John Hardum McClellan

Kearney, NE

John Hardum McClellan, better known as "Slim", to the Big Flat passed away September 22, 2016 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska.

He was born February 11, 1942 in Mendham, New Jersey to John C. and Elizabeth Hardum McClellan. Slim attended Public Schools except for one year of high school at a private school. After graduation he packed up and moved to Big Timber, Montana and started working on ranches. In between ranch jobs he attended North Montana State University, and joined the Army. When he got out he went back to ranch jobs and Rodeo, which was his real love. He worked on ranches in Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Nebraska.

Slim worked in the Hogeland area for 25 years for the Snider Ranch. He was a loyal and dedicated ranch hand. He had a passion for horses, whether it be riding or training them. He loved working with a team of horses and thoroughly enjoyed feeding cows with the team and bobsled.

He was a member of the National Senior Pro Rodeo Association. Slim lived the life most of us have only read about in Zane Grey and Will James books. The life of a drifter Cowboy, which was all he ever wanted to be.

Slim was preceded in death by his parents and brother and is survived by a nephew Trafford McClellan of New Jersey.

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