduation, leaving him a ranch to operate when he was 17. John's mother helped him at the ranch until May of 1983, when she retired and moved to Sutherland.
On July 16, 1983, John married Cecelia Irene Boggs. They were married at the ranch in an outdoor ceremony. The bridal couple, their attendants and the minister were all on horseback. A wooden cross was erected for the altar and guests were escorted to a hay bale seat. After the ceremony the couple rode in a horse-drawn buggy to their reception and dance in Sutherland.
John was a member of the Tractor Collectors of Southwest Nebraska and a life member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the Nebraska-Texas Longhorn Breeders Association.
Survivors include his wife, Cecelia, of Sutherland; a daughter, Rebecca Rose Harshfield, of Alpine, Texas; six cousins, Arlene (Robert) McElhinney, of Arthur, Ruth Farmer, of North Platte; Sandra (Dan) Nelson, of Sutherland, Gloria Lloyd, of North Platte, Marilyn (Marvin) Henry, of Maywood, and Gene (Judy) Catt, of McCook; and other family.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Services will be 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 25, at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore with Pastor Duane Dunwoody of the Lisco Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery northwest of Hershey. In lieu of flowers the family has established a memorial.
Visitation is from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 24, at Odean Colonial Chapel and before the service. The online guestbook may be signed at odeanchapel.com.