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: 01/11/2025
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