Donald Kent Bandy, age 96 of Stapleton, passed away Saturday December 3, 2016 at Linden Court.
Don was born on October 6, 1920 near Lewellen, NE to Jesse and May (Gray) Bandy. He attended school in the Rackett area in Garden County. One of five children, he was raised on a ranch 35 miles north of Oshkosh, growing up fast learning to be a cowboy. As a teenager they would drive 1800 head of cattle 100 miles through the hills twice a year, a cattle drive that would take about 18 days. Don began the rodeo circuit at the age of 13 and participated in rodeos in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. He became a member of the Turtle Cowboy Association in 1941 in Burwell, NE. The organization later changed their name to the Rodeo Cowboys Association from 1946 to 1975, and then became the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association or PRCA. He entered the US Army August 1, 1942 and served in Hawaii, then Ft. Robinson in Nebraska where he trained dogs and horses. He was honorably discharged on January 31, 1946. After his discharge, he returned to the ranch on the Dismal River from 1946 to 1949, then to the Garden County ranch until 1955. He continued rodeoing after his discharge, having much success and numerous broken bones and other injuries along the way. He worked between the family ranch in Nebraska and one they bought in Montana, always taking excellent care of his ailing parents until their deaths. In 1986 he and his nephew, Bobby Cotton bought property 12 miles east of Stapleton and he spent time working between there and the Gordon ranch in Wyoming. He enjoyed helping with brandings, haying and lending a hand to neighbors when they needed it.
Don is survived by his sister Jack Cotton of North Platte; nieces and nephews Lois Cotton of Stapleton, Carolyn Anthony of North Platte, Reva (Bill) Coulter of North Platte, Gary Gordon of Newcastle, WY, Bruce Gordon of North Platte, Linda Johnson of Cambridge, NE, and Neville (Mary) Bandy of Oshkosh, NE; as well as numerous other family members and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Richard Bandy and Floyd “Heavy” Bandy; and a sister, Thelma Gordon.
Memorials are suggested to the donor’s choice and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday December 10, 2016 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home with Reverend Dynette Oberg and Pastor Frank Scott officiating. Burial will follow at Antelope Valley Cemetery in Oshkosh, NE. Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Friday December 9, 2016 at Adams and Swanson Funeral Home which is in charge of arrangements.