Donald "Don" Henry Ruyle

Donald "Don" H. Ruyle, 93, of Shelton, NE died on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Broadwell Senior Living in Kearney, NE. Funeral Services will be at 10 AM on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the Shelton United Methodist Church with Pastor Carla Gunn officiating. Burial will follow in the Shelton Cemetery. Visitation will be on Friday from 5-7 PM at the church. Memorials are suggested to the Shelton Swimming Pool Fund or the Shelton United Methodist Church.

Donald Henry Ruyle was born February 1, 1932 in Holdrege, Nebraska to a young mother who lovingly gave him up for adoption named “Jack”. At the age of four months, he was adopted by Henry Louis and Helen Louisa (Meyers) Ruyle of rural Bellwood, Nebraska. Here he grew up on the family farm and attended country school until the age of 14 and was ready for high school. His parents entered him into the Platte Valley Academy at Shelton, Nebraska as a freshman. When he was a sophomore his parents sold the farm at Bellwood and moved to Shelton, purchasing a farm East of the academy. Donald graduated in 1950 from Platte Vally Academy and went into farming with his father. In 1951 he was entered into marriage to Lois Ellen Sallinger of Shelton. To this union four children were born; Sherry Lea (Randall Gangwish), Roger Dean (Crestina Ruiz), Brenda Sue (Robin Tills), Becky Lynn (Curt Hilpipre). After marriage he continued farming for 2 more years before selling out and becoming a heavy duty machine operator, land leveling for Lloyd Jayroe for a few years, then Platte Valley Construction of Grand Island leveling many of the farm fields in the Shelton, Gibbon, Wood River areas and still working with the land he loved. When the construction of Interstate 80 began Platte Valley & Missouri Valley Construction hired Don to work all the way from Henderson to Big Springs as a heavy equipment operator. He also worked on highway projects in Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Arizona, and Montana.

In 1978 he joined the Eaton Corporation where he worked for nearly twelve years. After retiring from there he once again joined Platte Valley Construction for two more years on the road. In 1994 he then retired from there and joined the Gangwish Seed Farms crew, once again working with his beloved land and close to his family.

In October of 2009 Don had the great joy of finding his birth mothers’ family and being reunited with them. Traveling to California to meet his one remaining Uncle.

Don loved to camp and fish with family. But his greatest joy was attending or watching on his Ipad or computer any, and all sporting events of his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was their best cheerleader.

Organizations Don belonged to over the years were the Kearney Eagles #2722, State Wagon Master of the Kearney Eagles, Elks Club member, Roustabouts Camping Club and the Shelton United Methodist Church.

Besides his wife of 74 plus years, and the four children and spouses he is survived by nine grandchildren; Matthew (Sarah) Gangwish, Kari (Scott) Willis, Lonna (Scott) Pickel, Sara (John) Hennessy, Jenna (Brady) McDonald, Hanna (Bryan) Palmer, Jason (Natalia) Ruyle, Jon (Niki) Ruyle, and Zachary (Michelle) Hilpipre. Twenty-four great grandchildren: Catrina, Castor, and Jasmine Ruyle; Payton, Kylie, and Jackson Gangwish; MaKenna, Macy, and Gracie Willis; Kaleb,

Keagan, and Oakley Pickel; Brody and Jonas Hennessy; Raegan, Kynlee, and Jordy Ruyle. Milly, Ruby, Winnie, and Oscar McDonald; Reese, Briar, and Rhodes Palmer. He was preceded in death by his parents Henry & Helen Ruyle, a sister, Violet Ruyle Hansen, father-in-law Wesley Sallinger and Mother-in-law Judy Sallinger.