A Mass of Christian Burial for William “Bill” Taylor, age 91, of Worthington, MN were held on Monday, August 20, 2018, at St. Adrian Catholic Church, in Adrian, officiated by Monsignor Richard Colletti. Burial with full military honors provided by the Adrian American Legion was at the St. Adrian Cemetery. William died Thursday, August 16, 2018 in hospice care at Sunset Cottage in Worthington, MN. He was born November 1, 1926 at Adrian, MN, the son of Bryan and Carolyn Taylor. Bill attended St. Adrian School in Adrian MN, where he graduated in 1944. Bill served in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater during WWII, mainly in the Philippines.
Bill met Rita Delanne (Dee) Miller of Rockwell, IA. They married in 1950 at St. Catherine Catholic Church in Luverne, MN and raised 5 children. He farmed with his brothers until 1965 when he purchased a farm near Rushmore, MN. He farmed there until his retirement in 1992. Bill and Dee retired to Worthington, MN and spent winters in Mesa, Az. They most recently lived at the Meadows in Worthington.
Bill played baseball and fast pitch softball in his younger days and after retirement he enjoyed lots of time on the golf course, watching sports, and reading biographies of past Presidents. He also volunteered for the Red Cross and was a member of Kiwanis club. Bill served on the Rushmore elevator board, the zoning board, and was president of Pig Parlors, Inc. one of the first confinement buildings in the area. He loved the land he farmed and consistently read magazines and journals to learn how to be a good steward of it.
William is survived by his wife, Dee Taylor of Worthington, MN. He is also survived by his children and their spouses; Tom, Hopkins, MN; Don (partner Rodrick Fields), Golden Valley, MN; Gary (Diane), Renton, WA; and Mary Beth (Merle) Kriech, Colman, SD; grandchildren Lukas and Allison Taylor, Renton WA; and Taylor Kriech, Colman, SD; his brothers Carroll Taylor and Gene (Marva)Taylor; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his son, Gregory; infant children; Dennis Michael, Kathleen Marie, and David James.
He was preceeded in death by his parents; brothers, Jerry, Earl, Lloyd (Paul), Bryan, James, Robert; his sister, Sister Brian; brother in-law Ken Miller; sisters in-law Lucille, Loraine, Joan, Beverly, and Helen Miller.
The family requests memorials be directed to the MN 4-H Foundation or charity of choice.
Dingmann Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
