Robert Childers
June 2, 1938 – January 22, 2020
Susan Childer
June 24, 1943 – June 6, 2019
Robert Lee “Bob” Childers was born June 2, 1938 in Valentine, NE. Susan Childers was born on June 24, 1943 in Jackson, MI. Bob passed away on January 22, 2020 and Susan passed away on June 6, 2019. Bob’s family lived on a ranch south of Nenzel, NE and Bob attended school at Curtis, NE. Bob served in the U.S. Army and was married to Susan on January 24, 1968. They ranched north of Mullen, NE then south of Seneca, NE. Bob enjoyed his dogs and horses and everywhere he and Susan went, the dogs went too. He enjoyed jumping horses and driving them with a buggy.
Susan attended and graduated from Chadron State Teachers College and taught school in Cherry County for three years. Susan also enjoyed driving a horse and buggy and they could be seen hauling Santa around at Christmas time.
By working hard and careful spending, they survived lean years and acquired land. Later in life, Susan received a large sum from a family enterprise back east that she invested.
Bob owned a prized 1,200 lb. mule and that mule did only what Bob asked. Susan worked side-by-side with Bob on the ranch and Bob knew how to do everything that a cowboy could do. Bob and Susan did everything together.
Bob and Susan Childers left an extraordinary charitable legacy of $16 million dollars to the Community Foundation benefiting the counties of Hooker, Logan, McPherson and Thomas. These four Sandhills counties have largely benefited from the grants provided by the Childers bequest.
The Childers are truly extraordinary Sandhills ranchers.