Angelina “Ann” S. Wells, 100, passed away March 29, 2025 at Linden Court in North Platte. She was born February 19, 1925, in Swastika, New Mexico, to Pete and Celina Ruiz.
The family moved to Berwind, Colorado and Turner, Colorado, and finally to Trinidad, Colorado, where her father was engaged in coal mining and owned a coal mine. Ann’s mother died when she was seven years old. Ann graduated from Trinidad High School in 1942 and in September of 1942 moved to Oakland, California, where she worked for the Naval Supply Center during World War II. It was there she met Richard H. Wells and they were married on May 16, 1947. Their two children, Linda and Rick were born in California. The Wells family moved back to Richard’s hometown of Stapleton in 1952 where they were engaged in the family business of ranching and farming. Richard and Ann purchased the State Bank of Bartley in 1967 and they traveled between Stapleton and Bartley each week until Richard’s passing on February 9, 1999. Ann sold the State Bank of Bartley in 2002 and the family continued with the ranch and farm with Wayne Hora as manager of Wells Enterprises. Ann’s family hosted a 100th birthday party for her on February 15 in Stapleton. She was surprised and pleased to see so many people there and she was able to fulfill a longtime dream of dancing with her great-grandson, Harry, at her 100th birthday party. Her hobbies included golfing, knitting, bridge, reading and Scrabble. She made many friends in Arizona where she lived in the winter and took part in activities at Trilogy. She enjoyed book club, playing Scrabble at the library every Thursday and coordinating branding dinners at the Wells Ranch. Ann was a longstanding member of the Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Stapleton. She was active in her community, offering encouragement and support to numerous organizations and the Augusta Wind Golf Course. She and Richard were avid Husker football fans and Ann was featured on the ‘Big Screen’ at a Husker football game as a longtime Nebraska fan. The couple traveled all around the world and Ann was able to climb the pyramids at the age of 70. She commented a week and a half before her death she felt so fortunate to have been able to live in the Sandhills. “I have had a life I would have chosen and I am so blessed to live in a small town in Logan County and on a ranch.” She was able to live at the ranch she loved right up until the week before her death.
Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Richard H. Wells; her parents, Pete and Celina Ruiz; sister, Eunice; brother, Pete Jr.; and grandson, Michael Blount.
Ann is survived by her daughter, Linda (Clark) Swartz of Gilbert, Arizona; Richard S. “Rick” Wells of Deadwood, South Dakota; grandsons, Sam (Adriana) Blount of Omaha, Nathan (Sarah) Wells of Deer Park, Texas, Eric (Natalie) Wells of Granbury, Texas; great-grandchildren, Isabella and Harry Blount, Saige, Nolan and Savannah Wells, and Theo Wells, several nieces and nephews, and cousins that were very dear to her heart.
Memorials will be used for an Ann Wells Memorial Bench at the Stapleton Splash Pad. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association. Online condolences may be expressed at www. adamsswanson. com.
Funeral services were held, Saturday, April 5, at the Presbyterian Church in Stapleton, with Rev. Mark Rohrbach officiating.
Burial followed at the McCain Cemetery.
Adams & Swanson Funeral Home assisted the family.
