Obituary for Erma Gwen Tetherow (Osterhoudt)
Erma Gwen Tetherow, 88, passed away May 10, 2023 in Valentine, Nebraska. She was born January 3, 1935 to Henry and Irene (Petersen) Osterhoudt at Curtis, Nebraska Erma grew up on her parents’ farms in Frontier County where she always had a love for the animals, especially the dogs and horses.
Erma attended high school at the Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis, where she met Douglas Ray Tetherow. After graduating in 1952 she came to the Sandhills to teach rural school near the Tetherow ranch. She and Doug were married May 23, 1953 at her home town of Curtis, Nebraska, then began their life together on the Tetherow ranch south of Valentine. The next year they started their family with the birth of Chuck.
In the fall of 1955, Doug enlisted in the United States Army, and Erma followed him as much as possible from one training base to the next so that he could see his family. Near the end of Doug’s enlistment in the 82nd Airborne, their second child, Cindy was born at Fayetteville, North Carolina. They returned to make their home on the Tetherow ranch, where Erma was always very busy raising her family, keeping up a big, beautiful yard, growing a huge garden, and for many years raising many chickens. She actively supported her kids through years of 4-H, school, and many other activities. Her home was always a fun place for the grandkids to visit, with a huge tree to climb in the backyard and plenty of ponds to stomp and swim in. It also supplied dinner for many brandings and haying help. In her later years, Erma was an avid reader, enjoyed watching the Kentucky Derby and Husker sports, and always had a feeder near the window to watch her yellow finches.
Erma loved the ranch life and could often be seen on a hay tractor or doing chores. She took on all the things Doug couldn’t do as his health declined and continued after his death. After Doug passed away in 2012, she continued to live on the ranch for another eight years. When Erma moved to Cherry Hills in Valentine in 2020, she had achieved being the longest to live on the Tetherow ranch, living in the same yard as the original home for 60 years.
Erma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Doug, brother-in-law Donald, and sister-in-law Beverly Konings. She is survived by her sister Jean (George) Thompson of Stockville, Nebraska, brother-in-law Richard (Janice) Tetherow of Valentine, daughter Cindy (Tom) Randall of Blair, Nebraska, son Chuck (Jean) of Crookston, Nebraska, grandchildren Nathan (Lauren) Randall of Cullman, Alabama, Gabrielle (Tracy) Schwanebeck of North Bend, Nebraska, Michelle (Jeff) Garwood of Valentine, Chad (Jill) Tetherow of Valentine, and Chet Tetherow of Valentine, great-grandchildren Arianna, Grayson, Lucienne, Penelope, Magnolia, Wyatt, Emmett, Jenalee, Jaeden, Jenessa, Boe, Brooks and Raiden, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Funeral services for Erma Tetherow will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, May 16, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Valentine, Nebraska, with burial following at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine. Holmes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to the family for the establishment of a 4-H Camp scholarship fund for beginning campers, or Borders Without Boundaries animal rescue.
Erma attended high school at the Nebraska School of Agriculture at Curtis, where she met Douglas Ray Tetherow. After graduating in 1952 she came to the Sandhills to teach rural school near the Tetherow ranch. She and Doug were married May 23, 1953 at her home town of Curtis, Nebraska, then began their life together on the Tetherow ranch south of Valentine. The next year they started their family with the birth of Chuck.
In the fall of 1955, Doug enlisted in the United States Army, and Erma followed him as much as possible from one training base to the next so that he could see his family. Near the end of Doug’s enlistment in the 82nd Airborne, their second child, Cindy was born at Fayetteville, North Carolina. They returned to make their home on the Tetherow ranch, where Erma was always very busy raising her family, keeping up a big, beautiful yard, growing a huge garden, and for many years raising many chickens. She actively supported her kids through years of 4-H, school, and many other activities. Her home was always a fun place for the grandkids to visit, with a huge tree to climb in the backyard and plenty of ponds to stomp and swim in. It also supplied dinner for many brandings and haying help. In her later years, Erma was an avid reader, enjoyed watching the Kentucky Derby and Husker sports, and always had a feeder near the window to watch her yellow finches.
Erma loved the ranch life and could often be seen on a hay tractor or doing chores. She took on all the things Doug couldn’t do as his health declined and continued after his death. After Doug passed away in 2012, she continued to live on the ranch for another eight years. When Erma moved to Cherry Hills in Valentine in 2020, she had achieved being the longest to live on the Tetherow ranch, living in the same yard as the original home for 60 years.
Erma was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Doug, brother-in-law Donald, and sister-in-law Beverly Konings. She is survived by her sister Jean (George) Thompson of Stockville, Nebraska, brother-in-law Richard (Janice) Tetherow of Valentine, daughter Cindy (Tom) Randall of Blair, Nebraska, son Chuck (Jean) of Crookston, Nebraska, grandchildren Nathan (Lauren) Randall of Cullman, Alabama, Gabrielle (Tracy) Schwanebeck of North Bend, Nebraska, Michelle (Jeff) Garwood of Valentine, Chad (Jill) Tetherow of Valentine, and Chet Tetherow of Valentine, great-grandchildren Arianna, Grayson, Lucienne, Penelope, Magnolia, Wyatt, Emmett, Jenalee, Jaeden, Jenessa, Boe, Brooks and Raiden, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Funeral services for Erma Tetherow will be held at 10:30 AM Tuesday, May 16, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Valentine, Nebraska, with burial following at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine. Holmes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to the family for the establishment of a 4-H Camp scholarship fund for beginning campers, or Borders Without Boundaries animal rescue.