More detail on this person: William W. (Bill)
Farmer was born on January 13, 1942 in Clinton,
Missouri, to Wallace E. (Jr.) and Alice B.
(Johnson) Farmer. Bill attended 1st-7th grades at
Washington School in Clinton. The Farmers moved
to Osceola, Missouri, where Bill graduated in
1960.
On August 20, 1962 Bill married Marilyn Kay
Stephens in Osceola at his parents' house. They
moved to Springfield and attended Southwest
Missouri State where Bill graduated with a history
degree. After graduation, Bill taught school for
two years at Rogersville, Missouri. In 1966 Bill
joined the United States Army. He attended
Officer`s Candidate School at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
He transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia, as a 2nd
Lieutenant. While in Georgia, their first born
son, William Christopher, was born in 1968.
Shortly after, he attended Flight School in Fort
Hood, Texas. Bill deployed to Vietnam in June
1969. He was shot down while flying a Cobra
helicopter in September of 1969. He spent three
years recovering at Fitzsimons Army Hospital in
Denver, Colorado. During their stay in Colorado,
second son Michael Phillip was born in 1971. Bill
was medically retired from the military as a
Captain in 1972.
Upon his return to Missouri, Bill headed back to
school and earned his Master's degree in Guidance
and Counseling from SMS in Springfield. He worked
as a counselor at the Cox School of Nursing for a
few years and then took a job with Disability
Determination for the Social Security
Administration office in Springfield.
Bill's true passion was to run a newspaper. The
printer's ink became a part of him while working
at the local paper shop during his High School
years. In 1978, Bill and Marilyn had the
opportunity to purchase both the St. Clair County
Courier and the Appleton City Journal. This
purchase brought Bill back to his High School
stomping grounds and the family back to Osceola
to live. Due to a brief illness he sold these two
papers and taught for two years at Lakeland High
School. Then the black and white print drew him
back in. Nephew Will Johnson called and asked if
he wanted back in the business. Bill and Marilyn
purchased the Atchison County Mail in 1984 and is
still run by the family today. Marilyn passed away
on May 31, 2001.
In 2003, Bill was blessed with a 2nd love. He
married Sue Ellen Badberg on June 6, 2003. Sue
spent countless hours making sure that Bill had
the love and care that he needed daily. She gave
him the will to continue even when he thought he
couldn't go on. Bill loved his family and enjoyed
taking in as many school events and activities of
his boys and grandchildren as he could. Bill was a
member of the American Legion Ralph Greer Post
#49, Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Association,
Northwest Missouri Press Association and the
Missouri Press Association.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his
wife Marilyn, sister, Emily Johnson Stone, his
brother Robert Johnson and sister-in-law Catherine
Johnson. Bill is survived by his wife, Sue; son
W.C. and wife Shauna; son Mike and wife Lisa, all
of Rock Port; step daughter Deanna Campbell and
husband Larry of Nebraska City, Nebraska, step
son Will Badberg of San Antonio, Texas,
grandchildren; Wm. Chandler, Kaleigh, Makenna
and Holden Farmer, and Jason Cook all of Rock
Port, Devon Cropp and Brittney Cropp of Nebraska
City; Andrew Duck and William T. Badberg of San
Antonio; great granddaughter Zailynn Cook of Rock
Port; nieces, nephews and many friends. Bill
passed away on January 1, 2015 at Community
Hospital-Fairfax in Fairfax, Missouri at the age
of 72.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, January
11 from 1 -2 p.m. at the Atchison County Memorial
Building in Rock Port. Service conducted by Rev.
Rodney Hopper will follow at 2 p.m. Military rites
are under the auspices of The United States Army.
The family will hold a private inurnment at a
later date. Memorials may be directed to Ralph
Greer American Legion Post #49 or Rock Port R-II
School District. Online obituaries and condolences
at www.minterfuneralchapels.com ~Services under
the direction of Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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