Arthur County woman identified as fatality in historic Morrill Fire

Courtesy photo

ARTHUR, Neb. — Authorities have identified the victim of the massive Morrill Fire as 86-year-old Rose White of Arthur.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen confirmed White’s death Saturday during a visit to Ogallala while touring areas impacted by the wildfire.

White died Thursday at her home as the fast-moving Morrill Fire swept across large portions of western Nebraska.

The Morrill Fire began Thursday near Angora in Morrill County when strong winds knocked down a power line, igniting dry grasslands. Fueled by gusts exceeding 70 mph, the wildfire rapidly spread across Morrill, Garden, Keith, Arthur and Grant counties.

Officials say the fire has burned more than 550,000 acres, making it the largest wildfire in Nebraska history and one of the largest recorded in the United States.

White was born July 26, 1939, in Ogallala to Roy and Elsie Hyatt. She spent much of her childhood on a ranch southwest of Arthur before her family moved to Tryon, where she graduated from high school.

She married Lloyd White in 1957. The couple briefly lived in Montana before returning to the Nebraska Sandhills, where they worked on various ranches before eventually settling on the family ranch where White grew up.

White later worked at a local locker plant and the Arthur Enterprise before returning to ranch life to raise her four sons.

Family members said family was the most important part of White’s life. She was known for gathering loved ones to read the Christmas story from the family Bible and for sending birthday and holiday cards to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

"I’m really going to miss hearing her read that Christmas story every year," Rose's Grandaughter-in-Law Audrey White said. "She would take the phone off the hook to make sure no one would call and interrupt. It didn’t matter if people were taking pictures with there phones, she had her disposable camera out to make sure she captured every single moment. I’m gonna miss her so much."

She also enjoyed baking, gardening, crafting and spending time with her horses.

Funeral services for White will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 20, at Veterans Memorial Hall in Arthur with the Rev. Blake Wilkes officiating. Burial will follow at the Arthur Cemetery.

A memorial has been established for the Arthur County 4-H program.

Online condolences may be left at drauckerfh.com.