Wallace Rodine

Wallace "Wally" Edwin Rodine, 97, of North Platte, NE, formerly of Gothenburg, NE passed away July 15, 2025 at Great Plains Hospital in North Platte, NE.
Wallace was born April 25, 1928 in Gothenburg, Nebraska to parents Theodore and Nora (Larson) Rodine. He grew up on the family farm, and in the house that his grandparents built in 1913, north of Gothenburg in Custer County. He attended country school at New Hope. During these school years, he was put in charge of the horse and buggy to get himself and his sisters the four miles to and from school. Wallace graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1946. During a break in the two-week storm known as the Great Blizzard of 1949, he took a tractor into town to pick up the community's mail and delivered the mail on the way back home to the snowed in neighbors. In 1953 during the Korean Conflict, he was drafted into the US Army. Later in 1953 when on leave between assignments, Wallace came home and married Delores Bailey. They moved to Fort Sill, Oklahoma where he was stationed and their first child, Kristie, was born. After he was discharged from the Army in 1955, they returned to Gothenburg to take over the family farm where he grew up.
As a way to help make a good life for his family and neighbors, Wallace served on the election board for the Etna community and was a deacon at the New Hope Church. His first two years of farming were a challenge. In 1955 there was no rain, and the crops burned up. The crops were hailed out in 1956. He worked for a few neighbors helping them farm during those years when every farmer was struggling to make a living. Soon after, two more children were born, daughter Angie and son Randy. Wallace served on the New Hope School Board for 9 years while his children were attending. He valued the ability of getting a good education and was instrumental in providing a safe and comfortable school environment. He went to auctions to purchase new playground equipment for the school and made plans to build an indoor bathroom, digging the dirt out by hand for the space. In order to keep his parents busy in their retired years, Wallace opened a Coast-To-Coast hardware store in Gothenburg and helped them manage the store.
There was no available land adjacent to the family farm, so he decided to expand his farming operation by acquiring land between Arnold and Callaway. Wallace farmed until 1979 when he sold his farming operation and moved to North Platte. Once no longer farming, he sold irrigation equipment and grain bins for Mid-States Irrigation. He then went to work for Three Circle Irrigation selling Valley Pivots and Behlen buildings. In 1988 he became licensed for selling insurance. He worked for Nebraska Farmer magazine and Harvest Insurance Company, earning some nice reward trips while with them. Wallace also became real estate licensed and sold houses. He sold cars for a short time and sold carpet for Fashion Interiors.
Wallace retired and bought a new home in 1996 with long-time friend Bonnie Anderson. During this "retirement" time he built a garage onto the house, poured concrete sidewalk and driveway, installed a sprinkler system, and built a covered patio. After these projects were done, he started to look for something new. He went to work for Swans Furniture and began selling furniture and then managing the warehouse store. Wallace worked there until he was 89 and decided to retire for good. Wallace was a member of the First Baptist Church and American Legion.
After retiring, Wallace enjoyed being outside on his porch during nice days. He would wave at anyone driving by. He took pride in his big lawn and keeping it cut and green. He was a big Husker sports fan, and he especially loved watching the football games. Even in his final months, he was always thinking about the next project to work on to keep busy. Wallace loved his family deeply and anxiously awaited visits from his kids and grandkids.
Wallace is survived by his long-time friend Bonnie Anderson; children, Angela (Shawn) Henley, of Pleasanton, CA, Randy Rodine, of Houston, TX; son-in-law Joe Bartlett of Cozad; grandchildren, Marissa (Todd) Teske of Eden Prairie, MN, Brody Bartlett of Lincoln, NE, Brandon Herzog of Frisco, TX, Ashley (Bobby) St. Aubin of Frisco, TX, Courtney (Jordan) Tyrell of Katy, TX, Chase Henley of Pleasanton, CA, Braxton (Grace) Henley of Conway, AR; great-grandchildren, Harlow and Lazarus Teske of Eden Prairie, MN, Brock and Taya Tyrrell of Katy, TX: and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.
Preceded in death by; Delores Rodine; parents Theodore and Nora Rodine; daughter, Kristie Bartlett; siblings, Marian Peterson, Joleen Shaw
Visitation will be held, Friday, August 8, 2025 at 1:00-7:00 PM at Blase-Strauser Memorial Chapel, 620 10th St. Gothenburg, NE with the family present from 4:00-6:00 PM.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 9, 2025, 11:30 AM at Cornerstone Bible Church, 1721 Lake Ave, Gothenburg, NE, with Pastor Scott Newman officiating.
Burial will follow in the Gothenburg Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the North Platte Honor Guard.
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