Obituary for William Joseph "Bill" Gallino
On October 8, 1928 William “Bill” Joseph Gallino was born in a covered wagon near Spring Creek, South Dakota to Charles and Gertrude (Marshall) Gallino. Bill passed away on March 4, 2020 at the Cherry County Hospital in Valentine, Nebraska. During Bill’s childhood his parents lived near Spring Creek where Charles worked on the Peterson Ranch. Bill was the second child of this union. His three siblings were Charlotte, Orville and Nile Gallino. Bill grew up attending the Spring Creek School until the family moved to Valentine where he attended the 9th grade at Valentine High School.
Bill left school to begin his ranching career on the Arnold Ranch. He worked on several area ranches and while he was on the Bachelor Ranch, he met and married Bessie Wondercheck. They were married on March 5, 1949 in Valentine, Nebraska. Bill and Bessie lived and worked in the area throughout their 71 years together. Three children were born to this union, Bonnie, Kaye and Billy.
Bill was a devoted family man who not only passed on his horse, cattle and rodeo knowledge to his children and grandchildren, but also to any friends or neighbors that were blessed to know him. Bill was part of a local group that started the Valentine Roping Club and spent many years traveling to help and watch his children and grandchild compete in rodeo events. He also made it a point to attend family sporting events and could often be seen there supporting his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as they competed in their various sports and activities. Practical jokes, card games, storytelling and laughter were always part of these gatherings.
Bill always made work a fun, family affair and the family has fond memories of stacking hay, cutting wood, branding and moving cattle. Bill was always willing to help neighbors and he loved to work outside- continuing to work in the hayfield through this past summer. Bill was a man of integrity who lived by the golden rule. He always put others before himself and treated everyone fairly.
Preceding him in death were his parents; sister Charlotte (Bud) Hamar; brother Orville (Marietta) Gallino; sisters-in-law: Beulah (Ken) Johnson, Viola (Barney) Jackson, Wilma (Joe) Francis, Vesta (Richard) Taylor, LoRee (Grant) Mott, and Joy Wertz; brothers-in-law: Bud (Opal) Wondercheck, Vic Waldorf, and John Garringer.
Bill is survived by his wife Bessie; daughters: Bonnie (Dave) Price and Kaye (Wayne) Stancill; son Billy Gallino; grandchildren Brad (Aimee) Price, Chad (Candy) Allison, Shane (Brenda) Allison, Shawna (Scott) Fullerton, Will (Catrina) Price, Kaylee and Kole Gallino; great grandchildren: Jes (Tyler) Hanson, Trey (Katelyn) Allison, Taylor Allison, Kolten, Hagen and Brynlie Price, Steven and Savannah Fullerton, Johnny and Brelynn Price, Kaden and Cailei Poitra, Dominic Rosales; great-great grandchildren: Ella and Everly Hanson; brother Nile (Carol) Gallino; nephews: Rex (Dottie) Gallino, Gary Gallino, Charles and Teddy Hamar; nieces: Twyla Gallino, Kitty (Rick) Vander Wey, Judy (Mitch) Wright and Rhonda Smallwood; sisters-in-law: Rita Boe and Nancy Garringer; brother-in-law Jim Wertz; a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Services were held Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at the United Methodist Church in Valentine. Contributions to the Bill Gallino Memorial, which will be awarded to the 2020 State High School Champion Steer Wrestler, may be sent in care of the family or taken to Security First Bank in Valentine. Holmes Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements. Online guest register at www.HolmesFH.com.
Bill left school to begin his ranching career on the Arnold Ranch. He worked on several area ranches and while he was on the Bachelor Ranch, he met and married Bessie Wondercheck. They were married on March 5, 1949 in Valentine, Nebraska. Bill and Bessie lived and worked in the area throughout their 71 years together. Three children were born to this union, Bonnie, Kaye and Billy.
Bill was a devoted family man who not only passed on his horse, cattle and rodeo knowledge to his children and grandchildren, but also to any friends or neighbors that were blessed to know him. Bill was part of a local group that started the Valentine Roping Club and spent many years traveling to help and watch his children and grandchild compete in rodeo events. He also made it a point to attend family sporting events and could often be seen there supporting his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as they competed in their various sports and activities. Practical jokes, card games, storytelling and laughter were always part of these gatherings.
Bill always made work a fun, family affair and the family has fond memories of stacking hay, cutting wood, branding and moving cattle. Bill was always willing to help neighbors and he loved to work outside- continuing to work in the hayfield through this past summer. Bill was a man of integrity who lived by the golden rule. He always put others before himself and treated everyone fairly.
Preceding him in death were his parents; sister Charlotte (Bud) Hamar; brother Orville (Marietta) Gallino; sisters-in-law: Beulah (Ken) Johnson, Viola (Barney) Jackson, Wilma (Joe) Francis, Vesta (Richard) Taylor, LoRee (Grant) Mott, and Joy Wertz; brothers-in-law: Bud (Opal) Wondercheck, Vic Waldorf, and John Garringer.
Bill is survived by his wife Bessie; daughters: Bonnie (Dave) Price and Kaye (Wayne) Stancill; son Billy Gallino; grandchildren Brad (Aimee) Price, Chad (Candy) Allison, Shane (Brenda) Allison, Shawna (Scott) Fullerton, Will (Catrina) Price, Kaylee and Kole Gallino; great grandchildren: Jes (Tyler) Hanson, Trey (Katelyn) Allison, Taylor Allison, Kolten, Hagen and Brynlie Price, Steven and Savannah Fullerton, Johnny and Brelynn Price, Kaden and Cailei Poitra, Dominic Rosales; great-great grandchildren: Ella and Everly Hanson; brother Nile (Carol) Gallino; nephews: Rex (Dottie) Gallino, Gary Gallino, Charles and Teddy Hamar; nieces: Twyla Gallino, Kitty (Rick) Vander Wey, Judy (Mitch) Wright and Rhonda Smallwood; sisters-in-law: Rita Boe and Nancy Garringer; brother-in-law Jim Wertz; a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Services were held Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at the United Methodist Church in Valentine. Contributions to the Bill Gallino Memorial, which will be awarded to the 2020 State High School Champion Steer Wrestler, may be sent in care of the family or taken to Security First Bank in Valentine. Holmes Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements. Online guest register at www.HolmesFH.com.