Edward L. (Ed) Ehrhart, 77, of Minatare, passed away, Monday, May 19, 2014, at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, surrounded by his loving family. Cremation was held and private family inurnment will be in the Fairview Cemetery at Scottsbluff. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Memorials have been established to Festival of Hope and Panhandle Humane Society. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com
Ed was born December 19, 1936, at Mitchell, Nebraska to Henry and Marie Ehrhart. He graduated from Mitchell High School in 1954. He married Carol Erickson and they had two beautiful daughters. Shortly after graduation from high school he started his own pipeline business, providing necessary water pipelines for multiple ranches and their livestock in Sioux County. He then went on to manage Hat Creek Ranch for Cowboy Hall of Fame Rancher, Bill Coffee. He married Barbara Reiher in 1988, and played a significant role in raising his stepdaughter, Jill Marie. Following his successful work on the Coffee Ranches, he pursued a career as an Oil Field Manager for Ak-Sar-Ben Oil Company. After nearly 30 years of leading this company in successful production, he retired to his home in Minatare. Ed and Barb later built a new home just south of the lake, where they were able to accommodate having their horses, providing environmental habitat and supporting the interests of their children and grandchildren. Ed and Barb made their home in Minatare for over 30 years, where they enjoyed their family, fishing, traveling, and outdoor actives. Before and after retirement, he enjoyed having his children and grandchildren at Lake Minatare and the surrounding area of their new home, teaching them to appreciate the outdoors…fishing, skiing, boating, etc…being together! He and Barb also enjoyed traveling to many parts of the country in their motorhome. His family was his most important focus. Ed did not know a stranger and will be remembered for his ongoing generosity and special friendships. He quietly went about recognizing those who needed, and deserved, recognition or help, providing for many who will never know what he contributed. There is so much more to say about a man who lived a wonderful and humble life, and those who knew him will always appreciate the man he was…although he never asked for that recognition. It was a life well lived!
He is survived, and will be missed, by his wife, Barbara Ehrhart; daughters, Stacey (Jeff) Keller, Jamie Ehrhart Rodriguez, and Jill (Kraig) Lashley. Grandchildren: Travis (Katie) Bourrett, Tyson Keller, Madison Keller, Colten Yeager, and Kaylee Cardiff. Great-grandchildren: Isaac Edward Bourrett, Genevieve Bourrett, and Myah Keller. Sibilings: Bother, Jim (Janet) Ehrhart of Yuma, AZ; Sister, Carol Weber of Lincoln, NE; numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved dog “Harley”.