Willard D. Stone was born October 19, 1932 in Adrian, MI to John and Eatha (Peavy) Stone. He grew up during the Great Depression in Toledo, Ohio. His family lost their home in the Depression. He would recount how they had to stand in food lines for their food. Willard attended an industrial arts high school in Toledo where he studied music, art, and drafting.

He initially attended Olivet Nazarene College and then transferred to Marion College (Indiana Wesleyan University). It was at Marion College where he met his future wife Beatrice Beckman. They were married July 26, 1955 in Prairie City, SD.

They initially lived in Marion, IN until Willard graduated in 1956. They moved to South Dakota after Willard's college graduation. They lived in Sturgis and Ipswich, SD where Willard taught music. They moved to Mandan, ND in 1958 where he initially taught at the state reform school. He then drove the Morton County bookmobile. While in Mandan, Willard answered God's call to the ministry. Their family moved across the river to Bismarck in 1963 where Willard pastored the Wesleyan Methodist Church in Bismarck and Almont, ND. From Bismarck, Willard moved to Mission, SD then to Belle Fourche, SD (Sundance, WY) and then to Avon, SD. He pastored the Wesleyan Church in each of these locations. . He was ordained by the Wesleyan Church in 1976. While in Avon, SD he started to take courses for hospital chaplain. He started part time chaplain work at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, SD. He felt God leading him more and more into the role of hospital chaplain. He went full time as chaplain in 1993. He retired from Avera Sacred Heart in 2008 after 15 years as a hospital and hospice chaplain. After retirement Willard and Beatrice moved to Colton, SD to be closer to family.

Willard loved art, especially oil painting and drawing. Willard played the violin and he loved to sing. He was heard by nursing staff singing in the night through his last weeks. He had a keen sense of humor and a quick wit. Willard was a man of prayer and many turned to him knowing he would pray earnestly for their needs. Willard loved reading scripture alone and with his Beatrice. Willard loved well.

Willard passed from this life on Wednesday morning, November 19, 2014 at the Quality Care Health Center in Lebanon, TN.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife of 59 plus years Beatrice (Beckman) Stone of Lebanon, TN, 2 sons Jonathan (Cynthia) Stone of Mount Juliet, TN and Daniel (Pam) Stone of Saginaw, MI; 9 grandchildren Jared, Jenna, Sara, Jordan (Eden), Rachel, Isaac, Zachary, Abigail, and Benjamin ; 1 step granddaughter Mercedes Schuler; 3 great grandsons Travis, Devin, and Edward; his sister Carolyn Stone of Toledo, OH; and several nieces and nephews.


Willard was preceded in death by his parents John and Eatha (Peavey) Stone, his sister Barbara (Stone) Gray, and a nephew Tom Gray.

The memorial service for Willard will be held at 10:30am on Saturday, December 6, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church in Yankton, SD. The Graveside Service was held at 2:00pm, Saturday, November 22, 2014 at the Prairie City Cemetery at Prairie City, SD.