Billie John Reed, age 87, of Hershey passed away at home surrounded by
his family on November 23, 2021.
Billie, one of five children born to Oren and Ruby Reed, was born on the
family farm north of Scandia, KS, on August 27, 1934. He grew up
working on the family farm and even bailed hay for 25¢ an hour during
high school.
Billie's schooling began at Union Valley Country School then he attended
high school in Belleville. After graduating, he spent the next year as a
field worker for his parents. In 1954, Billie enlisted in the U.S.
Marine Corps and proudly served three years.
While serving at Camp Pendleton, CA, Billie met Phyllis Raye Elliott and
the couple married two years later in Las Vegas, NV, on June 12, 1956.
Their first 10 years together were spent in California where, after his
honorable discharge, Billie delivered wholesale and retail milk products
and later owned his own routes, and the couple welcomed five children,
with three more to come later.
In 1966, Billie and Phyllis decided to move so they could raise their
family in uncrowded conditions and among friendly people. They moved to Nebraska, living in North Platte, then Maxwell. Billie took a job with
Northwestern Engineers, working as an autograde leveler on I-80. His
work later relocated the family to South Dakota, then back to various
towns in Nebraska. Because they really enjoyed living in smaller
communities, the Reeds purchased a home in Hershey in 1971 and have been there ever since.
Billie had many jobs over the years. He ran a bread route for Metz
Baking Company, managed the Barn Store and Orange Moose Juice Stores, worked at the Farmers Co-op Elevator in Hershey, and worked at the Power Plant during shutdowns. He also opened and managed various business including the Tomahawk in North Platte and Reed's Landing at the lake in Ogallala. Not one to sit still, Billie continued working in his later years, mowing lawns and was doing security at 80 years of age.
Billie was active in the Hershey community where he served on the school board, village board, telephone board, Lion's Club and American Legion. He even made time to golf, bowl, hunt, fish, camp and go to casinos as well as take a vacation every year. Billie loved his family dearly and will be greatly missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Oren and Ruby; brothers, Max
and Gary Reed; brother-in-law, John Dinning; son-in-law, Daniel
Baustian; grandchildren, Isabella Baustian and Eric Nardini;
grandson-in-law, John Kalsbeek; and Julie Maske, his youngest child.
Billie leaves behind his loving wife, Phyllis, of Hershey; daughters,
Cindy (Reed) Kuroki and Lucie Reed, of Hershey and Helene Baustian, of
Fremont; sons, Dominic 'Nick' (Denise) Reed, of Sutherland, Darrell
(Irma) Reed, of St. Francis, KS, Billie (Tammie) Reed, of North Platte
and Pat (Lorie) Reed, of Salina, KS; his sister, Patricia Dinning, and
brother, Reggie (Jackie) Reed, of Courtland, KS; 29 grandchildren, 37
great-grandchildren and other family.
Memorial service will be held at noon on Monday, November 29, 2021, at
the Hershey Methodist Church. Services will be livestreamed through the
church at hspparish.com. Graveside service with Military Honors will be
at 2 p.m. at Ft. McPherson National Cemetery. The memorial book may be signed online at odeanchapel.com or prior to services at the church.
Memorials are to the family. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is
in charge of arrangements.