Harold Burrow

     Harold Eugene Burrow was born September 15, 1941, to Bertha (Miller) and Christian Henry Burrow. He was the youngest of the family. Harold had an unusual childhood. In 1949, a Judge in Custer County sent his entire family to the Beatrice State Home in Beatrice, His father, Harold, and his sister Tillie were admitted to the home.

     His mother, Bertha (Miller)(Burrow) Stout later married Clarence Stout and took his last name. 

     In 1972 the Beatrice Home disbursed many of the clients all over Nebraska. Harold lost contact with his sister when he was re-homed to Broken Bow, NE. Melvin and Mary Ann Clinger had an ad, "Farm help wanted, housing provided in Ansley, Nebraska". Social Services did an interview, and Harold moved in with the Clinger family when he was about 31 years old. This began Harold's life on a dairy farm milking cows. In 1997, when Melvin Clinger sold the herd, Harold had been helping milk about 300 cows twice a day and continued to live on the farm until he was about 65 years old. In 2003, Harold moved to Custer Heights in Broken Bow, NE, and started attending Custer Care, an adult daycare. In 2005, Sandy (Clinger) Goodwater became Harold's Legal Guardian until 2021 when Sandy Skillett resumed the responsibility.

     Harold found a new passion for building miniature buildings out of Popsicle sticks. One of his first major projects was a tree house with a spiral staircase that transitioned into a regular staircase up to the top. In 2015, Harold built a chicken house about 15 square inches and received 'Best of Show' in the Custer County Fair for the open-class adult division.

     In 2016, Harold received 'Man of the Year' award from the American Baptist Men of Nebraska. Harold loved to go places and attend activities. He attended many sporting events for the Ansley and Broken Bow high schools in Nebraska. At Custer Care, he loved to go on the 'Mystery Trips' to surprise eating establishments. Many years Harold went to the Broken Bow, Ansley, and Arcadia parades and occasionally was able to ride in the parade representing Custer Care.

     Harold regularly attended the First Baptist Church of Ansley on Sundays and attended the Wednesday night bible studies at the Fundamental Baptist Church in Ansley, Nebraska. Harold E. Burrow was Baptized at the First Baptist Church of Ansley on November 8, 1987. Later he attended the First Baptist Church of Broken Bow after he moved into Custer Heights until about 2018. After the Church closed, he then attended the Church of God and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Many times, Harold was able to attend the annual American Baptist Convention of Nebraska, at various locations, and the annual American Baptist Men's Camp at Lynnwood, Nebraska.

     In 2009, Harold and Sandy (Clinger) Goodwater went to the Broken Bow Museum to look for some of Harold's family history. By surprise, also visiting the museum was one of Harold's cousins, Vernon Souders, from McMinnville, Oregon. This began an acquaintance with many of Harold's cousins across the United States. Mr. Souders showed Harold many relatives that had passed in the Grange and Merna, Nebraska cemeteries. After Vernon's brother James Souders passed away on 3/2/2011, Vernon introduced Harold to many more living relatives at the funeral. This began many years of Sandy taking Harold to visit the graves on Memorial Day and placing flowers at the many graves of his newly found family members, to include his father's grave in Beatrice, NE. Harold will be laid to rest next to Melvin and Mary Ann Clinger in the Ansley Cemetery because this was purchased prior to learning about his much larger family tree.

Graveside Memorial Services will be held on Friday, June 7, 2024, at 2:00 PM at the Ansley Cemetery in Ansley, NE. Memorials are suggested to the Custer Care Center. Friday, June 7^th, a Celebration of Life will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 PM at the Custer Care Center at 1020 South 2^nd Ave in Broken Bow, NE. Govier Brother Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com