Dewayne Garland Tillman, 76, of Hershey, Nebraska passed away June 8, 2023 at his home.
Dewayne Garland Tillman, “Tilly”, was born in Lincoln County NE to Garland and Florence (Dikeman) Tillman on July 17, 1946 and went to be with His Lord on June 8th 2023. Dewayne loved to tell life stories and share about living in a sod house when he was a toddler. He and his two sisters grew up loving the country life on their parent’s farm Northeast of Hershey. He said he never knew a day he didn’t have to work at something and that he learned more from watching the men in his life work, than from going to school.
Dewayne skipped kindergarten and started 1st grade at Nichols School and later finished his education at Hershey High School, graduating with the class of 1964. He attended the University of Wyoming in Laramie for one year and decided he was done with school. Dewayne had worked for neighbors while still in high school and was working for the Steffes family after returning from college. He then applied at the Union Pacific Railroad and was hired that day to the surveying crew that built the west hump at Bailey Yards. He later transferred to the train service and became a conductor until his retirement in 2006.
In September of 1966 he met the love of his life, Diane Petersen from McCook, and on February 17,1968 they were married. They enjoyed 56 wonderful years togethers raising their 3 children on their farm southwest of Hershey. Dewayne loved water skiing, hunting, golf but his favorite sport was team roping and rodeo. Dewayne was a problem solver and could fix anything. He and Diane bought their farm in 1977 and built their home with the help of family and a few friends and moved in the fall of 1980. He later added a roping arena, an in-ground goose pit and moved a “free” old barn 16 miles to his place and loved restoring it. Dewayne fell in love with Jesus while reading his mother-in-law’s (Eva Petersen) Bible. He gave his life to the Lord the same day his son, Dee, said yes to Jesus in a church the family visited only once. He was a man of his word, he worked hard and always said, “if a task is worth doing, it's worth doing right!” He loved his wife, his kids and grandchildren with a deep love. He lived to see his great grandson, Riley James Foster, and his great granddaughter, Raegan Elise Lantis, join the family. He was a member of the Hershey Baptist Church and a men’s Bible study group.
Memorials may be given in Dewayne’s memory to the Hershey Volunteer Fire and Rescue, The Justin Cowboy Crisis fund or the Hershey Baptist Church. Online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Darlene Trusty, a niece Jody Grabowski, a nephew Lee Kettering and a great nephew Matthew Lafferty, and numerous other in-law and family members.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Diane, son Dee (Kim) Tillman of Laramie, Wy, T. Kristine (Terry) Becher, Traci (Jeremy) Foster of North Platte. Foreign Exchange son, Peter (Lorna)Stangeland of Oslo, Norway. Grandsons Jaydn (Lauren) Foster of Lincoln, Gabe Becher of Valley, Zane (Ila) Tillman, Blake Tillman both of Laramie, Wyo. Granddaughters McKenna (fiance Langdon Kohn) of North Platte, Malorie (Jake) Lantis of Sutherland, Jensen Becher and Ella Becher of North Platte. Julie Stangeland of Oslo, Norway. Great Grandson Riley James Foster of Lincoln and Raegan Elise Lantis of Sutherland his sister, Dyette (LeRoy) Kettering and her family, his sister Darlene’s family, Aunt Nancy Walters and his Aunt Rita Shimmin of Ogallala who was more like a sister.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at Hershey Baptist Church, Hershey, Nebraska with Pastor Curt Holzworth officiating. Inurnment will be at the Riverview Cemetery, Sutherland, Nebraska. Book signing will be from noon – 5:00, Monday, June 12 at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home. The service will be livestreamed via www.adamsswanson.com. Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.