Aberdeen, South Dakota
Aberdeen: The funeral service for Dr. William “Bill” Taylor, 83, of Aberdeen will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, April 26, 2010, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Aberdeen. Pastor Jeff Whillock will be officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery.
Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.
There will be a prayer service, 7 p.m. Sunday, April 25, 2010, at the mortuary. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Sunday at the mortuary and one hour prior to the service Monday at the church.
Friends may sign online guest book at schriversmemorial.com.
Bill passed away Thursday, April 22, 2010, at the Bethesda Home of Aberdeen.
William Romayne Taylor was born Dec. 13, 1926, to Phineas Romayne and Mildred Almyra (Jacobson) Taylor at Minot, N.D. He was raised in Kenmare, N.D., and graduated from Kenmare High School in 1944. He attended NDSC in Fargo, N.D., for one year and UND in Grand Forks, N.D., for three years, where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He attended the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in medicine in 1949. He then attended medical school at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest College in Winston-Salem, N.C., where he was a member of Phi Sigma Pi Fraternity.
His internship in internal medicine was at the Touro Infirmary in New Orleans, La., where he was recognized as “Intern of the Year” in 1952. His residencies in internal medicine were at St. Luke's Hospital in Fargo, N.D., and Wood VA Center in Milwaukee, Wis. He received his medical licensure in 1958.
Bill and Loyola (Lola) M. Donely married on June 30, 1952, at New Orleans, La. He entered the U.S. Army in 1954, and served in the Korean War. He was a captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps at the time of his honorable discharge in 1962. Lola passed away in October 1974. Bill and Jeanne Grover married on June 13, 1975, in Aberdeen and she passed away in September 1995.
Following his active duty in the Army, Bill and Lola moved in 1958 to Aberdeen, where he started his medical career on the staff at St. Luke's Hospital and in private practice with Dr. Bernie King. He became very active in the medical field and in many community and civic organizations.
He was the founder and medical director of the renal dialysis unit at St. Luke's Hospital from 1975 to 1989 and also the medical director of the ICU. He started the Family Planning Clinic, now Physicians Plaza, in Aberdeen, and served as medical director from 1976 to 1989. He served the community in many capacities, including: the Board of Trustees of St. Luke's Hospital, President of the South Dakota State Medical Association, Vice President of the Board of Trustees of Presentation College, President of the Northern State College Foundation, Governor of the South Dakota Chapter of American College of Physicians, Board of Directors of the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce, President of both the South Dakota Society of Internal Medicine and South Dakota State Medical Association, Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and Board of Directors of Lutheran Social Services.
He was an active member of the National and South Dakota Republican parties and after retiring from medical practice, was elected to the South Dakota State Senate, serving two terms. He was a member of the Sidney L. Smith post of the American Legion, and a founding member of the Sons of Norway Lodge 1-578. He was a life member of the American College of Physicians, recipient of the Sertoma Club's Service to Mankind Award and was recognized for holding his South Dakota Medical License for 50 years.
Bill is survived by two sons, William “Bill” R. (Roberta N.) Taylor, of Bethel, Conn., and Armour F. “Frank” (Susan K.) Grover, of White Bear Lake, Minn.; three daughters, Claire (Doug Sherman) Taylor-Sherman of St. Paul, Minn., Ann L. (Charles Rowe) Taylor, M.D., of Charleston, S.C., and Carolyn G. (Craig) Schaunaman, of Aberdeen, S.D.; one sister, Ann L. Konetzki, of Mesa, Ariz.; and seven grandchildren, George Donely “Jake” Sherman, William Taylor, Loyola Taylor, Justine Rowe, William Rowe, Emma Schaunaman and Samuel Schaunaman; and his dear friend, Jeanette Anderson.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; both wives; Jeanne's daughter, Sandi; and granddaughter, Jaclyn Taylor.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to University of South Dakota School of Medicine, Bethlehem Lutheran Church or NSU Foundation, W.R. Taylor Scholarship Fund.
This obituary was originally published in the Aberdeen American News.
I used to visit with Bill about every month. It was always a joy to talk with him. he would invite a friend of mine and myself in and show us his nice rug and bible. My name is Renee Walker, and I am one of Jehovah's wittneses that he was so kind as to speak with. He was well in his church but was always open to disscus the magazines and bible topics. He was a great guy!
Renee Walker
May 09, 2010 | Aberdeen, SD
Bill was a gentleman,a fine neighbor, and a good and giving citizen who contributed much to his comunity. Aberdeen will miss him!
Joe Siegel
April 29, 2010 | Phoenix, AZ
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Dr. Taylor. Dr. Taylor had much in his life to be thankful for - a life well lived, as well as, the fine character that he witnessed in his children, grandchildren, and other family members. I have the pleasure of working with Dr. Ann Taylor. Dr. Bill Taylor must have felt great satisfaction that Ann is not only an outstanding physician, but also a wonderful mother and wife and cherished friend to many. My deepest sympathy to...
Marsha Salisbury
April 28, 2010 | Charleston, SC
Sincere sympathy to the family of Dr. Willian Taylor. As a St Lukes graduate many years ago and having had the privilege of working on occasion for this kind and caring physician I am very greatful. God's Blessing.
Lois Swain
April 26, 2010 | Brentford, SD
Dr. Taylor, as he will always be to me, will be a missed gentleman on this earth. I am a "PC grad" of 1973 and worked closely with him in the ICU at the original St. Luke's. He was my health care mentor and became a friend and eventual skiing buddy in Vail, Colorado.....along with some other friends from PC/St. Luke's that loved the sport. I will cherish how our friendship evolved and how we kept in touch through all those years, if only at Christmas time.
Jane Swanhorst-Ringolsby
April 26, 2010 | Cheyenne, WY
My thoughts and prayers are with you today, in bidding farewell to your Father. I worked with Dr. Taylor at the hospital and at the Family Planning clinic. He was a highly respected physician in our community, and a true gentleman. We had fabulous discussions and he always stopped to say hello and remembered my family. My Father was one of his first dialysis patients and Dr. Taylor was so considerate. He will be missed.
LuAnn Myhre
April 26, 2010 | Aberdeen, SD
Farewell to a great gentleman. He will be missed by all.
David Laustsen
April 25, 2010 | Doylestown, PA
My thoughts and prayers to the Taylor family - such good memories of your family when I lived in Aberdeen and my parents (Don and Marion Hayes) were friends with Bill and his family.
Barb Hayes (Gilbert, Arizona)
April 25, 2010
I have so many good memories of Bill during the early 60's as part of our circle of friends. I am so sorry to hear of his death. Jeanette - -words fail, I wish I could give you a hug.
Pat Booker
April 25, 2010 | Mesa, AZ
