Dwight Saner

Dunning, NE- Dwight Saner, age 76, of Dunning, passed away Tuesday March 18, 2014 at his home on the ranch near Dunning after a hard fought battle with cancer. Funeral services will be held on Saturday March 22, 2014 at 2:00 PM at the Sandhills High School in Dunning, NE, with Rev. Lee Wonch and Ralph McKay officiating. Burial will be in the Purdum Cemetery with Govier Bros. Mortuary of Broken Bow in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be held on Friday 1 PM to 8 PM with the family greeting friends 4 PM to 7 PM at Govier Bros. Mortuary. Memorials are suggested to the Sandhills Community Church, the Blaine County Community Foundation or the Dunning Rural Fire Department. Culbert Dwight Saner was born November 29, 1937 at Halsey, NE at the Sam Rodocker home to Vesta and Dorothy (Rodocker) Saner. Dwight attended country school at West Union School and continued his education at Dunning High school, where he graduated in 1955. While Dwight was young and with the hay crew he acquired the nickname of Strawboss, which was still with him today. He worked with his Grandpa Oliver and was not aloud much of a lunch break or a water break. Grandpa Oliver was his mentor and made him the strong man that he was. Dwight was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan. He also loved fishing, where he caught a couple master anglers. Camping and traveling to Yuma for the winter season, were activities that Dwight held dear to his heart. He bowled, golfed, danced and played a lot of cards. Dwight enjoyed music and playing his Spanish Guitar. Dwight participated in rodeo, known for calf roping on his horse Frosty. He passed on his love of it to his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Sports were also a big part of Dwight’s life, he loved basketball, and football, his favorite NFL team was the Denver Broncos. He supported his children, grandchildren, and great grand children in the sports they participated in. Dwight was an active member of the Sandhills Community Church and has served on the church board. Dwight and his father, Vesta, helped put the addition on the church. He loved and appreciated his church family and their many prayers during his battle with cancer. Dwight was a very family oriented man and in his battle during hospice care, he said, “I am so fortunate to have such a loving family, they were there through all of the hard times.” Dwight was blessed with family beyond his biological family. His Yuma friends and relatives, his Canadian friends, and hometown friends were known to him as family. Dwight married his high school sweetheart Phyllis Collier on August 12, 1956. They lived on the Vesta Saner ranch and moved to their home where they live now in 1957. Dwight and his father built the home that they live in. Phyllis worked by Dwight’s side raising cattle, milking cows, as well as a farrow-to-finish swine operation. Dwight raised Angus cattle, had charolais cross for a while, then went back to straight Angus. They showed a lot of 4-H cattle, winning numerous championships at the State Fair. They were active in showing horses in 4-H. Dwight and Phyllis did a lot of judging for 4-H as well. To this union four children were born and Dwight is survived by his wife Phyllis of Dunning, Randy and Patti (Bender) Saner of North Platte, Cindy and Kenny Neben of Dunning, Kurt and Jeanine (Pelster) Saner of Dunning, Troy Saner of Dunning, and foster son, Austin Furrow of Riverton, WY. He is also survived by his 12 grandchildren; Phillip (Jessie) Saner, Matthew Saner, Christopher Saner, Dawn (Jared) Schemper, Dallas (Jess) Wyckoff, Rusty Wyckoff, Dustin Wyckoff, Jessica (James) McHargue, Delten (Alyson) Saner, Wade Saner, Shelby Saner, and Peyton Saner. Also, his 9 great grandchildren; Sierra, Samantha, Sabrina, Sophia, and Sawyer Schemper, Justin and Havannah Wyckoff, Katelyn McHargue, and Elliot Saner. Dwight is also survived by one sister, Marlene (Junior) Milleson, and two brother-in-laws, Larry Collier, and Alan (Barb) Collier, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents; Vesta and Dorothy Saner, his in-laws; Lawrence and Irene Collier, and one nephew; Byron Milleson.