Phil Smith

Phillip DeLoss Smith age 83, previously of Broken Bow, NE, passed away May 5, 2025, at the Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell, NE. Phil’s sons, Rob and Russ, were by his side as he passed away.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025, at 10:30 AM at Govier Brothers Chapel in Broken Bow, NE. Burial will follow in the Broken Bow Cemetery. Officiating Phil’s service will be longtime family friend & fellow “Berwynite” Dean Millsap. Memorials are suggested to the Custer County Foundation. A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 29th, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary. A dinner will follow the services at the Broken Bow Veterans’ Building for family and friends to eat, gather, and reminisce about Phil and their memories of him. The family would like this day to be a “Celebration of Phil’s Life”. Govier Brothers Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Online words of remembrance or words of encouragement may be left at www.govierbrother.com

Phillip “Phil” DeLoss Smith was born in Kearney, NE, on February 18, 1942, to Russell W. and Joyce (Metz) Smith. Phillip was named after his paternal uncle, DeLoss Smith. When Phil was three years old, his mother, Joyce, passed away. Following her passing, Russell and Phillip moved in with Russell’s mother, Fannie Smith’s house and young Phillip was raised by his grandmother and his father. Phil attended Litchfield Public Schools. He enjoyed playing football, basketball, and track. Phil graduated from Litchfield High School in 1960.

Phil’s employment history involved always working with his hands. He began as a ranch hand. Next, he was hired to help build the former JCPenney Building in Broken Bow. It was located at the NE corner of 8th Ave and South D street intersection, where the current Prairie Eye Care Center building is located. Next, Phil changed career directions and became a mechanic for Phillips 66 Service Station, and then went to L & W Tire Service Center. He went on to close his working career by becoming a master mechanic for the State of Nebraska Department of Roads for 32 years. Phil was very knowledgeable at his job, taking continuing career courses to keep him updated on new technology in his field.

Many a holiday, Phil would either be late or miss being with family, as he would be working plowing snow from State Roads and also repairing equipment that would break down from weather conditions and overwork. It was a responsibility he took seriously, and when he’d return back to the house to eat holiday leftovers by himself, sitting in his State of Nebraska “safety orange” hat, coat, and coveralls; he would never complain.

Phil married the love of his life, Cheryl Elaine Bailey, on July 9, 1961, in Kearney, NE. They began their marriage living in the Sandhills, where Phil worked as a ranch hand. Soon in their union, Phil and Cheryl were blessed with three sons that were each only 13 months apart in age. Their first son was Leslie Phillip Smith, born in Jan. 1962. Les’s namesakes were his paternal uncle. Lester Klinkacek, and his father, Phillip Smith. Their second son, Robert Alan Smith, was born in Feb. 1963. Rob’s namesake was his paternal uncle, Robert Sunkten. Their third son, Russell Lynn Smith, was born in March 1964. Russ’s namesakes were his paternal grandfather, Russell W. Smith, and his maternal grandfather, Karl Lynn Bailey. The family began by living in Broken Bow, but before long they moved to Berwyn, NE where the boys all attended the Berwyn K-8 Public School, the Berwyn United Methodist Church, and Sunday School. The entire Smith family loved Berwyn; the fact it was a small and close-knit community, where everyone knew everybody. There were community get-togethers and family reunions there. The three boys made lifetime friends, from Berwyn school age friends that remain friends up to present day; as the Smith boys are now in their early 60s. One of their good family friends from Berwyn is officiating this Memorial Service for Phil, and the family greatly appreciates it.

We’d be remissed not mention the love and attention Phil gave the many dogs, and later in life, the many cats that he bonded deeply with. There was an unspoken closeness that they shared with Phil that possibly even became stronger after the three boys graduated from high school, and Phil & Cheryl became empty nesters. They also took great joy in traveling to watch the Sandhills Crane roost, to look for eagles, many types of birds that ate from their bird feeders, and travel roads looking for all types of wildlife together. They then moved to Broken Bow, NE.

