Billy Carrol Peterson, Sr after a 28 year battle of Parkinson’s Disease, got to talk clearly, laugh freely, and walk easily without pain as he met his Lord and Savior on May 7, 2024.
Bill Peterson was born on June 15, 1948 in Alton, Kansas to Carol and Marie Peterson. He grew up as a farmer’s boy spending time at the creek, swimming and fishing. Not being much into sports, he delved into hunting and fishing very young and had a love of the outdoors. He passed these loves onto his children and grandchildren later on.
He attended a rural Alton elementary school, then later Alton Elementary and graduated from Alton High School in 1966. He then graduated from Beloit Vo-tech for Auto Mechanics. One year later, he enrolled in Barclay College in Haviland, Kansas where he quickly met the love of his life, Virginia Carol Arnett. It was love at first sight.
Bill and Virginia were married November 9, 1968 at Pratt Friends Church. They lived in Haviland for three months, before Bill was drafted and served in the Vietnam war in the U.S Army from April 1969 to December 1970.
After being discharged from the Army, they lived in Russell, Kansas where Bill worked as an auto mechanic and ran a wrecker service at night. In 1971, their son, Billy, was born. After moving to Alton in 1973, Bill worked at GT as a Jig builder and then Midway Co-op. In 1977, they welcomed their twin daughters, Carissa and Larissa. After building post rock fence during the day and farming every night for several years, he finally got his dream to be a full time farmer/rancher. To this day, some of the post rock Bill built still stands in Russell County.
Bill loved animals and they loved him. Even his bull would come up to his pick up to be pet. It was a very hard day when Bill had to sell his cattle and pursue other jobs to support his family. He worked at the ASCS office and farm services. He worked at Farm Bureau as a crop adjuster where he traveled all over the state. Everywhere he went, he took the opportunity to share his testimony with other farmers. Due to declining health from his Parkinson’s Disease, he was forced to quit the job he loved, but Bill still continued to farm wheat and milo. His determination and work ethic kept him going in spite of all his complications. He pursued and enjoyed many hobbies of woodworking, machining, welding, gunsmithing, reloading. The list goes on. He was a very gifted and wise man.
Bill loved his family and was proud to be a Papa and a Great Grandpa. He always made sure they all knew he loved them. He prayed for his family every day. He enjoyed reading scripture and weekly bible studies with his son even when his eyesight failed him. He loved Jesus dearly. When asked what he’d want people to know about him, he said, “God was my strength.”
Bill was preceded in death by his grandparents, Loyd and Mildred Peterson and his parents, Carol and Marie Peterson. He is survived by two brothers, Ron and JoAnn Peterson, Dennis Peterson and Sandy; his wife, Virginia Peterson; their kids, son Billy and Julie Peterson, daughter Carissa and Ryan Staley, daughter Larissa and Matthew Lies; grandchildren Anna, Xandalia, Dillon, Elijah, Madilyn, Ean, and Ethan; great grandchildren, Evelyn, Emmy, and Solomon.
He was dearly loved by all who knew him and will be greatly missed in this world.