William "Bill" Deere was born Nov. 12, 1925 in Granville Township of Kittson County, Minnesota to Leo and Beatrice (Johnson) Deere.
He attended local schools and enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. While in the Navy Bill trained as a deep sea diver and served on several ships including the USS Stormes and the USS Douglas. Bill served in many U.S. Theaters of operation during WWII, including the Philippine Liberation.
On Oct. 12, 1947 he married Verneita Lucas. In 1950 they moved to California where Bill worked for San Jose Fence. While in California Bill became involved in drag racing, building engines and racing at Northern California tracks. In 1969 Bill and Wendall Peterson started their own fencing company in Seattle, Wash. He retired in 1987 and returned to Hallock in 1997. Bill remained active in retirement doing farm work for his nephews, John and Jeff Deere.
Bill was a devoted Ford driver and remembered a wealth of information about every model the company manufactured. Even at 83 years old he continued to restore and work on old Fords. Bill was a member of the Hallock Eagles Club.
Family members include a son, Michael (Martha) Deere, Sandy, Ore.; six grandchildren; and many nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Theresa; two brothers, Jack and Bob; and a sister, Virginia.
Funeral services were May 8, 2009, 7 p.m. in the Austin-Hughes Funeral Home at Hallock.
Kathy Levenhagen, presided; Renee Ryden, organist and Eric Finney, soloist.
Pallbearers were Jack Deere, Joel Deere, Nathan Younggren, Gabriel Deere, Matt Przekwas and Matthew Anderson.
Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery, Hallock.
Military honors were accorded by the Hallock American Legion.
William "Bill" Deere was born Nov. 12, 1925 in Granville Township of Kittson County, Minnesota to Leo and Beatrice (Johnson) Deere.
He attended local schools and enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. While in the Navy Bill trained as a deep sea diver and served on several ships including the USS Stormes and the USS Douglas. Bill served in many U.S. Theaters of operation during WWII, including the Philippine Liberation.
On Oct. 12, 1947 he married Verneita Lucas. In 1950 they moved to California where Bill worked for San Jose Fence. While in California Bill became involved in drag racing, building engines and racing at Northern California tracks. In 1969 Bill and Wendall Peterson started their own fencing company in Seattle, Wash. He retired in 1987 and returned to Hallock in 1997. Bill remained active in retirement doing farm work for his nephews, John and Jeff Deere.
Bill was a devoted Ford driver and remembered a wealth of information about every model the company manufactured. Even at 83 years old he continued to restore and work on old Fords. Bill was a member of the Hallock Eagles Club.
Family members include a son, Michael (Martha) Deere, Sandy, Ore.; six grandchildren; and many nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Theresa; two brothers, Jack and Bob; and a sister, Virginia.
Funeral services were May 8, 2009, 7 p.m. in the Austin-Hughes Funeral Home at Hallock.
Kathy Levenhagen, presided; Renee Ryden, organist and Eric Finney, soloist.
Pallbearers were Jack Deere, Joel Deere, Nathan Younggren, Gabriel Deere, Matt Przekwas and Matthew Anderson.
Interment was in Greenwood Cemetery, Hallock.
Military honors were accorded by the Hallock American Legion.
Family Members
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