RICHEY, JIM AND BESSIE (BOYER)

by Bessie Richey

Entry F360 from the History of Hooker County Nebraska
with permission of the Hooker County Historical Society

Jim and Bessie Richey, December 1979

On May 2, 1915, I was born to Fielden S.
and Enice (James) Boyer, who homesteaded
in Cherry County, North of Mullen, Ne. I
attended school in a rural school, traveling
2 1/2 miles to school in a wagon. I graduated
from Mullen High School in 1933, where I
took normal training, enabling me to my first
teaching Certificate. Little did I realize this
was a profession which I would carry on for
33 years. Twelve years was taught in rural
schools in Cherry County and the rest in
Frontier County.

On Dec. 29, 1934 Clarence Mink and I were
married in Alliance, Ne. Clarence was the son
of Carl and Zenna Mink of Battle Creek, Ne.
Two premature babies were born to us and
are buried in a family cemetery north of
Mullen. Clarence passed away with bowel
cancer on June 1, 1942 and is buried in the
Osborne cemetery, Battle Creek, Nebr.

Walter Prindle and I were married April 9,
1944 in Mullen, Ne. at the Methodist Church.
Walter was the youngest son of Edward S.
and Jessie Prindle from north of Kearney,
Ne. Walter was born Oct. 16, 1908. We
worked on ranches north of Whitman and
Mullen and I continued to teach school until
Delbert was born on 1945. In 1948,
we became partners of Wilkie Coble with his
cattle, but in 1951 Wilkie passed away so we
had to find a place to move.

Owen VanNatta, from north of Curtis,
encouraged us to come to Frontier county to
look for a home. We purchased two sections
of farm and grass land ten miles southwest
of Maywood from Roy Williams.

Since we were Sand-hillers, mud country
dealt us much misery. While moving I recall,
Delbert, who was 6 years old, started to go
help his Dad and others get up a muddy hill.
In just a few steps he had lost both cowboy
boots. In his frustration and anger he shouted
"Let's turn around right now and go back to
the Sandhillers."

Denise Yvonne was born to us on
1955. She was an added joy, and since her
dad's health was not good she spent most of
her time outdoors with Walter, Delbert, or
me.

On Oct. 12, 1958 our lives were changed
suddenly when Walter passed away quietly
in his sleep with heart failure. He was buried
in Cedar View Cemetery at Mullen, Ne.

I had a sale and bought the old Jerry
Burton house located in S.W. Maywood,
where I still live. Delbert and Denise attend-
ed Maywood Schools, I taught school in
Prairie Bell Schools, Curtis and Maywood
Grade School, retiring in 1980.

On March 23, 1963 I married Jim Richey,
Jr. son of Jim Sr. and Martha Richey of
Stockville, Ne. He was born May 2, 1926. Jim
graduated from Stockville, served in the
armed forces and worked 16 years for the
Nebr. State Hi-Way Dept. Jim was stricken
with lung cancer in 1983, after numerous
treatments, he passed away Jan. 23, 1985 and
was buried in Fort McPherson, at Maxwell,
Ne.

Now that I am alone again I spend most of
my time helping those in need, my families
and doing things for the betterment of my
community. I am and have been chairman of
the Christian Church board, a Sunday School
Superintendent for years, leader ofthe Youth
Club, President of the V.F.W. Auxiliary,
which are active in many projects. Member
of the Centennial Board, Oracle of Royal
Neighbor Lodge, member of Senior Citizens
Board in Curtis and other organizations.

Delbert married Phyllis White in 1965.
They have two children, JoLea and Ryan.
They live at Bellevue, Ne.

Denise married Randy Burbach in 1981.
They have two daughters, Kay and Ann.
They live at North Platte, Ne.