IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Vernon J.
Hastings
March 11, 1921 – January 21, 2008
Obituary
Vernon "Vern" J. Hastings
March 11, 1921 - Jan. 21, 2008
Vernon "Vern" J. Hastings, 86, of Sterling, passed away Jan. 21, 2008, in Sterling. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home in Sterling. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home, with the Rev. Eugene Zeller officiating. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery.
Vern was born March 11, 1921, to Louisa J. (McMillan) and Vernon James Hastings in Longmont. He moved with his family to Logan County when he was 4 years old. He began his schooling at the Hiway School District 38, and graduated from Sterling High School in 1937 at age 16.
After high school, he worked for local farmers.
In 1940, he married Almeda Peterson. After a bad year on the farm, they moved to California, where he worked as an airplane engine mechanic at March Air Force base.
He received notice to take a physical for the draft in 1943. Upon failing his physical, he and his family resumed farming in the Sterling area.
In 1954, Vern entered the Logan County Sheriff's race for the Democratic Party with a platform created by chairman E.J. Barnes: "He looks like a sheriff, he acts like a sheriff, and he'll make a hellava sheriff." He won the election with more than 50 percent of the votes, over the incumbent sheriff and an independent candidate. He established the Sheriff's Posse in 1960 to assist his small staff with community events and emergencies.
He married Melba Shultz Hastings in April of 1964 in Clovis, N.M.
He resigned his position as Logan County sheriff in 1966 and bought the John Deere business with his father and son. He and his family continued to farm until 1980, when they moved to Sterling.
He was a lifetime member of the Elks.
Vern is survived by his wife, Melba; son, Tom Hastings and wife Connie of Sterling; daughter, Kitty Peterson and husband Larry of Pierce; stepson, Dr. Russell Clarke of Ohio; brother Jim Hastings and wife Della of Lakewood; grandchildren, Dr. Kimm Suter of Sterling, Mark Hastings of Greeley, Julie Stevens of Boise, Idaho, and Kathy Matheny, Aurora; and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elks National Foundation.
March 11, 1921 - Jan. 21, 2008
Vernon "Vern" J. Hastings, 86, of Sterling, passed away Jan. 21, 2008, in Sterling. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home in Sterling. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 25, at Chaney-Reager Funeral Home, with the Rev. Eugene Zeller officiating. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery.
Vern was born March 11, 1921, to Louisa J. (McMillan) and Vernon James Hastings in Longmont. He moved with his family to Logan County when he was 4 years old. He began his schooling at the Hiway School District 38, and graduated from Sterling High School in 1937 at age 16.
After high school, he worked for local farmers.
In 1940, he married Almeda Peterson. After a bad year on the farm, they moved to California, where he worked as an airplane engine mechanic at March Air Force base.
He received notice to take a physical for the draft in 1943. Upon failing his physical, he and his family resumed farming in the Sterling area.
In 1954, Vern entered the Logan County Sheriff's race for the Democratic Party with a platform created by chairman E.J. Barnes: "He looks like a sheriff, he acts like a sheriff, and he'll make a hellava sheriff." He won the election with more than 50 percent of the votes, over the incumbent sheriff and an independent candidate. He established the Sheriff's Posse in 1960 to assist his small staff with community events and emergencies.
He married Melba Shultz Hastings in April of 1964 in Clovis, N.M.
He resigned his position as Logan County sheriff in 1966 and bought the John Deere business with his father and son. He and his family continued to farm until 1980, when they moved to Sterling.
He was a lifetime member of the Elks.
Vern is survived by his wife, Melba; son, Tom Hastings and wife Connie of Sterling; daughter, Kitty Peterson and husband Larry of Pierce; stepson, Dr. Russell Clarke of Ohio; brother Jim Hastings and wife Della of Lakewood; grandchildren, Dr. Kimm Suter of Sterling, Mark Hastings of Greeley, Julie Stevens of Boise, Idaho, and Kathy Matheny, Aurora; and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Elks National Foundation.
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