James William Phelps

James W. "Bill" Phelps, 97, of Crawford, Nebraska passed away at Chadron Community Hospital on January 30, 2024.

Bill was born in Bellevue, Nebraska on November 18, 1926 to John Orwen Phelps and Signe Emelia (Peterson) Phelps. He was a veteran of the US Navy having served from 1944 to 1946. Bill graduated with a degree in electrical engineering from Iowa State University in 1951. He worked for Bell Laboratories from graduation until his retirement in 1983.Bill was an avid horseman having bred and raised American Quarter Horses for over 4 decades. He was notorious for his passion for the breed and his legacy lives on in the many horses born to Phelps Quarter Horses. He owned ranches in Longmont, Colorado, Hudson Colorado, and Belmont, Nebraska.Bill is survived by his son, John Phelps and daughter-in-law Kate Luby-Phelps of Arlington, Texas, his daughter Kris Phelps of Houston Texas, and his daughter Leigh Koldeway of Firestone, Colorado. He is also survived by his two sisters, four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

Services will be held at a future date.