Donald “Don” H. Ruyle
Donald “Don” H. Ruyle, age 93, of Shelton, died on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at Broadwell Senior Living in Kearney. Funeral services were held Saturday, January 3, 2026, at the Shelton United Methodist Church with Pastor Carla Gunn officiating. Burial followed in the Shelton Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Shelton Swimming Pool Fund or the Shelton United Methodist Church.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www. apfelfuneralhome.com.
Donald Henry Ruyle was born February 1, 1932, in Holdrege 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. 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 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), and Becky Lynn (Curt Hilpipre). After marriage he continued farming for two 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, and Wood River areas and still working with the land he loved. When the construction of Interstate 80 began, Platte Valley and 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 mother’s 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 greatgrandchildren. 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 greatgrandchildren, 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, and Reese, Briar and Rhodes Palmer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Helen Ruyle; a sister, Violet Ruyle Hansen; father-in-law, Wesley Sallinger; and mother-in-law, Judy Sallinger.