Wallace D. Rief

          Wallace D. Rief, 88, of rural Dannebrog died Monday, December 19, 2016 at his home near Dannebrog.

          Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday at Jacobsen-Greenway Funeral Home in St. Paul.  Reverend Robert Carlson, Jr. will officiate.  Interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul with military honors by Mickelsen Larkowski American Legion Post #241 of Dannebrog and the Nebraska National Guard Funeral Honor Guard.

          Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

          Memorials are suggested to the Dannebrog Fire Department or EMT’s or the Dannebrog American Legion.

          Mr. Rief was born March 18, 1928 in Grand Island to Carl and Minnie (Rief) Rief.

          As a young child, Wallace moved with his family to Dannebrog where he attended school in District 9 School.

          He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith.

          Wallace was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II and he was on the train when the war ended and he was sent home.  He again was drafted, this time during the Korean Conflict in 1952, serving until 1954 when he received an honorable discharge achieving the rank of Tech Sergeant.

          He was united in marriage to Darlene Jares on June 8, 1958 at the United Methodist Church in St. Paul.

          The couple was very active in farming and raising livestock.  He was very proud of his polled Herefords.  They also raised hogs, sheep, had 500 chickens and milked dairy cows.  He also knew how to take care of his own animals when they were sick.

          Wallace did his own mechanical work plus doing work for his neighbors.  He was partial to John Deere green.  He did custom haying with a haybuster.

          In 1944, he was the first to put in an irrigation well in the Cleveland Township in Howard County, which is still there today.

          Wallace served on the Dannebrog Fire Board for 25 years.  He was responsible for buying the first fire truck and tanker.

          He was very active in the Dannebrog American Legion, being a member for 58 years, participating in all Legion events until his health wouldn’t allow him take part anymore.

          He was very proud that his three daughters received higher education.

          Wallace enjoyed watching western movies, car races, rodeos and dancing.  The grandchildren enjoyed spending time on the farm.

          Survivors include his wife, Darlene of Dannebrog; three daughters and a son-in-law, Sandra and Alan Nelson of Omaha, Deana Pullen of Dannebrog and Tammy Rief of Grand Island; two grandsons, Daniel Nelson and Kyle Pullen; one granddaughter, Kimberly Nelson; one sister, Shirley Wagner of Chapman; and several nieces and nephews.

          He is preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Irene Petersen.

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