Billy Dean “Bill” Phillipps, 72

Billy Dean “Bill” Phillipps, 72, of Burwell, NE died January 8, 2023 at the Valley County Health Systems Hospital in Ord, NE.

Bill was born September 9, 1950 in Burwell, NE to Dale and Elizabeth Belle (Hiser) Phillipps. He graduated from Ainsworth High School in 1968. Bill was Ainsworth’s first state champion wrestler in 1968 at one hundred and twenty pounds.

Bill married Linda Lehn on November 15, 1970 in Ainsworth, NE. After they were married, they moved to McCook, NE, where Bill worked for a cattle buyer. They then moved to Rose, NE to ranch. They also lived on the Calamus River until the mid-1980’s when they moved into Burwell and ran Phillipps One Stop. In 1990 they owned Phillipps Processing and ran it until 2015. Bill continued to work part time there for PK Meats.

Bill enjoyed fishing, hunting, rodeo, roping and hunting coyotes. Bill is survived by his wife, Linda Phillipps of Burwell; two children, Shawn and Tami Phillipps of Burwell and Hayley and Tim Groshans of Burwell: five grandchildren, Sadey (Cody) Jester, Shayley Phillipps, Colby Mitchell, Tate Phillipps, Tevon Groshans; step-grandchildren, Cayden (Blake) Owens, NeLeigh Owens, Kailee (Lukas) Gilliland, Emma (Timothy) Dickey and Madison (Dalton) Lewis; three brothers, Mick and Carmen Phillipps of Burwell, NE. Pat and Estella Phillipps of Glendo, WY and Bob Phillipps of Rozet, WY and a sister, Marie and Lin Gumb of Burwell, NE; a brother-in-law, Mike (Annette) Lehn and a sister-in-law, Deb Prucha (Lloyd Lendstrom); and a host of nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents. Pastor Alan Petersen officiated. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Burwell or Taylor Fire Departments or the Valley County EMS.