Loran Daniels

Donald “Loran” Daniels was born on the North Loup River between Purdum and Brewster, NE, on October 10, 1931, to Ben & Sylvia Carter Daniels. He died November 13, 2024, at the age of 93 years, 1 month, and 3 days, in Bassett, NE. 

Loran lost his parents just before his ninth birthday. He then lived with his married siblings, Dale (Fern) Daniels and Flo (Roy) Austin. Attending numerous schools made it hard for him to keep up his schooling. He even went to school in Omaha for a time. While there, he rode an old bicycle with tires that wouldn’t hold air, requiring him to carry a tire pump to keep airing them up. Mean dogs lived along the route, so he was happy when they moved back to the Sandhills. 

Sometimes, he stayed with his uncle and aunt, Charlie and Ella Daniels, near Elsmere, NE. He had fun with cousins Noral, Edsel, Dude, and Betty. Loran loved horses and was happy when his brother, Dale, brought Loran’s horse, Paint, for him to ride to school. The cousins would usually ride double. However, when Paint began to trot, Dude would start to bounce. He would hang onto Loran to keep from falling but usually took Loran off with him. So Dude got the bright idea to tie one end of a rope to the saddle horn. That way, they could take turns with one cousin riding and the other running behind, holding onto the rope to make the running easier. Loran said his feet weren’t hitting the ground very often when Dude was in the saddle. 

Loran enjoyed wrestling and running footraces with friends and family. He loved to tease and play tricks on his friends. They also boxed for fun. Growing up, Loran and his brother, Dale, also enjoyed rodeoing. He was proud of the All-Around Cowboy buckle he won at the Long Pine Rodeo and the first place buckle in bareback riding in the Bassett rodeo. He also won a buckle for Loranda in 1956 at the Calamus Roping Club.

Loran met the love of his life in early 1952 while waiting for the train to Omaha. He had a cup of coffee and visited with the cute, black-haired waitress with sparkling brown eyes. He even left a penny tip. The train ride to Omaha eventually took him to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he entered the Army Basic Training course in February, 1952. One of the challenges he faced was boredom. Everyone smoked, so he tried smoking but decided he wasn’t that bored. Roll call gave him problems as well. At home, he was Loran or Lornie. In the Army, he was DANIELS, DONALD L. He said it took a while to get used to that. He had a good friend, Saul Maloney, whom he wished he could have kept in touch with. Loran’s military service was cut short. As the recruits washed the barracks windows, he fell from the second story onto the concrete below. He was rushed to Colorado with a head injury, resulting in a medical discharge from Camp Carson, CO, in August, 1952.

Returning to the Sandhills, Loran worked as a ranch hand during the week and hit the local rodeos on the weekends. He “rediscovered” that cute waitress, and on the first day of spring 1954, he married Wanda Copp of Brewster at the Methodist Parsonage in Ainsworth. He worked for a rancher west of town while she taught school. Their first child was an American Pit Bull Terrier named Brandy. Two years later, in 1956, they welcomed their daughter, Loranda. They became Loran, Wanda, and Loranda. Loran continued to work at various ranches until 1967, when the family bought a farm northwest of Ainsworth. 

Loran played guitar from the early 1960s well into his 80s. He taught many to play and sing. Loran made up a song titled “Indian War Dance” that was a favorite to stomp and whoop to. His sister, Dorothy, niece Sandy, and nephew Mike joined him and Wanda playing for dances. 

Loran’s love of horses is how Loranda got started in 4-H. For over 20 years, Loran hauled Loranda, his grandnieces, and grandnephews to open shows. He and Wanda worked long hours to enable them to attend the horse shows.

Loran also loved his heelers. So much so that he wanted them to be safe while riding in the back of the pickup. He had Ted Buechle weld a “dog-napper” based on the popular “Kid-napper” of the 80s. His blue heeler, Ding, scared the b-jeepers out of many unsuspecting folks by barking at them as they walked by the pickup. A friend once asked Loran if the dogs liked riding in the dog-napper. He replied that he thought so, but he had tried getting Wanda to ride back there, and she sure didn’t like it.

Loran’s sense of humor was epic. He had a quick wit and loved to tease. The more he liked you, the more he teased. We were sure April Fool’s Day was his favorite holiday. He loved getting together with family, usually resulting in making music and mischief. Foot races and ball games were also regular events.

Through the highs and lows, Loran and Wanda always had each other and never gave up. Tough times were when you tightened your belt and hunkered down. Loran and Wanda taught Loranda that... Never give up.

Loran is preceded in death by his parents, William Benjamin and Sylvia Zurlene Carter Daniels; brothers, Desmond Daniels and Dale and wife, Fern; sisters, Darlene Daniels, Caleen Daniels, Floenze “Flo” Crook and husband, Robert, and Dorothy Baxter and husband, Burl; and son-in-law, LeRoy Buoy. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Wanda J. Copp Daniels of Ainsworth; daughter Loranda J. Daniels Buoy of Long Pine, NE; step-granddaughter Angela Wallace of Grand Lake, CO, step-grandson Kasey Buoy, and wife Flora of Hamilton, MT; five great-great-grandchildren: Tanner, Savanna, Olivia, Abigail, and Simon; and two special kiddos, Christian and Veronica “Vern” Schumacher; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

 Funeral Services were held on Friday, November 22, 2024 at the Hoch Funeral Home in Ainsworth with Mike Baxter officiating. CD Selection “The Coyote Song” by Mike Baxter was played. Prelude and postlude music was provided by Linn Baxter, who also accompanied vocalist, Sandy Miller as she performed “Where Angels Sing” and “Precious Memories”. Casketbearers were Wayne Miller, Tim Iverson, Tom Schumacher, Larry Copp, Ronni Copp and Dusty Daniels. Honorary Casketbearers were Wes Luther, Bill Burchell and Doug Pankowski. Interment followed at the Purdum Cemetery at Purdum, NE, with Military Honors conducted by Ainsworth American Legion Post #79. In lieu of flowers, memorials were suggested to the donor’s choice in Loran’s name. Hoch Funeral Home was in charge of all arrangements and online condolences may be left for the family at www.hochfuneralhome.com.