George Ray WRIGHT

1960 - 2021  (61 years)

• Name	George Ray WRIGHT  [1, 2]
  Birth	26 Apr 1960	Neligh, Antelope, Nebraska, USA   [2]
  Gender	Male
  Death	31 Jul 2021	Lexington, Dawson, Nebraska, USA   [2]
  Person ID	I4502	Family Tree
  Last Modified	13 Sep 2026

  
  

  Family	Sandra Rae SVOBODA
  Children	> 1. Nathan Omar SEIDEL + 2. Matthew Dale SEIDEL + 3. Rachel Marie SEIDEL
  Family ID	F1653	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	13 Sep 2026

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 26 Apr 1960 - Neligh, Antelope, Nebraska, USA Death - 31 Jul 2021 - Lexington, Dawson, Nebraska, USA  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Photos

  WRIGHT, George

  
  

• Sources

  [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. [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.