ProRodeo Sports News - June 12, 2020

Carson, Colo., and Fort LeonardWood, Mo., and spent 2½ years in Darmstadt, Germany. He was honorably discharged in October 1964. His truck-driving career was launched when he began driving trucks while stationed in Germany. He was an over-the-road trucker for many years and later drove for several local companies, retiring in 2019. Soester married Janeta Williams on Feb. 25, 1966. One son, L.I., was born to them, but passed away a few hours after birth on July 10, 1966. Ronald and Janeta were later divorced. Ronald and Faye Evans were married Dec. 1, 1970. They, too, were later divorced. Soester was known well as the “Birthday Guy.” Several family, friends and community members could always count on that “Happy Birthday” call, or if he was running errands, he would tell you “Happy Birthday” in person. Soester was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister; sister-in-law, Edda Mae Soester; brothers-in-law Don Garner, Dale Reinmuth and Russell Hack; and his son, L.I. His survivors include siblings Dwain Soester, Wilma Hack, Lola Garner, Hazel Reinmuth and Carol (Jim) Stolldorf; nieces, nephews and cousins. At his request, no services will be held. Cremation has taken place and burial will be in the Crawford (Neb.) Cemetery, beside his son, L.I. Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com. Voting for finalists for team roping heading and heeling, barrel racing and bull riding will take place June 15-18. Voting is underway for finalists in the bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding and tie-down roping. In the tournament, the top 16 competitors in the 2020 PRCA | RAM World Standings in each event – bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping heading, team roping heeling, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding – are matched up in a head-to- head bracket, with competitors seeded in their respective spots. Fans can continue to vote for the finalists and winners at prorodeo.com. St. Paul Rodeo awards youth scholarships For the 48th year, the St. Paul (Ore.) Rodeo has awarded two scholarships to area youths. Isabela Hockett and Zach Brentano will each receive $4,000 toward their college education. Hockett, a 2020 graduate of St. Paul High School, was active in a variety of

ARRIVALS

PASSAGES

RONALD ROBERT SOESTER

SCARLETT NICOLE SMITH A girl, born June 2 to reigning two-time world champion team roping header Clay Smith and his wife, Taylor, of Bowie, Texas. Scarlett weighed 6 pounds, KAMRYN LEE MEDLIN A girl, born May 8 to team roping heeler Logan Medlin and his wife, Breely, of Tatum, N.M. Kamryn

Ronald Robert Soester, a PRCA Gold Card Member, passed away April 22 at the Custer (S.D.) Senior

Care after a brief battle with cancer. He was 76. Soester rodeoed all over the United States and Canada, competing in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding. He also was a rodeo judge through the years.

Smith

10 ounces and was 20 inches long. Scarlett was welcomed home by her older brother, Jade, 2.

Soester

The sixth of seven children of Robert L. and Ruby (Randall) Soester, Ronald Robert Soester was born at home, Oct. 28, 1943, on the Iliff place in Sioux County, eight miles southwest of Crawford, Neb. Soester received his elementary education in rural schools in Dawes and Box Butte counties and graduated fromCrawford High School in 1961. He attended the University of Wyoming before graduating fromChadron (Neb.) State College. Soester entered the Army in October 1961 and was stationed in Fort BRIEFS Top seeds fall in Digital Rodeo Tournament Voters are having fun taking down top seeds in the Digital Rodeo Tournament presented by The Cowboy Channel. Bull rider Sage Kimzey, the six- time defending PRCA bull riding world champion and No. 1 seed in the Digital Rodeo Tournament, and Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, No. 1 in the barrel racing, fell in the quarterfinals of the tournament, leaving steer wrestler Matt Reeves and team roping header Luke Brown as the only Nos. 1 remaining. Kimzey fell to No. 9 Ruger Piva by a wide margin, while Tonozzi lost to No. 8 Carly Taylor by about a 13% margin. Piva is joined by No. 12 Parker McCown, No. 15 Tyler Bingham and No. 6 J.T. Moore in the semifinals. Taylor is the highest seed remaining in barrel racing. She moves to the semifinals with No. 13 Dona Kay Rule, No. 10 Tiany Schuster and No. 14 Brittany Barnett.

weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces and was 21½ inches long. This is the couple’s first child.

Medlin

clubs and organizations throughout her high school career. She held offices in DECA and the Associated Student Body, was a member of the Health Occupations Club, FFA and Choir, Virtue First, and was team manager for the track and field and cross country teams. She volunteered at her school, the Newberg Providence Medical Center, the Woodburn Relay for Life and the St. Paul Rodeo. Brentano will begin his second year of college at Oregon State University, where he is a math major. A 2019 St. Paul High School graduate, he was involved in DECA, FBLA, FFA, Virtue First, Key Club and played football, basketball and baseball all four years of high school, lettering in basketball and baseball four times each and football three times. The St. Paul Rodeo Association awards two scholarships each year: one to a graduating senior of St. Paul High School and one to a child of a St. Paul Rodeo Association member. The rodeo began awarding scholarships in 1973. Since, more than $200,000 has been given.

PRCA NOTES

ProRodeo Sports News 6/12/2020

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