Robert Dale Phillipps was born August 21, 1957, in Ainsworth, Nebraska, the son of Dale and Elizabeth “Belle” (Hiser) Phillipps. He was raised on the family ranch south of Ainsworth on the Calamus River and attended grade school at District #50, then graduated from Ainsworth High School.

After graduation Bob joined the Marines and was stationed in California. After serving in the Marines, he came home and worked on a ranch near Brownlee, Nebraska. Bob later owned and operated a welding shop in Taylor, inventing a rod bender to bend sucker rod, the first of its kind. He designed and built all the rough stock pens at Nebraska’s Big Rodeo along with numerous other hog confinement panels, gates, and pens.

Bob was an over the road trucker for a few years before moving to Rozet, Wyoming, to work on a ranch. He loved working for Burch Rodeo Company hauling their rodeo stock to and from rodeos and cared for the livestock on the ranch during the off season.

At a very young age, Bob loved the sport of rodeo and won numerous buckles, trophies and saddles. He enjoyed every season of hunting, fishing for whatever was biting, and trapping and chasing anything that moved. Most of his adult life was spent designing and building almost anything and fixing just about everything that was broken or wouldn’t run.

Bob is survived by his daughter, Bobbi Jo Black; two grandchildren; brothers, Mick and Pat and their families; sister-in-law, Linda and her family; sister, Marie Gumb and her family; and numerous nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Bill; and both sets of grandparents.

Bob passed away on September 19, 2026, in Gillette, Wyoming at the age of 69. 

A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.