Edward "Ed" Eugene Bivens - Obituary

Edward "Ed" Eugene Bivens of rural Cheyenne County passed away in his home during the early morning hours of 11 Oct 2016 at the esteemed age of 72. For the last 10 years Ed had been fighting a battle against cancer with grit and determination and showed true bravery and spirit until the very end.

Memorial services were held at 10 a.m., Friday, October 14 in the Trinity Lutheran South Divide Church with Pastor Neil Carlson officiating. Inurnment will be in the Grand Prairie Cemetery at a later date. Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Ed's care and funeral arrangements. You may view Ed's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at http://www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Ed's life had never been easy, but he persevered and always gave more than he took in life. His father, Edward Glendale Bivens, died in a boating accident before Ed was even born and his strong and independent mother, Hildegarde (Laaker), raised him by herself with the help of his older siblings and uncles. Because of this circumstance his family would always be at the center of his life.

For the last 53 years the center of Ed's life was his bride Karen (Meier). They started out as a young couple with Ed working in the meat cutting business and through the years moved from location to location as Ed followed many occupations including Federal Meat Inspector, pork producer, farm work, Carpenter, factory work at Prestolite, and Heavy Equipment Operator on the county road crew. Ed worked hard, there is no doubt, and the years he spent with Karen were plentiful.

The proudest work of Ed and Karen's life was their family that continues to grow. As a testament to how much he loved his family he wanted to spend as much time as he could with them and he spent his last days at home cared for by his family with the help of the home hospice program. Ed left this world surrounded and survived by his loving wife, his son Scott and daughter-in-law Ute (Kübler) of Sidney and his daughter Susan Eddy and son-in-law Bond of Cheyenne. His four grandchildren Shantel Eddy, Michelle Dines, Sean Eddy and Jonathan Bivens and three great grandchildren. Ed is also survived by his older sisters Betty Wittig and her husband Alan of Wayne and Rose Ann Gilroy and her husband James of Dalton.

Ed was a man of strong loyalty. If you needed help in your field with planting or harvest he was there. If you needed help standing up a building he was there (just don't ask him to walk the ridge line). He helped his elderly relatives work their land and keep their farms. He helped his small church do the hard work necessary to keep it working. Ed will be missed by all who loved him, if you are one and want to make a donation in his memory we, the family, ask that you make such donations to the Sidney Regional Medical Center Home Health & Hospice Center.