Jay Robert Welden passed away on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at his home. He was born May 16, 1947, at Detroit Lakes MN. He attended school in North Platte at Buffalo Grade School the first year it opened, and graduated from North Platte High School in 1965.

Jay always loved sports, and lettered in football, wrestling and track. He played on the first and only state championship football team from North Platte in 1963. Jay attended Mid-Plains College at North Platte, and there he met his future wife, Sandra Gaedke. They would marry 35 years later.

He married Julie Barneson in 1970, and to this union was born his son Bradley James Welden. Jay was drafted in 1966 by the U.S. Army, and served two years, including one year in Vietnam. He was honored to have served his country. He was discharged as a sergeant in 1969.

Jay worked as a plumber’s apprentice at North Platte Plumbing, and then went to Reinhardt’s Plumbing as a service plumber. He later hired on to the Union Pacific Railroad as a pipefitter, retiring in 2000. Jay married Sandra Gaedke Teel, his first love, in June 2000. They spent many years loving and serving the Lord Jesus as best they could, attending Grace Community Bible Church under the guidance of Pastor Mike Wing.

Jay flew homing pigeons from the age of ten, and enjoyed the sport for 55 years. He also hunted, fished and bowled. One of his many joys during retirement was listening to Sandy play piano at church and at home.

Jay is survived by his wife, his son, his step-daughter Susan (Dean) Demorest, stepson Jeremy Teel, and three grandchildren: Justin Welden and Dyllon and Josalyn Demorest. He is also survived by his brother Lee, sisters Lynnell Welden and Crystal (Bill) Stewart, his brothers-in-law Duanne (Dixie) Gaedke, Ron (Deb) Gaedke, Jerome (Mary) Gaedke, Bill (Crystal) Stewart, sisters-in-law Terri Gaedke and Alice Gibson, and many nieces and nephews.

Jay was preceded in death by his parents Don and Lillian Welden, his older sister Donna and her husband Wayne Collins, sister-in-law Gerri (Lee) Welden, and brothers-in-law Mike Gaedke and Ernie Gibson.

Jay felt that the Lord had given him many, many blessings, including the church family at Grace Community Bible Church.

Services will be held at Grace Community Bible Church in North Platte on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. with Pastor Mike Wing officiating. Burial will follow at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell at 1 p.m. with full military honors. Visitation will be held from 12 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, with family receiving friends from 5 to 7, at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home, which has been entrusted with arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Grace Church, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or the donor’s choice, in lieu of flowers.