Dale Arden SVOBODA

1936 - 2024  (88 years)

• Name	Dale Arden SVOBODA  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11]
  Birth	26 Feb 1936	Valley, Nebraska, USA   [1, 2, 6, 9]
  	Dale's Nebraska birth ledger has him being born in Valley county whereas his obituary has him being born in Garfield county.
  Gender	Male
  Also Known As	Buster SVOBODA  [6]
  Death	26 Oct 2024	Lexington, Dawson, Nebraska, USA   [2, 6]
  Burial	Abt 29 Oct 2024	Cottonwood Cemetery/Burwell, Garfield, Nebraska, USA   [9]
  Person ID	I4497	Rivera Family Tree
  Last Modified	2 Sep 2025

  
  

  Father	James Fred SVOBODA, Sr.,   b. 25 Oct 1911, Elba, Howard, Nebraska, USA d. 16 Aug 2003, Burwell, Garfield, Nebraska, USA (Age 91 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Mother	Margaret Anna WALKOWIAK,   b. 10 Jun 1915, Elba, Howard, Nebraska, USA d. 13 Jan 2004, Burwell, Garfield, Nebraska, USA (Age 88 years)
  Relationship	natural
  Marriage	1932
  Family ID	F1644	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Cora Elaine LIERMANN,   b. 18 Jun 1939, Burwell, Garfield, Nebraska, USA d. 6 Apr 2006, Burwell, Garfield, Nebraska, USA (Age 66 years)
  Marriage	9 Nov 1957  [2, 6, 9]
  Children	+ 1. Sandra Rae SVOBODA + 2. Wanda Kay SVOBODA + 3. Rhonda Zae SVOBODA
  Family ID	F1652	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	2 Sep 2025

  
  

