Donald Engle Allen was born December 23, 1922 in the Allen Family sod house in Brown County, NE and passed away on April 24, 2021 in Del Rio, TX. He was the fourth child of his parents Fred Albert Allen and Mabel Henrietta (Hewitt) Allen. Doctors Hewitt, Don’s grandparents, attended to Don’s birth and to those of his three siblings.
Don attended a nearby rural school and was taught by his sister Helen before attending high school in Johnstown. He grew up and ranched in Brown County with occasional interruptions to farm in Minnesota and travel west with friends looking for work. Don purchased the first portion of his ranch, just a few miles from his parents’ original Kincaid claim, south of Johnstown in 1965.
He married Emma Cruz on April 1, 1970 and they moved to his ranch. In 1985 Don and Emma bought their home in Ainsworth from which Don continued to operate the ranch. They moved to Del Rio, TX in February, 2002. Don made a two day drive to the Sandhills from Del Rio for work on the ranch and to see family and friends each spring. His last visit here was in June of 2018. Entire books have been written about less robust lives.
Donald Allen was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Albert Allen and Robert Allen; sister, Helen Gudgel; and nephew, Edward Allen.
Don is survived by his wife, Emma Allen of Del Rio; three brothers-in-law; four sisters-in-law, all of Mexico; nieces and nephews, Ruth Allen (wife of nephew Edward Allen) of Johnstown, NE, James Allen of Bella Vista, AR, David Gudgel of Loveland CO, Willard Gudgel of Loveland, CO, Duane Gudgel of Valentine, NE, Linda Lund of North Platte, NE, Bruce Allen of Seligman, MO, Monte Allen of Coolidge, AZ, Bill Allen of Hot Springs, SD, Wayne Allen of Cheyenne, WY; and other family members.
Graveside memorial services will be held on Friday, May 21, 2021 at the Ainsworth Cemetery in Ainsworth with Father Mike Wetovick officiating at the service. Honorary Bearers are all of Don’s Sandhills friends and neighbors. Memorials are suggested to the Brown County Hospital Foundation in Don’s name. Hoch Funeral Home of Ainsworth was entrusted with the service arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.