The Lord called Billy D.  “Bill” Crapson, 78, of Kearney, Neb., to his heavenly home on May 2 at the Saint Francis Medical Center Skilled Care Unit in Grand Island due to complications of Pulmonary Fibrosis.
    Services were held Tuesday, May 8 at the Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney with the Rev. Robert Perry and Pastor Dean Pofahl officiating.  Interment will follow at the Riverside Cemetery in Wauneta, Neb. Visitation was Monday, at O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral Home.  
    Condolences or reflections may be submitted online at www.osrfh.com. Services are entrusted to O’Brien Straatmann Redinger Funeral and Cremation Services.
    Bill was born January 12, 1940 in a two-room house in Wauneta, Neb., that belonged to his grandpa, Greenberry Crapson. Bill was the fifth of six boys, son of Roy Leo and Edith Wilma (Billie) (French) Crapson.
    On May 14, 1961, Alta (Schwasinger) and Bill were married at the Congregational Church in Ogallala, Neb. They were blessed with two daughters, Regina Jo and Rhonda Jayne.
    Bill attended the first grade at Wauneta Grade School and then the family moved northeast of Palisade, Neb.,  where he attended grades two through five. The family moved back to Wauneta and graduated high school in 1957. While a sophomore in high school, he worked part-time at The Wauneta Breeze.  Bill and his brother “Jiggs” purchased The Breeze in 1965.  At that time, the two were the youngest newspaper owners in the state. In 1969, he sold his interest in The Breeze to Jiggs and moved the family to Grand Island where he was employed by Federated Insurance in sales. In 1984, Alta and Bill purchased Flower Evans Insurance Agency in Grand Island. The agency merged with five other insurance agencies in 1988 which became The Insurance Group. The couple moved to Johnson Lake in Elwood, Neb., in 1990. Bill worked for Fasse Valves and continued until his retirement in 2007. Kearney, Nebraska became the couple’s home in 2000.  
    Bill is survived by his wonderful and longtime bride Alta; his daughters Regina (Doug) Somer of Grand Island and Rhonda (David) Theis of Ainsworth, Neb.  Grandchildren cherishing his memory are Kelsey (Adam) Maas, Jonathan Theis, Hannah Rathman, Amanda Theis and Trey Rathman. Brother Frank (Maria) Crapson and sister-in-laws Patricia Crapson and Bev Crapson.
    Bill and Alta enjoyed traveling all over the United States. He also enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s events, UNK sporting events and making Saturday morning pancakes. He loved people and often had a hug and a smile. Truth be told, he liked watching TV, too. He was an active member of the Faith United Methodist Church in Kearney.  
    Bill is preceded in death by his father, Roy Crapson, mother Billie Fanning brothers, Roy, Tom, G.B. “Jiggs” and Jim as well as his sister Jane Molter and infant sister Susan.  
    In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Faith United Methodist Church of Kearney; Chateau Theater, PO Box 211, Wauneta, NE 69045 or Wauneta Community Building, P.O. Box 95, 319 N Tecumseh Ave., Wauneta, NE 69045.