Bill Larrabee

    William Larrabee was born April 11, 1936, to Albert and Frances (Rumpsa) Larrabee in Stockbridge, Michigan. He died Feb. 7, 2018. He was 81 years of age.
    He moved with his parents and two brothers to Henderson in 1939, where they operated the general store and post office. Bill graduated from high school in Brighton as a tall, skinny kid but soon found some guys in a local workout gym, which included his now lifelong friend Bro. Bill Bryan, who spoke at his funeral service.
    Bill worked out hard for the next few years and was a participant in the 1962 Mr. Colorado physique contest — you know, the big, muscular guys in Speedos! He served two years in the Army, but having a sergeant yelling at him wasn’t a very good fit. He yelled back, but still received an honorable discharge.
    In 1959, he married Linda Pickett, also from the Denver area, started his little family and then began farming in 1965 with the prettiest and hardest working lady ever built by God. They grew all manner of produce crops, sugar beets, etc., and expanded the farm until moving to Lamar, Nebraska, in 1973.
    A few twists and turns and several million bushels of corn later, Bill met Merry Hammack from California. They thoroughly enjoyed life for too brief a time before she was lost in a tragic scuba diving accident while on their honeymoon.
    After a painful recovery from Merry’s accident, Bill continued to farm with Sue Alderson, who would become his best friend and co-worker until his most recent move Feb. 7, when his Lord and Savior fixed the old, broken-down back and moved him into his new permanent home in heaven. As entertaining as Bill was, he is surely having the time of his life now!
    Bill was preceded in death by his parents; brother, George; and his wife, Merry.
    Survivors include his son, Joey Larrabee and wife Patty of Piedmont, Oklahoma; stepsons, Paul Hammack of Greenville, South Carolina, and Dan Hammack and wife Annie of Franktown; brother, Bob Larrabee and wife Sandra of Chattanooga, Tennessee; sister-in-law, Joann Larrabee of Englewood; eight grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
    Funeral services were held Feb. 12 at the Berean Church in Imperial, Nebraska, with Bro. Bill Bryan and Pastor Jeff Copes officiating. A private family interment took place at Holyoke Cemetery.
    A memorial has been established to Truckers Christian Chapel Ministries.
    Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com.
    Liewer Funeral Home in Imperial was entrusted with arrangements.