Published September 22, 2008 in the Albany Democrat Herald
Willard "Bill" Ivan Bodtker, 83, of Albany died Friday at his home.
He was born in Eugene to Andrew "Andy" and Margaret Daugherty Bodtker. He attended schools in Terrebonne and Redmond.
In his youth Bill rode bareback broncs and bulls on the rodeo circuit. He raised thoroughbred horses on "Green Acres" farm for over 20 years.
Bill served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Bill and Lois Hermansen were married in 1949 in Askov, Minn. They had three children, Katherine, Nancy and John. Lois died in 1980, and John preceded his father in death in 1994.
Bill received his Bachelor of Legal Science degree from the University of Nebraska in 1950 and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Washington in 1952.
He was admitted to the Oregon Bar in 1953, and was a charter member of the Linn County Bar Association. Bill served as an Albany Municipal Judge from 1955 to 1961. He practiced law in Albany for 43 years before retiring in 1996.
Bill married Bonnie Kenyon at Providence Church in 1993.
Bill had total confidence in his Savior, Jesus Christ, to whom he surrendered his life in 1970. Bill provided Christian counsel and guidance to many, also opening his home and office to those in need. He was an active member of Gideons International and an Elder at New Life Center (now Oak Creek Christian Center). He went to Honduras at 80 years of age on a mission trip with World Wide Crusades through Oak Creek. He taught Sunday school for many years.
Bill was instrumental in bringing Teen Challenge - a Christian drug rehabilitation program - to Oregon in the 1980s. He served as associate chaplain at Samaritan Albany General Hospital; worked in prison ministries, including the "Free on the Inside" ministry; and worked with the "Home for Good" adoption program and Meals on Wheels. Willard helped bring Love Inc. to Linn County, was a founding director of the Albany Healing Rooms, was active in the Albany Woodpeckers, was president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, was active in the Timber Carnival and served as announcer for several years. He served on the Linn County Housing Authority, and was president of Albany Helping Hands Ministry at one time. He was also active in the St. Mary's Soup Kitchen, serving as president for several years.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Bodtker of Albany; daughters Dr. Kathryn Foster of Fort Worth, Texas, and Nancy Houston and husband Ron of Arlington, Texas; step-daughters Kathleen Newman and husband Jim of Albany, Tracie Kenyon and husband Eddie of Helena, Mont., Kelly Polsin and husband Tim of Bremerton, Wash., and Trisha Russnogle and husband Richard of Albany; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brothers David Bodtker of Portland and Pete Bodtker of Junction City; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Don Bodtker.
There will be a memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday at the First Assembly of God.
Willard "Bill" Ivan Bodtker, 83, of Albany died Friday at his home.
He was born in Eugene to Andrew "Andy" and Margaret Daugherty Bodtker. He attended schools in Terrebonne and Redmond.
In his youth Bill rode bareback broncs and bulls on the rodeo circuit. He raised thoroughbred horses on "Green Acres" farm for over 20 years.
Bill served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Bill and Lois Hermansen were married in 1949 in Askov, Minn. They had three children, Katherine, Nancy and John. Lois died in 1980, and John preceded his father in death in 1994.
Bill received his Bachelor of Legal Science degree from the University of Nebraska in 1950 and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Washington in 1952.
He was admitted to the Oregon Bar in 1953, and was a charter member of the Linn County Bar Association. Bill served as an Albany Municipal Judge from 1955 to 1961. He practiced law in Albany for 43 years before retiring in 1996.
Bill married Bonnie Kenyon at Providence Church in 1993.
Bill had total confidence in his Savior, Jesus Christ, to whom he surrendered his life in 1970. Bill provided Christian counsel and guidance to many, also opening his home and office to those in need. He was an active member of Gideons International and an Elder at New Life Center (now Oak Creek Christian Center). He went to Honduras at 80 years of age on a mission trip with World Wide Crusades through Oak Creek. He taught Sunday school for many years.
Bill was instrumental in bringing Teen Challenge - a Christian drug rehabilitation program - to Oregon in the 1980s. He served as associate chaplain at Samaritan Albany General Hospital; worked in prison ministries, including the "Free on the Inside" ministry; and worked with the "Home for Good" adoption program and Meals on Wheels. Willard helped bring Love Inc. to Linn County, was a founding director of the Albany Healing Rooms, was active in the Albany Woodpeckers, was president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, was active in the Timber Carnival and served as announcer for several years. He served on the Linn County Housing Authority, and was president of Albany Helping Hands Ministry at one time. He was also active in the St. Mary's Soup Kitchen, serving as president for several years.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Bodtker of Albany; daughters Dr. Kathryn Foster of Fort Worth, Texas, and Nancy Houston and husband Ron of Arlington, Texas; step-daughters Kathleen Newman and husband Jim of Albany, Tracie Kenyon and husband Eddie of Helena, Mont., Kelly Polsin and husband Tim of Bremerton, Wash., and Trisha Russnogle and husband Richard of Albany; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brothers David Bodtker of Portland and Pete Bodtker of Junction City; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Don Bodtker.
There will be a memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday at the First Assembly of God.
