William Edward Lane Jr., age 83 of Bison, passed away on Sunday, September 28, 2008 at Western Horizons Care Center in Hettinger.


The Memorial Service for Bill will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, October 6, 2008 at the First Presbyterian Church in Bison. Florence Hoff will officiate with inurnment in the Bison Cemetery.


Special music will be provided by Joyce Aukland, organist and the First Presbyterian Church Choir.


All A.A. members and Bill's card playing coffee friends are considered honorary bearers.


WILLIAM EDWARD LANE JR. was born July 12, 1925 at home in Cash Township, SD to William and Helen (Prior) Lane. He attended grade school in a sod school house at Cash and graduated from Hettinger High School. On November 12, 1945, he was united in marriage to Audrey Leatherberry. They lived in a two room house they had built next to his parents sod house. There they started a family that grew to four children, Tim, Carol, Laurie, and Peggy. They eventually built a new house about four miles from the homestead. Bill was very active in community affairs. He was on the board of directors for the Cash Telephone Company, Bison Grain Company, West River Hettinger Hospital, Cash Township, and West River Telephone Company. He was recognized by the National Telephone Company Association for his long term service to the telephone industry. He received the "Outstanding Young Farmer of American" award from the Farmers Union, and was a community committee man for the USDA Agriculture Department.


Bill was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Bison and held many offices. Bills strength was tested when he lost his left arm in a farming accident. His determination to overcome the adjustments he had to make was realized by his family and friends.


Bill took over the farm after his father retired. He and his son Tim farmed until Tim's death in 1975. A few years later, it was decided to form a corporation to combine three farms, his farm, Carol and Bob Sperle's farm, and Greg and Peggy Fried's farm. The corporation was named "Cash Hill Ranch."


Bill loved sports and played baseball as a young man for the Lodgepole and Strool teams. He was an avid Minnesota Twins and Denver Broncos fan. Because of his love of baseball, as he started having great-grandchildren, he had a dream of creating his own team with the great-grandchildren as its players. He waited a few years and finally had enough to create his team. His beloved team was named, "The Cash Hill Rascals."


Following his retirement, Bill kept active helping on the farm whenever possible, especially with the swathing, and playing cards with his long-time friends. As a hobby, he enjoyed making wire figures for his friends and family.


Bill was very active in Alcoholics Anonymous and drew strength from helping others.


Bill he survived by his wife of 63 years, Audrey, Bison; 2 daughters and sons-in-law, Peggy and Greg Fried, Lodgepole, SD; Laurie and Richard Fournier, Marlborough, MA; 11 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren, Kimberly (Lane) Brad Martin, their children, Kolbianna and Aiden; Clint (Calley) Sperle, their children, Isaiah, Elijah, and Mica; Deneal Sperle; Candice (Fournier) Tony Petruzzelli; their children, Cameron, Dominic, Devin; Joe Fournier, his children, Tyler and Noah; Mike Fournier; Chris (Mary) Fried, their children, Noah, Ellie, Simon, and Peter; SGT. Scott Fried; Teresa (Fried) Dan Sherrill, their children, Abby and Sam; Dorinda Haugen and friends, Rita and Isabella, Eric Haugen, Diane, Rich, Tony, and Sherry Fournier; and a sister-in-law, Lucille Lane, Northridge, CA.


Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Timothy Lane, his daughter and son-in-law, Carol and Robert Sperle; 2 brothers, Earl Lane and Raymond Lane.