Vicki Elaine (Sallee) Fiscus was born July 12, 1939 in Deadwood, SD to Kenneth C. and Mae (Alberts) Sallee. She passed into the arms of the Lord on October 31, 2023. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 8, 2023 from 4-7pm at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel. The funeral will be held on Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 10:30am at the Church of Christ in Bayard, with burial at the Bayard City Cemetery to follow. Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.dugankramer.com
Vicki was the only child of a railroad engineer and grew up in Alliance. She attended school through her junior year there and graduated high school in Aurora, IL in 1957.
She agreed to a blind date with friends in the spring of 1956. She met and fell in love with a redheaded cowboy. Sure that distance would end her “crush”. Vicki’s parents allowed her to continue dating the young man, and on January 24, 1960, Vicki was united in marriage to Merlyn Wayne Fiscus in Alliance. This true example of love lasted 60 years on earth and an eternity in heaven.
Their first home was in an apartment above Dr. Carl Frank’s Office in Scottsbluff. Vicki was a receptionist/ lab technician there. Vicki often laughed about now knowing how to cook or keep house when they were first married. She was so thankful for her mother-in-law and the Watkins cookbook she loaned her. They welcomed their first son, Gene, into this home in 1962.
After a brief move to Aurora, IL. The family made their way back home to Nebraska with Rush Creek Land and Cattle near Hyannis. Vicki took on the role of cook for the hired men and the family grew with addition of Jody in 1966 and Rebecca in 1969. Never one to back down from a challenge, Vicki flourished in her surroundings. She loved raising kids in the Sandhills and her gardening skills were born.
Vicki looked at life with optimism and her faith in the Lord grew also. After Merlyn’s leg was broken in a “horse wreck”, she jumped right in and moved the family to the Bayard area to the farm where Peterson Quarter Horses is now. She worked in the hay and corn fields learning to set irrigation tubes, and rake hay like she’d been born a country girl. She worked campaigns at the Bayard Sugar Factory swinging sugar sacks and cleaned houses to make ends meet. She was the equipment mover and bookkeeper for Fiscus Custom Farming, and worked tax season for Heather Bilden. Her part time job in the kitchen at Chimney Rock Villa led her to obtaining her degree in Dietary Management. She was the Dietary Manager at Chimney Rock Villa until her retirement.
Vicki and Merlyn purchased a small acreage outside of Bayard in 1993 and “retired” there in 1997. She continued to help with the farm business and her huge garden. In 2022 she moved into an independent apartment at The Village in Scottsbluff where she enjoyed Bingo, Bible Study and spending time with new friends.
Vicki was baptized with her sons at Bayard Church of Christ where she was a member of the Dorcas Society. She had many lifelong friendships with her sisters there. She was a member of the Red Willow Club for many years and was the Associate Bethel Guardian and Bethel Guardian for Job’s Daughters Bethel #16 of Bayard. She was a Sunday school teacher, VBS teacher and served as treasurer for the Bayard Church of Christ.
Vicki is survived by her children, Gene and Kate Fiscus of Edgemont, SD, Jody and Karla Fiscus, and Becki Fiscus of Bayard; Grandchildren, Jeri(Jesse McConkey) Ross, Jessica(Blake Latta) Fiscus, Jason(Ashley) Fiscus, Michael(Shelby Morris) Fiscus, Tyler Fiscus, Kaylie and Tanner Willey, Victoria(Briston Ring) Huff, and Hayden(Navaeh Garcia) Huff; Great-grandchildren, Ryder Ross, Madilyn McConkey, Dalley, Brady and Silas Fiscus, Ember Ring, Brynleigh Fiscus, and baby boy Willey due in February 2024; Brothers and Sisters-in-law, Larry and Sharon Fiscus, Sharon Fiscus and Linda Wilkins; Special cousins, Patricia Smith, Janet Petersen, and Cherie McKee; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
She is preceded in death by her redheaded cowboy, Merlyn; her parents, KC and Mae Sallee; her parents-in-law, Merle and Evelyn Fiscus; and brothers-in-law, Gerald Fiscus and Randy Wilkins.