• Sources

  [S959] Nebraska, U.S., Birth Ledgers, 1904-1911, Birth Index, 1912-2004. Name: Dale A Svoboda Gender: Male Birth Date: 26 Feb 1936 Birth Place: Valley, Nebraska, USA Parent 1 Name: James F Svoboda Certificate Number: 03530 Birth Certificate Type: Normal [S1004] U.S., Cemetery and Funeral Home Collection, 1847-Current. Name: Dale Arden Svoboda Gender: Male Death Age: 88 Birth Date: 26 Feb 1936 Birth Place: Garfield County Marriage Date: 9 Nov 1957 Death Date: 26 Oct 2024 Death Place: Lexington, NE Obituary Date: 30 Oct 2024 Father: James Svoboda Child: Wanda Sandra Rhonda Wanda Rowen Rhonda Woods Sandy Wright Siblings: Jim Jim Svoboda [S959] Nebraska, U.S., Birth Ledgers, 1904-1911, Birth Index, 1912-2004. Name: Sandra Rae Svoboda Gender: Female Birth Date: 20 Sep 1958 Birth Place: Garfield, Nebraska, USA Parent 1 Name: Dale A Svoboda Certificate Number: 22847 Birth Certificate Type: Normal [S959] Nebraska, U.S., Birth Ledgers, 1904-1911, Birth Index, 1912-2004. Name: Wanda Kay Svoboda Gender: Female Birth Date: 19 Feb 1961 Birth Place: Garfield, Nebraska, USA Parent 1 Name: Dale A Svoboda Certificate Number: 04124 Birth Certificate Type: Normal [S959] Nebraska, U.S., Birth Ledgers, 1904-1911, Birth Index, 1912-2004. Name: Rhonda Zae Svoboda Gender: Female Birth Date: 24 Aug 1962 Birth Place: Garfield, Nebraska, USA Parent 1 Name: Dale A Svoboda Certificate Number: 21171 Birth Certificate Type: Normal [S1462] Obituary of Dale Arden SVOBODA, (Name: Govier Brothers Mortuary; Location: Broken Bow, Custer, Nebraska, USA; Date: Abt. 28 Oct 2024;). Dale Svoboda February 26, 1936 — October 26, 2024 Burwell, NE Dale (Buster) Arden Svoboda passed away on October 26, 2024, at his daughter’s home near Lexington, NE at the age of 88. Dale was born February 26, 1936, to James Sr. and Margaret (Walkowiak) Svoboda, in rural Garfield County, the 3rd of 11 children, 4 sons and 7 daughters. Dale graduated from Ord High School in 1953, and married Elaine Liermann on November 9, 1957. They were married for 48 years until Elaine passed away in April 2006. They had 3 daughters, Sandra, Wanda, and Rhonda. They lived in Valley County Haskell Creek area until they purchased their ranch just east of Burwell in 1974, where Dale continued to reside until 2019 when he moved to Ord, and then just recently, to Lexington. Dale’s first ranch job out of high school was at the McMillan Ranch near Milburn, Nebraska. He also worked on the U-Cross Ranch near Fawn Lake, a 6,000 cow ranch worked with the 1,000 head of horses and 20 or so cowboys. Dale ranched and farmed with his dad, Jim Svoboda, Sr., rode many horses penning cattle at Ericson, Burwell, and Loup City sale barns, and worked for M&R Cattle Company of Burwell, mostly moving hay bales, until he was 86. Dale has been a cowboy most of his life, having ridden, raised, traded, and worked with horses since he was a young man. The first horse he owned was a paint mare given to him by his dad in 1953 for high school graduation, a tradition he carried on with his oldest daughter on her graduation. Dale rode barebacks and saddle broncs in rodeos starting at age 17 when he traveled on gravel roads all the way to Harrison, Nebraska for a high school rodeo, the only one in the state at that time. In his young days, he also tried his hand at steer wrestling and bull riding, but the bucking horse events were where he was in his element. He won many buckles, trophies, and saddles competing mostly in the Nebraska State Rodeo Association, but also Mid-States, PRCA permit-holder, and Old Timer Rodeo Association until his mid-fifties. One of Dale’s proud accomplishments was in 1969, winning the buckle in the Amateur Saddle Bronc Riding event in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the first Nebraska cowboy to do so. Another memorable win was the trophy for the matched Saddle Bronc Riding at Nebraska’s Big Rodeo in Burwell in 1961, a competition between Nebraska and South Dakota cowboys. Dale also won the All-Around Saddle at the Johnstown Rodeo 3 years in a row, 1965, 1966, and1967. He won NSRA All Around Champion, Saddle Bronc Champion and Bareback Champion saddles, as well as several Runner-Up buckles. Dale was one of the original organizers of the Nebraska State Rodeo Association, along with brother Jim Svoboda, Jr. Dale was a tough competitor and enjoyed riding good stock. He and a paint bucking horse, “Tom Dooley” had many go-rounds. Dale competed at the Old Timer’s Rodeos in Hyannis where his team won the Wild Cow Milking even though when the dust settled, Dale had a broken leg. He also went as far as Texas to an Old Timer’s Rodeo and to the Finals in Nevada. The last “bronc” Dale was on was in December 2013, when he was working with M&R Cattle Company moving cattle and his saddle horse decided to try the 77 year old cowboy. One of the guys said he thought Dale had him rode after several jumps, but then the horse took a turn and ended the ride, which left Dale’s shoulder injured and unable to lift a saddle on a horse – time to hang it up! Dale served on the Board of Directors for Nebraska’s Big Rodeo in Burwell for 30 years. He provided the stock for the Wild Horse Race at Burwell Rodeo for many years and