Bill Reade

William Wallace “Bill” Reade II, age 90, passed away on July 19, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. Bill was born in Bird City, Kansas on February 18, 1935, as the youngest of 5 siblings. He grew up and spent all of his school years in Bird City and enjoyed playing all sports in school and all things outdoors including fishing and hunting. His mother Vivian cared for the home, sewing the great majority of all the family clothing and his father Clarence worked on the farm.

Bill attended the University of Kansas where he obtained a degree in Pharmacy and developed a love for all KU sports. He was an avid Jayhawk fan. Family money was scarce in those days and not having the availability of a car to get from Northwest Kansas to Lawrence, Bill hitchhiked (which was common in those days) to school and back home throughout his college career.

Upon graduating from the University of Kansas in 1958, Bill married Kay LeBow who was his hometown sweetheart from Bird City. Bill and Kay moved to Wichita where Bill began his work and additional training in pharmacy. During their stay in Wichita, their first son Michael was born. After Bill’s training was complete in Wichita, he and Kay moved to Dodge City, Kansas to work in a pharmacy there. It was in Dodge City where their second son Paul was born. After a short time, an opportunity came up near Bill and Kay’s hometown. The Pharmacist in Benkelman, Nebraska wanted to retire and sell his Pharmacy. Benkelman was just 21 miles north of Bird City and across the state line in Nebraska, so Bill and Kay purchased the Hamilton Drug Company and moved to Benkelman in 1961. Little did he know at the time but Benkelman would become his longtime home. He renamed the drug store to Reade’s Drug Company and worked as the owner of the Rexall Pharmacy until he retired in 1997.

Two other important life-changing events occurred within a few years of Bill moving to Benkelman. The first was that he and Kay welcomed home a daughter Shari to join their family of two boys and secondly and some might say equally life changing, Bill, now a new Nebraskan became a lifelong and diehard Nebraska Cornhusker. Following Nebraska sports became a passion. Bill loved football and basketball but now there was a real dilemma, “Who to cheer for when his new team Nebraska played his alma mater KU?” This occurred often throughout the years as they were both in the Big 8 Conference.

Having lived in NW Kansas growing up and now in SW Nebraska, the closest big city to this area was Denver, Colorado. Bill also had a passion for Pro Football and his team, the Denver Broncos. Somewhere around 1966, Bill became a Bronco season ticket holder in the infamous “South stands” and faithfully attended most of the Bronco home games for many years.

Bill loved serving the Benkelman community at his pharmacy. He was there everyday (6 or 7 days a week) providing for all that needed their medicine, always making extra deliveries to the Hester home, County hospital and peoples homes when needed. Serving customers at the soda fountain and entertaining his cronies in the back always made his day enjoyable. He rarely took a vacation in those days but did enjoy hunting, fishing and golf at home.

Later in his life, after Bill and Kay divorced, Bill met Anita Hettinger and they were married in 1975. Bill and Anita enjoyed many happy years together with Anita helping in the Drug Store until their retirement. They were both faithful members of the Zion Lutheran Church in Benkelman, and the Shepherd of the Desert Church in Sun City.

Bill and Anita began traveling and spent parts of each winter in Sun City, Arizona. They loved the winters in Arizona, and every year would add a little more time to be there. After retirement, they bought a house in Sun City and eventually moved there full-time until Anita passed away in 2008.

After Anita’s passing, Bill was again a bachelor. In 2010, at the age of 75 he met Polly Getten at the Golf Club in Sun City where they both played. Passionate about golf and each other, they hit it off, fell in love and were companions until Bill’s death 15 years later.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Vivian and Clarence Reade, wife Anita Reade, brother Rex Reade, sisters Evelyn Trout and Bonnie Burr, brothers-in- law Lloyd Trout and Willis Burr, sister-in-law Phyllis Reade and grandson Austen Reade.

Bill is survived by his devoted companion Polly Getten and her daughter Barb Saunders (husband Tom), brother Radean Reade, children Michael Reade, Paul Reade (husband Mark Netoskie) , daughter Shari Reade, stepchildren Cheryl Bryant (husband Kent Richards) , Kathy Hettinger, Brent Hettinger, grandchildren Ashleigh (Brendon), William (Cynthia), Anabelle (Ryan), Maia, Liliana, Vivianne, Chad (Megan), Ashleigh (Josh) Lindsey, Courtney (Shane), Jennifer and Katrina (Joe) and 22 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Favorite memories among the great grandchildren included going fishing and golfing with grandpa and grandma, as well as going to the drugstore and being permitted to fill up a sack of candy and have a fountain drink.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday October 4th at the Zion Lutheran Church at 11am (MST) in Benkelman, followed by a church luncheon. A private interment will take place later that afternoon at the Wauneta Cemetery.

An additional service will be held on Saturday October 11th at the Shepherd of the Desert Church, Sun City, Arizona at 10am followed by a church luncheon.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Bill to either the Zion Lutheran Church in Benkelman or the Shepard of the Desert Church in Sun City.