Lloyd Danielson

Lloyd Theodore Danielson, 86, of Baker City, Oregon, passed away peacefully at his home on February 27, 2026, with his wife, Sue, by his side.

Lloyd was born on May 19, 1939, in Valley City, North Dakota, to Rudy and Rosella (Brock) Danielson. He was their third child and the youngest of the twin duo of Larry and Lloyd. He grew up on the family farm in Cuba, North Dakota. As a youth, he helped out on the farm and was involved in 4-H, which instilled in him a lifelong interest in the cattle industry. Lloyd graduated from Valley City High School and attended North Dakota State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in animal science and was a member of the Farmhouse fraternity.

Following his graduation, he began his livestock career in Minnesota before being drafted into the US Army, where he was stationed in Germany as a mechanic and was honorably discharged in 1968. Following his military service, Lloyd went to work on cattle ranches in Towner and Wing, North Dakota. He then moved west to work on a large ranch in Three Forks, Montana. During this time, Lloyd became involved with Hereford cattle and enjoyed showing cattle at fairs and livestock shows across the country. While in Montana, he met his wife, Susan Misek.

Lloyd and Sue were married in Granville, North Dakota, on March 1, 1975. They welcomed their first child, Brent, in July of 1976. In December of 1978, Lloyd and Sue, with their oldest son Brent and younger son Brian due to arrive in April of 1979, moved to Carson City, Nevada, where Lloyd was a manager of John Ascuaga's Jacks Valley Ranch. While in Nevada, he worked at the Heritage Ranch in 1990, which was just down the road in Gardnerville. In 1991, Heritage Ranch moved to Baker City, Oregon, and Lloyd and family followed the ranch. Heritage Ranch later became the DLX Ranch, and Lloyd retired from ranching in 2009.

In retirement, Lloyd enjoyed gardening, going to yard sales, and visiting with other ranchers at livestock events. He was a lifelong Lutheran and a member of the First Lutheran Church in Baker City.

Throughout his life, he was proud to be a steward of the land, caring for fields, rangeland, and cattle in all seasons, knowing that the beef he raised fed his family, his community, and his country. Over the course of his life, he cared for tens of thousands of heads of cattle, making sure that millions of people could say "beef it's what's for dinner" instead of "where's the beef?" In his calling as a cattlemen, with each early morning sunrise, each greening of the fields as fresh grass grew with the coming of spring, and the birth of each calf, he witnessed, he gave thanks for God's creation.

Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, Rudy and Rosella. He is survived by his wife, Sue; sons, Brent and Brian; sister, Wini Erickson; brothers, Larry, Russ, and Dick (Laura); and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Baker County Livestock Producers Foundation Scholarship, the First Lutheran Church, or a charity of your choice through Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel at 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, OR 97814.