Galen Lynn Bridenstine, 71, of Turpin, Okla., went to be home with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
He was born to Glen and Thelma (Wilkerson) Bridenstine on Jan. 16, 1951, in Liberal, Kan.
He married Janet Morrison. They had two sons, Ryan Neil and Clint Wade.
He married Roberta Love on July 27, 1979. They had two children, Keith Alan and Tina Marie.
He graduated from Turpin High School in 1970 and attended college at Oklahoma State University.
After college, he moved back home to work full time with his dad on the farm. Over the course of the next several decades, he continued to work on the farm while also holding many other jobs to supplement the dry times. Those jobs included multiple times at National Beef Packing Plant, Mitchell’s Roustabout and Conestoga Ethanol. He always joked about being the first person to retire from Conestoga and being the oldest person working there.
Galen loved being a husband, father, grandfather, uncle and a great friend to anyone who needed one.
His children leaned on him throughout many mechanical and life emergencies or just when they needed guidance. His daughters-in-law meant as much to him as his children and were immediately members of the family.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing and taking his family on lake trips.
Growing up, his mother played a significant role in his life, always there with a warm meal or pie and comfort when he needed it.
He cherished the time he spent working with his Uncle Oscar Wilhoit on the family farm, and later building the foundations of Bridenstine Farms, Inc. alongside his best friend, his father. He and his dad expanded the farm and established a hog barn operation.
He was proud to serve alongside his father as class action representatives in a successful lawsuit against the oil companies, helping ensure mineral rights owners in Texas and Beaver counties recuperated part of the money that was due to them.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Merle Bridenstine.
He is survived by his wife: Roberta, of Turpin; three sons and one daughter: Ryan and wife, Brenda, of Enid, Okla., Clint and wife, Jennifer, of Summerdale, Ala., Keith and wife Amy of Tyrone, Okla., and Tina of Shawnee, Okla.; nine grandchildren: Garrett, Kyler, Carson, Jillian, Jesse, Jackson, Jaci, Gage, and Callen; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and other family.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at Miller Mortuary in Liberal, Kan.
Celebration of life services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at First Southern Baptist Church in Liberal with burial to follow at Union Center Cemetery near Adams, Okla.
In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Turpin Volunteer Fire Department.
Friends may leave condolences to the family through Galen’s tribute web page at www.millermortuary.net
