Kelly J. Mefferd, 58

Kelly Jean Mefferd was born to Ralph Mefferd and Betty (Propst) Mefferd on May 12, 1962 at Valentine, NE. Kelly was a little “Firecracker” from day one.

Schooling for Kelly was in several places. Grade school years were at Hamill, SD where her dad was in partnership with Rich and Dean Kinney on the old Savage Ranch, seventh and eighth grades were at Bassett Grade school, after her parents had purchased a small ranch near Bassett and in 1976 the family purchased a ranch near Edgemont, SD, where Kelly graduated from high school.

Kelly did well in sports, preferring basketball, track and rodeo. Horses were her passion from the time that she could crawl on. She was her dad’s cowboy always. Checking the heavies with her daddy and Dean was the joy of her life.

She loved to be with big sister Sandy and brother Mike, wanting to be just like them. A lifelong friend was Diane Spencer she had met at Edgemont High.

Kelly married Steve Bath and they lived at Ft. Morgan, CO. After the divorce she moved back to her family at Edgemont. Kelly’s son, Chancy was born in 1988 at Chadron, NE. Kelly and Tiny Chancy moved to Elko, NV where she found work at Barrick Gold-Strike and was certified to run every big piece of equipment there. She worked at this job for 10 years.

Following several vacation trips to Nebraska, Kelly and Chancy decided to move back. This is when she met and was married to Ron Stewart. Moving to the ranch, she became very involved in the cattle operation, raised many good horses and had her own horse sale.

After divorcing, she worked at different feedlots. Kelly’s body finally gave out after many injuries and surgeries, and she also developed diabetes. Kelly passed away on March 28, 2021 at her job at Herd Co. Feed lot, at Bartlett, NE.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents.

Survivors include her son, Chancy (Catarina) Stewart; six grandchildren of Orchard, NE; parents, Ralph and Betty Mefferd of Chadron, NE; sister, Sandra Mefferd of Chadron, NE; and brother, Michael Mefferd of Rapid City, SD; plus many loved ones and friends.

A graveside service was held April 5th.