Gale Ransdell
1935 - 2008

Gale Ransdell, 73, of Sterling, passed away Thursday, May 8, 2008, in Sterling. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 12, at Faith United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Joyce DeToni-Hill officiating. Inurnment will be at Riverside Cemetery, with graveside services by BPO Elks Lodge No. 1336.
Gale was born March 19, 1935, to Mildred (Bergsten) and Vernon Sven Ransdell in Casper, Wyo. At age 1 1/2, he moved to Champion, Neb., to be raised by his grandparents, Ivil and Pearl Bergsten, following the death of his mother. He lost his father in an accident several years later.
When Gale was in fourth grade, his grandparents moved to Imperial, Neb. Gale graduated from Chase County High School in Imperial in 1953.
On Oct. 18, 1953, he married Maurine (Gardner) in Imperial. They moved to Sterling in 1958, where he started working for Stickneys. He was vice-president/general manager when the store closed in 1986. He then worked as superintendent of the Street Division for the city of Sterling, retiring in 2001.
Maurine passed away in September of 2001.
On Aug. 16, 2003, Gale married Rita Sperling Lambrecht in Estes Park. His special gift in life was a kidney transplant in April 2003.
Gale was a member of Faith United Methodist church, and a 50-year member of the Sterling Elks Lodge. He was an active member of the Lions and the Old Pickup Club. He enjoyed elk hunting, boating, fishing, pheasant hunting and spending the many, many hours with his family in these activities. He and Rita enjoyed traveling. He will be remembered for his sense of humor. He always had a smile on his face and a story to tell.
Gale is survived by his wife, Rita; son, Marlon and wife Gwen of Eaton and their children, Brandon of Loveland, Janel Tena and husband Obed of Denver, and Eric Hurst and wife Shawna of Palmer, Alaska; son, Monty and wife Terri of Sterling, their children, Marshall and Matthew, and their grandson, Brendon, all of Sterling; son, Ty and wife Ruth of Santa Fe, N.M., and their children, Dustin, Aaron and Logan; step-daughter Valerie Igler and husband Brad and their children, Austin and Lindsey, all of Akron; step-son, Ryan Lambrecht and fiancée Cheryl of Erie; half-sisters, Donna Jean Ransdell and Patsy Gust of Washington; mother-in-law, Edna Gardner of Imperial and the entire Gardner family; mother-in-law and father-in-law Leonard and Laurina Sperling of Arlington, Neb., and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Maurine, in 2001; and his parents and grandparents.
Memorial contributions may be made to Faith United Methodist Church or Hospice of the Plains.
Chaney-Reager Funeral Home handled the arrangements.