was the director for the Horse Show and Dinner Bell Derby, which he and his wife Elaine had done together for many years. In 2013, Dale was featured in the Paint Horse Association Journal as a 50-year breeder of Paint Horses from 1963-2012. He was a lifetime member and served as an APHA director and on the board of the Nebraska Paint Horse Club. His favorite paint stallion and one of the best horses he ever owned was “Dixon’s Bandit”. Of the horses he bred and raised, Dale’s favorite was Red Pepper, a 1964 sorrel mare, which he used as a practice bucking horse, then rode her penning cattle at the sale barn. She was also a great brood mare, producing an APHA Champion. Dale and brother Jim were both inducted into the Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2016, and together were Grand Marshalls for the 101st Nebraska’s Big Rodeo in 2022. Dale is survived by his three daughters, Sandy Wright of Lexington, Wanda Rowen of Lincoln, Rhonda (John) Woods of Hermosa, SD; Grandchildren Nathan Omar Seidel of Tampa, FL, Matthew Seidel of St. Paul, Rachel (Tyler) Daly of Elm Creek, Alec (Katie) Rowen of Des Moines, IA, and Lillie Woods of Hermosa, SD; great-grandchildren Henry, Audrey, and Elliot Seidel of St. Paul and Camilla, Cooper, and Margaret Daly of Elm Creek; 1 brother and 4 sisters Besides his parents, Dale was preceded in death by his wife Elaine, infant grandson Neil Woods, son-in-law George Wright, 2 brothers, and 3 sisters. A private graveside service will be held at a later date. [S1463] Obituary of Cora Elaine SVOBODA, (Name: Grand Island Independent; Location: Grand Island, Hall, Nebraska, USA; Date: 08 Apr 2006;). BURWELL - Cora Elaine Svoboda, 66, of Burwell died Thursday, April 6, 2006, at home. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Burwell. The Rev. Matthew Berndt will officiate. Burial will be in the Cottonwood Cemetery at Burwell. There will be no visitation. Mrs. Svoboda was cremated. Hitchcock Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Mrs. Svoboda was born June 18, 1939, at Burwell to Ira and Lilly (Bruner) Liermann. Survivors of the immediate family include her husband, Dale Svoboda; three daughters and sons-in-law, Sandra Rae and Gerald Seidel of Crawford, Wanda Kay and Bruce Rowen of Lincoln and Rhonda Zae and John Woods of Rapid City, S.D.; a sister and brother-in-law, Elsie and Larry Mosely of Greenwood, Ind. [S1464] Obituary of George WRIGHT, (Name: Govier Brothers Mortuary; Location: Broken Bow, Custer, Nebraska, USA; Date: Abt. 02 Aug 2021;). George Wright April 26, 1960 — July 31, 2021 George Ray Wright, age 61 went peacefully to be with his Heavenly Father on July 31, 2021, at home, near Lexington, NE, while holding hands with his wife Sandy, his Forever Soulmate, the love of his life here on earth. Per George’s wishes, to keep things simple like he lived his life, there will be a private Celebration of Life in the near future. George was born on April 26, 1960, to Earl & Fern (Butterfield) Wright in Neligh, NE, the youngest of 5 children, 3 brothers (2 deceased) and 1 sister. His children and grandchildren are Brooke & D.J., Hayden, Landen & Paityn; Sylvia, Ellie, Oliver, & Lillian; Joshua & Nancy & baby Aaliyah, whom Grandpa George did get to meet; and Bradley. When George married Sandy on July 24, 2010, her dad, Dale Svoboda became a big part of their lives as George and Dale had a lot in common, mostly horses. Stepchildren and grandchildren are Omar & Cynthia; Matthew & Lindsay, Henry, Audrey & Elliot; Rachel & Tyler, Camilla & Cooper. George grew up in Ewing, NE where he graduated from high school in 1978. He was active in football, basketball, and track. He loved to run and did so as an adult until knee & hip issues hindered it. He attended Wayne State College for 1 semester and realized he was a rancher and horseman at heart. From the time he was very young, George loved riding horses. He raised, trained, and sold quarter horses and was a lifetime member of the AQHA. One of his recent favorite horses was his blue roan stallion, Fixin Ol Man Blu, which he proudly let Sandy ride when they got together. George enjoyed a lifetime of studying bloodlines and genetics of horses and cattle. George started working in the hayfield with his dad at a young age, milked cows, drove truck hauling cattle, and was a rancher, raising and feeding out cattle. He developed a nice Gelbvieh herd, then when he and Sandy got together, they bought and raised registered Angus cattle, including leasing and selling bulls. George then studied up on the Japanese Kobe breed of cattle and A.I.ed what he chose as genetically exceptional Angus cows and developed his line of Wagyu-Angus cross cattle. This led to his Wright Beef business, Buy Nebraska Beef.com. George thoroughly enjoyed selling quality beef and visiting with customers about his product. George lived most of his adult life on his ranch south of Inman, NE, until he & Sandy moved to the Lexington, NE area in 2020, where he was driving truck for Shotkoski Hay Company. A few months later, George was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. All of George’s life, he was working hard, taking care of others, supporting, and providing for