BERNARDO SANDOVAL JR.

Bernardo Candelaria Sandoval Jr., 75, of Salem, passed away on Thursday, March 3, 2016. He was born on Feb. 20, 1941, in Valencia County, New Mexico to Bernardo Sr. Bill and Fidela (Candelaria) Sandoval.  
Bernardo was raised in Samintao, New Mexico where he attended school through the 8th grade. He then worked training pack horses for cattle drives to help support his family. In his earlier years, Bernardo was a bull rider in Albuquerque, NM. before moving to Shubert, NE with a friend around 1965.     
In 1970, Bernardo met Viola Murphy and the couple were later united in marriage on Aug. 12,1974.  They lived in Shubert for the first part of their marriage before moving to Rock Port, MO for a short time eventually making their homestead in Stella. Bernardo worked for IBP meat packing plant in Rock Port, for most of his life until he retired from Excel in Nebraska City. Bernardo loved bull riding, fishing, sitting in the yard watching his birds, visiting family and friends, and listening to music. He would always finish by saying, “Be safe and God bless.”
Bernardo is survived by his sister Bences Keeney of Fort Lupton, CO; step-children: Tammy (Don) Berner of Stella; Kathy Lippold and David Jorn of Verdon; Tom (Pat) Phroper of Roy, NM; Laurie Young; Robert Phroper, both of Salem; Sally (Mark) Fleskoski of Falls City; Allen (Angie) Phroper of Falls City; and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife Viola Murphy.
A Celebration of Bernardo’s Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at 218 W. Cromwell ST., in Salem, with Father Thomas Dunavan officiating.
Inurnment will be at the Maple Cemetery in Salem, Nebraska.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the family’s choice with a later designation.