William W "Bill" Stevens

William Wayne (Bill) Stevens, 84, died peacefully at Medicalodge Atchison, on October 2, 2025, surrounded by loving family.

A graveside service will be held at Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Saturday October 11, 2025, at 11:30 a.m. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Mt. Vernon Cemetery Tree Trimming Fund and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.

Bill was born on September 19, 1941, the first of six children born to William A. and Lois E. (Hale) Stevens. He attended Fairground District 4 grade school and graduated from Atchison County Community High School in 1959.

Growing up, Bill farmed and raised cattle with his father and grandfather. After graduation, Bill worked at Dannon Feeds and LFM (Bradken) and was later employed at F. P. Gehring Construction for many years. He also served in groundskeeping and maintenance at Mt. St. Scholastica until his retirement.

In 1960, Bill married Dorothy Joan Goehner, but they later divorced. From that union came three daughters: Terri Lynn, Raye Ann, and Kathy Joan. In 1974, Bill married Loretta (Cookie) Goodpasture and had one daughter, Jodi, but they later divorced. A brief marriage to Juanita Montoya followed. In 1984, Bill then married Mary Ballinger and had one son, John William, but they later divorced.

Bill's favorite hobbies and pastimes included being ornery, welding, fishing, shooting guns, and going on country road trips. He often visited a vast array of people and enjoyed keeping his great-grandkids stocked with gummy bears and worms.

Bill is survived by daughters Terri (Scott) Tacey, Atchison, KS; Raye Anne Cluke, Atchison, KS; Kathy Boldridge, Atchison, KS; Jodi Austin, Merriam, IN; sisters Phyllis Fuhrman, Lancaster, KS; Joyce (Joe) Elias, Atchison, KS; JoAnne (Ron) Baker, Atchison, KS; Patty (Steve) Brooks, Atchison, KS; and brother Larry (Gail) Stevens, Atchison, KS. He is also survived by six grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren. Bill is preceded by his parents, son, John Stevens; grandson, Emerson Downing; granddaughter, Sarah Downing; and brother-in-law, Kent Fuhrman.

The family would like to send a special "THANK YOU" to the caring staff at Medicalodge and St. Croix Hospice, who went above and beyond to care for Bill over the last several years.