them, and he was not going to quit. He was very strong, faithful, and fought a hard battle for almost a year, determined to not leave Sandy alone. He ran the race, fought the battle, and became weak and tired…it was time to go to his Heavenly Home and rest. Although George and Sandy only had 12 years together, they loved and lived a lifetime. To order memorial trees in memory of George Wright, please visit our tree store. [S1459] Cottonwood Cemetery (Burwell, Garfield, Nebraska, USA), Grave Markers. SVOBODA DALE ARDEN "BUSTER" FEBRUARY 26, 1936 --- CORA ELAINE (LIERMANN) JUNE 18, 1939 APRIL 6, 2006 MARRIED NOV. 9, 1957 [S1465] Obituary of Anton SVOBODA, (Date: Abt. 15 Jan 1960;). Svoboda Rites Held at Burwell Funeral services were held Thursday from the Burwell Methodist Church for Anton (Tony) Svoboda, 22 year old well known Burwell rodeo competitor, killed Tuesday, Jan. 12 in a Highway 11 bridge crash. Mr. Svoboda apparently died instantly when his car was penetrated by a double railing after striking the bridge about 2:30 in the morning. He was found dead by a passing trucker. Dean Donner conducted the funeral service with the Urbauer Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Burial followed in the Cottonwood Cemetery at Burwell. Pallbearers were Gary Larsen, Mel Lowery, Byron Johnson, Lyman Pearson, Jack Gideon and Ken Conard. Howard Parker of Gordon and Mrs. Merle Edghill supplied the service's music. Born Here Mr. Svoboda was born July 29, 1937 in Valley county and spent his early life here. He was graduated from Ord High School in 1954. He worked at home for several years, later was employed as an area ranch hand on farms at Ericson, Amelia and Burwell. Recently after purchasing equipment he started contracting hay moving. He was an ardent sport's enthusiast, perhaps the area's best known rodeo competitor. In the fall of 1959 he represented Nebraska on the state team as a bareback bronc rider. He was also a vice president of the Nebraska State Rodeo Assn., and director of its bareback bronc riding. Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Svoboda, Sr.; seven sisters, Mrs. Irene Van Winkle of Ord, Margie of Grand Island, Mrs. Shirley Liermann of Amelia, Rosalene of Lincoln, Kathleen, Marylyn and Linda, all of Burwell; three brothers, James, Jr., Dale and Alan, all of Burwell and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Anton Svoboda of Ord. [S1474] Obituary of Margie Ann MAYBERRY, (Date: Abt. 21 May 2019;). Margie Ann "Marge" Mayberry, 80, of Normal, Illinois, formerly of Burwell, Nebraska died May 18, 2019 at Normal, Illinois. A memorial graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. June 8, 2019 at Cottonwood Cemetery in Burwell. Pastor Dennis Davenport will officiate. Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell is in charge of arrangements. Marge was born February 10, 1939 on the family farm on Haskell Creek Road in Valley County, Nebraska to James and Margaret (Walkowiak) Svoboda. She attended grade school at District 17 and graduated from Ord High School in 1956. Marge lived in Aurora, Colorado from 1956 to 1957 where she worked at Stanley Aviation. She then moved to Grand Island, Nebraska until 1996. She worked at Crocker Claims Service where she was an insurance adjuster from 1957 to 1987. Marge marred Edward Allen on March 19, 1960 in Wolbach, Nebraska. Ed died on August 1, 1987. Marge worked in medical records at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island and Mary Lanning Hospital from 1987 until 1996. Marge married Warren "Joe" Curran on February 14, 1988 in Grand Island, Nebraska. Joe died on June 27, 1996. Marge marred Harold "Skeeter" Mayberry on October 3, 1996 in Salmon, Idaho. They moved to Burwell and had a "mom and pop" construction company. Marge also worked at the court house and the Pizza Palace for about eight years, until her health started to fail. Skeeter died on May 21, 2015. Marge moved to Normal, Illinois to be close to her daughter and grandchildren. Marge was a member of the Insurance women of Grand Island and held every office at the local level. She was a troop leader for Brownie Scouts and Jr. Girl Scouts for several years and the head of the Alter Guild at Messiah Lutheran Church in Grand Island for twelve years. Marge is survived by her daughter, Kelly Scalf of Normal, Illinois. Grandchildren Zachary and Sally Nadeau of Normal, Illinois, Kylie Nadeau of Nashville, Tennessee, Kristen Scalf of Normal, Illinois. Two great grandchildren, Baylee Nadeau and Brayden Nadeau of Normal, Illinois.Siblings, Jim and Marilyn Svoboda, Jr. of Ord, Nebraska, Dale Svoboda of Burwell, Nebraska, Rosalene and Buzz Tollman of Marsland, Nebraska, Kathaleen Mead of Burwell, Nebraska, Marylyn and Dave Scharton of St. Paul, Nebraska, Alan and Linda Svoboda of Holdrege, Nebraska and Linda and Gene Thoene of Taylor, Nebraska. Many nieces and nephews. Marge was preceded in death by her parents, three husbands, two infant daughters, Anne Marie and Toni Lynn, a brother Tony Svoboda, sisters, Irene VanWinkle and Shirley "Jeanie" Lemmer, sister-in-law, Elaine Svoboda, brothers-in-law, Bill Liermann, Jerry VanWinkle, Jerry Mead, Bill Vandeman, Don Koger and Lyle Lemmer.