Bradley Winter

Bradley Ayres Dickson Winter was born Nov. 16, 1949, to Jean Baker Dickson and Russell Dickson in Lincoln, Neb.  He grew up in the family home hand-built by his grandfather, and lived in a multi-generational family. He attended Prescott Elementary School, Irving Junior High School and Lincoln High School. Brad enjoyed an active high school career, playing football, wrestling, and serving as a National Honor Society member. He was an Eagle Scout.

Professionally, Brad was a registered respiratory therapist. He was pleased to be an inaugural member of the first mobile heart team in Lincoln stationed out of Bryan Memorial Hospital.  His love of travel and adventure led him to move to Alaska, where he continued his RT work.

He worked at Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage and specialized in neonatal care. His Alaska wilderness adventures were a bit daring. He would go camping and climbing in the winter in Denali National Park.

One of his greatest adventures was a six-week solo kayak and camping trip along the Alaskan coast.  Further adventures lured him to work as a traveling RRT and in this role he worked from coast to coast in many hospitals.

While working at Bryan Hospital, Brad met Kristine Ina Winter, his future life partner. They parted ways and reconnected in 1993 and were married May 31 in Hot Springs, S.D. The couple lived in Lincoln for several years before moving to Ainsworth, Neb., and eventually Norfolk, Neb., as they followed Ina’s career path in civil engineering. Both Brad and Ina were active in martial arts and established schools in Lincoln and Ainsworth.

Retirement brought them to the Black Hills of South Dakota in 2013, where Brad could pursue his interest in hiking, camping and the outdoors. He loved to travel and was always up for a new adventure. Other interests were reading, current affairs, fine dining and his beautiful house plants. Brad was finally able to complete his goal of a college education while in Norfolk. He graduated from Wayne State College with a bachelor’s degree in finance.

Brad had a refined sense of justice and was keenly aware of suffering in the world and would ask all of us to do what we can to lessen suffering of any kind. Something as simple and easy as a stranger’s smile can mean a world of difference in the right situation.

Bradley, athlete, scholar, and outdoorsman, was killed in a motorcycle crash July 21, 2020. He was just 17 miles from home and enjoyed a beautiful ride on a beautiful day. He was 70.

Preceding Brad in death were his parents and his four-legged companions Susie, Gus, Duke, Cassie, Cooper and Calvin.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Ina Winter; brother, Rodman (Grace) Dickson of Castro Valley, Calif.; nephews, Bradley (Anne le Gouil) and Kevin Dickson, all of northern California; great-niece, Charlotte Nicole Dickson; in-laws, mother Phyllis Winter of Lincoln, brothers David (Terri) Winter of Lincoln and Jim Winter of Missoula, Mont.; uncle and aunt David and Laura Batchelor of Hot Springs; nephews Tom (Amber) Winter of Lincoln, Brian (CJ) Winter of Omaha, Neb., and niece Angie Winter of Missoula;  great nieces Aubrey, Riley, and Lydia Winter of Lincoln and Samantha Winter of Omaha; great-nephews Cade and Myles Fowlkes of Missoula and Travis Winter of Omaha; and loving companion, Hughie.

We are respecting Brad’s wishes for no final service.  Memorials may be directed to the Capitol Humane Society in Lincoln or to an animal shelter, rescue or charity of your choice.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of Chamberlain McColley’s Funeral Home in Hot Springs.