William Robert Joseph passed away on October 20, 2020 at his home in Valentine, Nebraska. Known widely as Bill and to many friends and family as Bill Bob, he was a fixture in the local community. Bill was born to John & Gloretta "Toots" Joseph on October 7, 1937 in Valentine, Nebraska. He enjoyed his early years with older siblings Corrine & Jack, graduating from Valentine High School in 1955.
On August 8, 1955 he was married to Betty Mulligan and recently celebrated a 65th anniversary with family. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Debra, Roger & Cindy.
Bill's was a tireless entrepreneur and was faithfully at work at one of his businesses on the morning that preceded his death. Bill worked with his father and brother at the Corner Market grocery at 2nd & Main in Valentine until his partners agreed to his relentless desire to build a new, and larger store on the next block. Success in retail allowed the family to begin ranching, feeding fat cattle & even raising quarter horses. With son, Roger, Bill transformed a property north of town in to a productive feedlot and the duo began to acquire more cattle of their own.
The pressure of the mid-1980s cattle market drove Bill back to town where he found incredible success transforming a condemned hotel and cafe in to the Peppermill Restaurant. Bill & Betty's venture at 1st and Main Street in Valentine quickly became a destination for travelers and local patrons. Bill took great pride in serving beef, as he had now raised cattle, been a butcher in his own market and now presenting steaks that so impressed clientele he was asked to provide T-bones to parties hosted by President Reagan.
Bill built the Comfort Inn with two family friends in 1995 and sold the restaurant to Roger in 1996. In the next 25 years of "retirement" Bill found still worked tirelessly and added to his resume. After working as a host in a Las Vegas restaurant he moved on to one of his most beloved positions, handling donors and ticket sales at UNLV. He would enjoy additional success back home in Valentine as well, turning the old Dunes Motel into the improved, and much larger Econo Lodge Inn & Suites, in addition to being the foreman for the construction of the new Peppermill on Highway 20.
Bill was preceded in death by his mother, father, & brother Jack.
He is survived by wife Betty, daughter Debra Higgins (Tom), son Roger Joseph (Jayne), and daughter Cindy Galloway (Keven). Surviving grandchildren include Robert Joseph (Lacey), Rachelle Borchers (Jeff), Lacey Hoefs (Dustin), and Brandon Bennett. Great-grandchildren, the love of Bill's life, included Blake and Halle Borchers, Kylee Hoefs, and Cruz and Lennon Joseph and sister Corinne Tangeman (Larry)
William R. Joseph was uncommonly motivated, a laser-focused perfectionist, and employed outstanding vision in his business ventures, yet was often and easily moved to tears by the things that mattered to him most.
Graveside service for Bill Joseph, age 83 of Valentine will be held on Monday, October 26, 2020 at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Valentine at 11:00 AM. Rosary will be recited at 7:00 PM on Sunday, October 25, 2020 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Valentine.