Published September 22, 2008 in the Albany Democrat Herald
Willard "Bill" Ivan Bodtker, 83, of Albany died Friday at his home.
He was born in Eugene to Andrew "Andy" and Margaret Daugherty Bodtker. He attended schools in Terrebonne and Redmond.
In his youth Bill rode bareback broncs and bulls on the rodeo circuit. He raised thoroughbred horses on "Green Acres" farm for over 20 years.
Bill served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Bill and Lois Hermansen were married in 1949 in Askov, Minn. They had three children, Katherine, Nancy and John. Lois died in 1980, and John preceded his father in death in 1994.
Bill received his Bachelor of Legal Science degree from the University of Nebraska in 1950 and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Washington in 1952.
He was admitted to the Oregon Bar in 1953, and was a charter member of the Linn County Bar Association. Bill served as an Albany Municipal Judge from 1955 to 1961. He practiced law in Albany for 43 years before retiring in 1996.
Bill married Bonnie Kenyon at Providence Church in 1993.
Bill had total confidence in his Savior, Jesus Christ, to whom he surrendered his life in 1970. Bill provided Christian counsel and guidance to many, also opening his home and office to those in need. He was an active member of Gideons International and an Elder at New Life Center (now Oak Creek Christian Center). He went to Honduras at 80 years of age on a mission trip with World Wide Crusades through Oak Creek. He taught Sunday school for many years.
Bill was instrumental in bringing Teen Challenge - a Christian drug rehabilitation program - to Oregon in the 1980s. He served as associate chaplain at Samaritan Albany General Hospital; worked in prison ministries, including the "Free on the Inside" ministry; and worked with the "Home for Good" adoption program and Meals on Wheels. Willard helped bring Love Inc. to Linn County, was a founding director of the Albany Healing Rooms, was active in the Albany Woodpeckers, was president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, was active in the Timber Carnival and served as announcer for several years. He served on the Linn County Housing Authority, and was president of Albany Helping Hands Ministry at one time. He was also active in the St. Mary's Soup Kitchen, serving as president for several years.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Bodtker of Albany; daughters Dr. Kathryn Foster of Fort Worth, Texas, and Nancy Houston and husband Ron of Arlington, Texas; step-daughters Kathleen Newman and husband Jim of Albany, Tracie Kenyon and husband Eddie of Helena, Mont., Kelly Polsin and husband Tim of Bremerton, Wash., and Trisha Russnogle and husband Richard of Albany; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brothers David Bodtker of Portland and Pete Bodtker of Junction City; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Don Bodtker.
There will be a memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday at the First Assembly of God.
Willard "Bill" Ivan Bodtker, 83, of Albany died Friday at his home.
He was born in Eugene to Andrew "Andy" and Margaret Daugherty Bodtker. He attended schools in Terrebonne and Redmond.
In his youth Bill rode bareback broncs and bulls on the rodeo circuit. He raised thoroughbred horses on "Green Acres" farm for over 20 years.
Bill served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
Bill and Lois Hermansen were married in 1949 in Askov, Minn. They had three children, Katherine, Nancy and John. Lois died in 1980, and John preceded his father in death in 1994.
Bill received his Bachelor of Legal Science degree from the University of Nebraska in 1950 and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Washington in 1952.
He was admitted to the Oregon Bar in 1953, and was a charter member of the Linn County Bar Association. Bill served as an Albany Municipal Judge from 1955 to 1961. He practiced law in Albany for 43 years before retiring in 1996.
Bill married Bonnie Kenyon at Providence Church in 1993.
Bill had total confidence in his Savior, Jesus Christ, to whom he surrendered his life in 1970. Bill provided Christian counsel and guidance to many, also opening his home and office to those in need. He was an active member of Gideons International and an Elder at New Life Center (now Oak Creek Christian Center). He went to Honduras at 80 years of age on a mission trip with World Wide Crusades through Oak Creek. He taught Sunday school for many years.
Bill was instrumental in bringing Teen Challenge - a Christian drug rehabilitation program - to Oregon in the 1980s. He served as associate chaplain at Samaritan Albany General Hospital; worked in prison ministries, including the "Free on the Inside" ministry; and worked with the "Home for Good" adoption program and Meals on Wheels. Willard helped bring Love Inc. to Linn County, was a founding director of the Albany Healing Rooms, was active in the Albany Woodpeckers, was president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, was active in the Timber Carnival and served as announcer for several years. He served on the Linn County Housing Authority, and was president of Albany Helping Hands Ministry at one time. He was also active in the St. Mary's Soup Kitchen, serving as president for several years.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie Bodtker of Albany; daughters Dr. Kathryn Foster of Fort Worth, Texas, and Nancy Houston and husband Ron of Arlington, Texas; step-daughters Kathleen Newman and husband Jim of Albany, Tracie Kenyon and husband Eddie of Helena, Mont., Kelly Polsin and husband Tim of Bremerton, Wash., and Trisha Russnogle and husband Richard of Albany; 16 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brothers David Bodtker of Portland and Pete Bodtker of Junction City; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Don Bodtker.
There will be a memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday at the First Assembly of God.
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