Phil and Cheryl were known for prioritizing trips to watch their three sons and later their eight grandchildren’s many activities and sporting events, whether the events were played at home or away, it didn’t matter. One special comment made about them was that the Smiths not only cheered on their own family, but they cheered on the entire team roster, or band, or quiz bowl, or dinner theater group, or honor society members. They’d even cheer on an opposing team, if a situation or play warranted it! You could always count on grandpa (& grandma) Smith to be in the audience or stands; in all kinds of weather conditions, wearing their Ansley Warriors, Broken Bow Indians, Elm Creek Buffalos, Nebraska Wesleyan Univ. Prairie Wolves, or North Platte Community College Knights, licensed apparel gear. When Phil wasn’t chasing after kids, grandkids, or a dog; you could sit with him as he enjoyed watching western movies, (especially ones with John Wayne in them), watching TV shows about history, or watching country music. Phil and Cheryl loved taking trips to South Dakota, (especially to Custer Park in their convertible Mustang) and the Black Hills. It was something Phil always looked forward to and would travel there every year, if possible, never tiring of it. He also later enjoyed sharing his knowledge of Custer Park and Needles Highway with his three sons, their wives, and his eight grandkids. Phil and Cheryl both respected the Native American History and the wildlife of the area, especially the buffalo. Phil was also an avid Country Western music fan. He enjoyed listening to many artists, but his opportunity to meet Charley Pride was one celebrity legend he cherished the most. Phil and Cheryl traveled to Nashville on a vacation and also had the opportunity to meet and listen to some of their favorite artists.

It should be obvious by now that Phil loved the outdoors and driving back roads with family, while enjoying the views. It was very important to him that his three boys and grandkids knew how to hunt properly and use their guns safely. He loved loading his pickup, in earlier years, with his three boys to go hunting. In later years, the tradition continued with loading up grandkids to go pheasant and deer hunting. But rarely did Phil shoot a deer with the grandkids, as he took more pleasure in watching the kids experience the deer hunt themselves, than him shooting another deer. He had a sense of pride towards the grandsons that continued to return and include him in their Smith deer hunting yearly tradition of being together to hunt in Custer County. These last few years of hunting without Phil, due to his poor health, were sad to experience. But he’ll always be remembered every November as the deer rifles continue to come out to hunt.

Together, Phil and Cheryl also enjoyed collecting many (or everything) related to an antique or collectible. Phil enjoyed collecting cast iron skillets and toys, kerosene lamps, banks, cookie jars, salt & pepper shakers, NASCAR die casts, pedal cars, depression and carnival glass, guns, fishing gear, coins, stamps, beer lights, furniture … basically whatever caught his eye. They enjoyed collecting together and sharing their knowledge about it.

Phil lived a simple life, but a full life. He loved his family more than life. He loved his family more than anything and would do anything to help one of them if needed. As a family, we were so fortunate to have him and his unselfish nature. He’ll never be forgotten, as he’s a permanent part of our hearts and lives.

Phil was preceded in death by his parents, his grandparents, and his first-born son, Lesle Phillip Smith.

Phil is survived by his wife Cheryl Smith of Kearney, sons Robert (Teresa) Smith and Russell (Paula) Smith, both of Broken Bow. Phil leaves eight grandchildren: Keith (Kailey) Smith of Bellevue, Colton (Tiffany) Smith of Kearney, Chelsea (Ryan) Prochnow of Hastings, Remington Smith of St. Paul, Patrick (special friend Haven) Smith of Holdrege, Tyler (Mandy) Smith of Odessa, Jordan (Logan) Downy of Kearney, and Hunter (Emily) Smith of Lincoln, Phil’s 11 great-grandchildren: Daniel, Claire, & Elie Smith, Creighton Smith, Peyton, Laikyn, & Stetson Smith, Morgan, Rivie, Bronx, and Phillie.

Memorials are suggested to the Custer County Foundation