Funeral Services For William 'Bill' Ross

Funeral services for William W. "Bill" Ross, age 84 of Tilden, Nebraska, will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 31, 2014, at Peace United Church of Christ in Tilden. Reverend Theta Dame will officiate, with burial in the Tilden City Cemetery. 

Visitation will be Wednesday, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Brockhaus-Harlan Funeral Home in Tilden. 

Bill died Friday, July 25, 2014, at Faith Regional Health Services in Norfolk, Nebraska. 

William Wesley "Bill" Ross was born August 11, 1929, in Evansville, Indiana, to Carl John and Elizabeth (Rath) Ross. In 1931, at the age of 20 months, Bill came to Nebraska and was raised by his uncle and aunt, J.T. and Edith James, on a farm south of Tilden, Nebraska. J.T. was the father of AnnaLee Carter. Bill was always treated as a member of the James and Carter Families. He especially loved working on projects with Henderson Carter, a mentor in his faith. 

Bill attended Morning Star School and graduated from Tilden High School in 1946 at the age of 16. He was a mechanic his entire life, working at Nelson-Kneivel Equipment in Tilden, and later at K & F Farm Equipment in Norfolk, Nebraska. In 1984, Bill opened Ross Repair in Tilden, and operated it for 20 years until his retirement. Many farmers relied on his vast knowledge of farm equipment and became life-long friends. 

Bill met his future wife on a date arranged by his good friend, Gordon Eggers. Bill Ross and Darlene Miller were married on May 11, 1949, at Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Four children were born to Bill and Darlene: Judy, Carol, Betsy, and Bill. Bill enjoyed working on projects with his children and their spouses, from building garages to rebuilding tractors. At family gatherings, games of Scrabble and Pitch were enjoyed by all. Bill's grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a source of joy and pride to him. Bill and Darlene enjoyed many trips in their camper to various places in the United States and Canada. They loved to bike and walk around Tilden, and to hike on their trips. 

Bill was a member of the Morning Star EUB Church and the Peace United Church of Christ, where he served on the consistory and taught Sunday School. Leading his family in daily devotions was a priority for him. 

Bill served on the Tilden and Elkhorn Valley School Boards, the Tilden Hospital Board, the City Council, and the Commercial Club, and was a Boy Scout Leader. 

Bill is survived by his children, Judy (Allan) Pearson of Ceresco, Nebraska, Carol (Ken) Rittscher of Tilden, Nebraska, Betsy (Larry) Uhing of Grand Island, Nebraska, and Bill (RoseAnn) Ross of Tilden; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Virginia Cloar of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. 

He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Darlene, in 2013; and his parents. 

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