Mickey L. Phillipps, of Burwell, Nebraska passed away on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at the Community Memorial Health Center in Burwell, at the age of 78.
Mickey LeRoy was born on October 18, 1948, in Burwell, Nebraska to Dale and Elizabeth (Belle) Phillipps. He grew up on a ranch with his brothers Bill, Pat, and Bob, and sister Marie. The ranch was located in the Sandhills of Brown County, along the Calamus River, 45 miles northwest of Burwell, where Mick enjoyed the outdoor life, fishing, hunting and riding ponies to school.
Rodeo was a way of life on the Phillipps’ Easy Hour Ranch. At the age of 13, Mick went to work for Larry Hollenbeck in the summer doing ranch work. At the end of the day, Larry taught Mick how to bulldog and ride bareback and saddle bronc horses; spending many evenings in the practice arena.
Mick attended Ainsworth High School where he excelled in sports and was active in FFA and 4-H. Following graduation, he continued his education at McCook Junior College on a wrestling scholarship. Following an injury, he returned to the Sandhills where he worked on several ranches including his favorite ranch of Delmer and Fonna Hall. He also spent his working years in the feedlots of Juniata Feedyard and Bonsall Feedlot.
Mick was united in marriage to Jackie Lutz in 1971. The couple was blessed with two boys, Thomas Dale and Jesse Jay.
During the 70’s and 80’s Mick was active in the rodeo arena as a steer wrestler, bull rider when needed, and his favorite events of saddle bronc and bareback riding. As a member of the Nebraska State Rodeo Association he was the All-Around champion for three consecutive years in 1976-1978. In the Mid-States Rodeo Association he was the All-Around champion in the 1978-1979 season, champion in Bareback in 1977 and 1979, and champion in Saddle Bronc 1976-1980. He was proud to represent the Mid-States Rodeo Association at the Calgary Stampede in 1979; riding saddle bronc and bareback. Then he continued his involvement in the rodeo circuit by helping contractor Cec Robinson. Mick’s rodeo days were notably reflected in a song written by Larry Ray and the Bandits. One of his proudest moments was being inducted to the Sandhills Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2022.
Mick married Carmen Murphy in 1983; and they welcomed their two sons, Gavin Lee and Taylor Roy.
In 1988, Mick took on his own business ventures as a fencing contractor and owned and operated the Northside Bar with his wife, Carmen from 1992 to 1996. While at the bar, Mick built a small goat sized chute and hosted the first “goat roping” in the beer garden. He traveled with a portable arena and chute and held goat ropings in central and western Nebraska. After selling the bar, Mick went back to fencing and selling treated cedar fence posts until retirement in 2015.
Mick participated in team roping and was a member of the Burwell Roping Club; winning the Old Timer’s Team Roping in 1996, with his uncle Donald Phillipps. During his retirement years, he made his home on the edge of Burwell where he enjoyed his horses, goats, chickens, and feeder cattle. Though he no longer participated in the rodeo arena, he was an avid fan of Nebraska’s Big Rodeo and the Cowboy Channel.
Survivors include his wife, Carmen of Burwell; four sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas D. of Grand Island, Jesse J. and Jacky of Homomu, Hawaii, Gavin L. and Marlee of Stockdale, Texas and Taylor R. and Adrian of Omaha; four grandchildren; Justin, Greyson, Quinn and Baylor, and an expectant grandchild; brother, Pat (Stella) Phillipps; sister, Marie (Lin) Gumb; sister-in-law, Linda Phillipps, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Bill and Robert.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Burwell, Nebraska. Reverend Shelby Moock and Pastor Alan Petersen will officiate. Memorials are suggested to Sandhills Strong or the Family’s Choice for future designation. Still Waters Funeral Parlor is assisting with the arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.stillwatersfuneralparlor.com
Comments