Jerald Wilson Rains – 1937-2016

Jerald Wilson Rains, oil industry professional, avid golfer, and quartet singer, passed away May 3, 2016 in Sidney, Nebraska. He was born to Wilson and Juanita Rains in 1937 and grew up on a farm northwest of Towanda, Kansas. The family moved to Wichita in 1945. He served as a reservist in the Air National Guard for four years, and graduated from Wichita State University in 1964 with a BBA degree.
In later years, his love and expertise for the land leasing part of the business drew him to work as a land man for several companies. More recently, Jerald worked for Williams Companies, and T.S. Dudley Company, leasing land mineral rights in Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, and Arkansas. When not working one could fine him working on his antique 37 Ford pick-up and making annual trips to Wichita for the Highlander Reunion, a group of dragsters who gathered at the Highlander Drive-In formerly located on the northwest corner of Central and Edgemoor to talk “cars”. Jerald sang in several quartets over the years, most recently at First United Methodist Church in Sidney, Nebraska where he lived for the past twelve years.
Memorial Services will be held May 10 at First United Methodist Church, Sidney, Nebraska, 10:30 a.m., with Rev. Tom Hyde officiating. Inurnment will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney.
Survivors include his loving companion, Donna Bahr of Sidney; son, Scott Rains (Julie) of Wichita; daughters Joni (Craig) Brown, Kristen (John) Hillis, of Oklahoma, Laurie (Mark) Reinbold of San Diego, and Brandi Biggs (Jeff) of Oklahoma. He leaves seven grandchildren, and sisters Arlene Rains Graber, Wichita, KS and Mary Kathryn (David) O’Brien, Seattle, WA, Donna’s children; Phil Grabowski (Shanna) of Sidney and Shauna Faessler (Kurt) of Bridgeport and her four grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to: First United Methodist Church, 2622 11th Avenue, Sidney Nebraska 69162, SRMC Hospice, 645 Osage, Sidney, NE 69162 or The Kansas Geological Society & Library, 212 N. Market, Suite 100 Wichita, KS 67202.
Service provided by Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC in Sidney. Friends may view Jerald’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.