Bill Eugene Dexter

Bill E. Dexter, 89, of Grand Island, formerly of Clarks, died Saturday, September 1, 2018 at Good Samaritan Society in Grand Island. Funeral services will be Saturday, September 8, 2018 at Third City Christian Church in Grand Island at 10 a.m. with Pastor Scott Jones officiating. Visitation will be Friday, September 7 from 5-7 pm at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home in Central City. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. in Pierce Chapel Cemetery in Clarks, Nebraska. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com. Billy Eugene Dexter was born February 28, 1929 at the family farm home Northwest of Clarks, Nebraska to Lloyd and Mable (Martin) Dexter. He grew up on the farm and attended Pleasant Hill Country School, through grade school. He graduated from Clarks High School in 1947. He met Marilyn Belle Sweet during high school when her father asked him to drive her to school and they were married on April 11, 1948. Together, Marilyn and Bill farmed north of Clarks and Bill helped his dad on the family farm. Bill worked hard as a farmer for 45 years. In addition, he often took on extra jobs to provide for his growing family. In 1949, the farm was expanded to include 80 acres of sandy, cocklebur-covered, un-irrigated land near Clarks. The water table was 10 feet underground so Bill drilled wells with 3 poles and a cable bucket to bring water to his crops. After that, he often drilled wells for neighbors and others in Merrick and Nance counties. He operated land-leveling equipment for a neighbor for several years to prepare land for irrigation. He and a friend sold DeKalb seed corn for several years, receiving outstanding sales awards for two years in a row. Bill was very friendly and never met a stranger. In fact, it has been said by some that he could strike up a conversation with a fencepost. He learned to dance at “The Old Barn,” and he enjoyed traveling with Marilyn to Europe, Panama, Panama Canal, Hawaii, Alaska and nearly every other state in the U.S. Bill leaves behind an extensive legacy of love in the cherished memories of his wife, Marilyn; his children, Renae (Terry) Schmid of Ogden, UT; Ronda (Bob) Kinsey of Scottsbluff, NE; Randy (Deb) Dexter of Central City, NE; Robin (Don) Hathorne of San Antonio, TX; Ryan (Laura) Dexter of Grand Island, NE; and Royce (Carol) Dexter of Urbandale, IA.; grandchildren, Tandra Schmid (Steve Sand), Trent (Lisa) Schmid, Robert J. (Cory) Kinsey, Jennifer Kinsey, Erin (Coby) Romig, Sarah (Jeff) Tlamka, Anne (Marty) Haas, Joe (Stacey) Dexter, Dan Hathorne, Derek (Avery) Hathorne, Donnie Hathorne (Kathy Sweeney), Dustin (Crystal) Hathorne, Josh (Emily) Dexter, Evan, Lauren, Braden and Alysen Dexter; great-grandchildren, Taryn and Linsey Schmid; Talera, Traven, Maison, and Cameron Kinsey; Kohen and Kaden Romig; Hannah, Abigail, and JosefinaTlamka; Dexter and Jayden Smith; Jered, Jacob, and Eliana Haas; Macie, Maddie, and Noah Dexter; Madison Dexter; Jessica, Devin, Nathan, Silas, and Lydia Hathorne; great-great grandson, William Haas; brother, Harold Dexter; sister-in-law Miriam (Gerald) Truesdell; brother-in-law, Don (Marie) Kuczinski, many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Mable Dexter; sisters, Marion Dexter, and Dorothy Kuczinski; brothers, Robert and Don Dexter; sister-in-law, Lorraine Dexter; two great-grandchildren; Elizabeth and Joseph Tlampka. Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the family.

Bill Eugene Dexter

February 28, 1929 - September 1, 2018