Phil Sherman

Phil Sherman age 68 of Mullen, NE died January 18, 2022.

Memorial services will be February 7, 2022, at 1:00 pm MT at the Hooker County Community Center in Mullen, NE. Memorials are suggested to the Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home. Govier Brothers Mortuary of Mullen are in charge of arrangements. An online guest book may be signed at www.govierbrothers.com

Philip Glen Sherman was born June 16, 1953, at Alliance, NE to Richard and Zelpha M. (Rentfro) Sherman. He grew up on the family ranch 25 miles North of Mullen. Phil attended country school up to 7^th grade then continued on at Mullen Public School in Mullen. He graduated from Mullen High School in 1971. After high school, Phil “hit the road”. He traveled to Montana and stayed four months. Then later to Nevada and onto Arizona and Texas, where he worked various jobs like ranching, Delta Explorations, and Brown and Root Construction. While in Arizona he met the love of his life Christi Philippi. They dated a few years then married on February 5, 1977, in Benson, Arizona. Phil convinced Christi to move to Mullen with him. They took the long way home going North to Las Vegas, then across to Wyoming and Nebraska. It was wind with snow and cold as they got closer to Nebraska. They lived South of Mullen and worked for the Dismal River Ranch for almost 11 years, working for Mary Helen Marland and Jack Howell being foreman. Phil credits them both for having a start on cattle for they allowed the hired hand to run a few head of cows. Jack and Joanie Howell gave Phil a horse named “Little Man”. Phil described him as a Cadillac. He loved and used “Little Man” for many years. Then they moved North of Mullen to Pat McNitt’s ranch and then onto Long Valley Ranch leasing it from John and Lynn Mundorf. They continued to build a cow herd. Phil was so proud of the cows and the progress, he loved being where he was. He loved to fix fence and build fence. Tight wire, straight and good posts. Whether it was for himself or somebody else, it was done the same. Phil enjoyed writing poetry, telling stories, and travel, but more then anything, ranching and being a cowboy horseback. He says the best place to be is on the back of a horse.

On Thanksgiving Day 1994, Phil and Christi moved West of Mullen for Phil had been diagnosed with M.S.

Phil is survived by his wife Christi, brother Chevron and wife Lis of Valentine, sister-in-law Debi Ball of Sierra Vista, Arizona, brother-in-law Jerry and sister-in-law Lori Fink of Benson, Arizona, sister-in-law Wendy Philippi of Sierra Vista, Arizona, five nieces, one nephew, and many cousins. Phil called all of his nieces “Porch Rabbits”.

He was preceded in death by his parents Richard and Zelpha Sherman, father-in-law and mother-in-law Harold and Marolyn Philippi (White), and many aunts, uncles and a few cousins.

“You know what you have, but when it’s done you really know what you had”     Christi