Both Pastor Scott and Keri love Jesus. Together, they wanted nothing more than to serve Him passionately in Valentine and the surrounding areas.
As most would say,
"Scott was the shepherd of the Sandhills."
Pastor Scott McClellen
Scott Eugene McClellen was born on January 13, 1958, in North Platte, NE to Donald and Yvonne (Larson) McClellen. He grew up in Maxwell, NE and attended school there, graduating from Maxwell High School in 1976.
After high school Scott was hired on with the Union Pacific Railroad in North Platte, NE. He was a pipe fitter, switchman, brakeman, conductor, engineer, and yardmaster. He continued his employment with the Railroad for 26 years when he felt the Lord calling him to the ministry.
Scott received an associate’s degree in building construction from Mid Plains Community College – class of 1986 in North Platte, NE and a diploma in Pastoral Studies/Mission - class of 2005 from Cornerstone Bible Institute in Hot Springs, SD.
Scott married Keri Lee Nelson on June 20, 1982, in Broken Bow, NE. Scott’s hobbies included: Spending time with his family (especially the grandkids, whom he says he was blessed by), morning walks, animals (dogs and cats especially), golfing, going to the Valentine Health and Fitness Center and working out with the ‘gang’, playing the guitar on the Praise and Worship team at church, mowing the lawn, gardening, daily time in the Word, Saturday Morning Breakfast, Friday Morning Men’s Bible Study, and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to anyone and everyone he met – through his words and his actions.
Scott was Pastor of the Valentine Berean Bible Church in Valentine, NE for 11 years and a board member of Grace Mission.
Pastor Scott passed away on March 31 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha after suffering from respiratory failure and pneumonia. In need of a lung transplant, all were praying for him. Little did we all know, in God's great plan and in lieu of Scott's giving ways, he became the transplant for others.
Scott was preceded in death by his parents and one brother Lane of Maxwell, NE. He is survived by his wife, Keri of Valentine; son, Kyle (Kelsey) of Lincoln, NE; daughter, Erika (David) Gingerich of Plain City, OH; grandchildren, Atley, Doran and Maren McClellen and Westin and Macklin Gingerich; siblings, sister-in-law Barbara (Lane) McClellen, of Elkhorn, NE, sister Jan (Gordon) Jones, of Gordon, NE, sister Carol (Mart) McDermott, of Fort Lupton, CO; father-in-law, Leland (Sharon) Nelson of Kearney, NE and numerous beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of Life for Pastor Scott E. McClellen age 68 of Valentine, was held on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at the Valentine Berean Bible Church, with a prayer service to follow. It was a true sight of how many people were blessed to have Scott as a part of their lives.