William 'Bill' Dale Stevenson

William 'Bill' Dale Stevenson

Feb. 18, 1940 - Jan. 19, 2013

LARAMIE, Wyoming -- On Jan. 19, 2013, William "Bill" Dale Stevenson passed away in Laramie, Wyoming, after a long battle with COPD.

Bill was born to Carl William and Fern Olive Stevenson on Feb. 18, 1940, in Falls City, Nebraska. He was the youngest of five children and grew up in and graduated from Palisade, Nebraska.

Bill was a jack-of-all-trades, working mainly in construction. He dabbled in painting and rebuilding cars and custom upholstery as side jobs for family, friends and others. After moving to Milton-Freewater, Oregon, he worked as an in-home care provider. Bill's friendly, out-going personality and gift-of-gab were assets as he worked with his clients. Upon retirement, he and his wife Roberta "Bert" relocated to Medicine Bow, Wyoming.

Bill had many passions. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was extremely proud of the catfish that filled a bathtub from end to end and side to side, that he'd pulled up from the bottom of the some sandpits near McCook, Nebraska. Because of his gift-of-gab, he made sure everyone saw it before it was cleaned. Bill's favorite time of the year was the growing season. He loved to garden. Tomatoes and peppers were his specialty. After harvest, the real work of creating and canning consumed his time.

Preceding Bill in death were his parents, sister, Wanda Needham, grandson, Eric Sailors, and stepson, Jay Conner.

He is survived by his wife, Roberta; sisters, Martha Lawless and husband, Bill, June Ratz and husband, Lester, Phyllis Kesler; daughter, Jeneize; son, Carl and wife, Jodi; step-daughters, Dori Cooper and husband, Starling and Mary Bohl; step-son, Gary Connor and wife, Starla; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for William "Bill" Stevenson will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Palisade, Nebraska, on June 1, 2013, at 3 p.m.