Wilbur Raymond “Bill” Lang was born to George Wilbur Lang and Ora Iola (Miller) Lang in Shenandoah, Iowa on April 18, 1929. Bill attended school in Shenandoah, Iowa, graduating in 1947. After school, he was employed in Shenandoah at various jobs in a creamery and gas station and was a park mechanic at Yellowstone National Park before entering the Army in January 1951. During his active duty, he was stationed at Junction City, Kansas and Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, Maryland before serving his country in Korea. While in Korea, he served as company clerk and was also trained to repair watches for servicemen.

Before he was sent to Korea for the war, he married Ruth Maxine Laumann on August 1, 1951. After the war, they lived in Rock Port for six months where Bill was employed by the State of Missouri Highway Department. In May 1953, they moved to the current farm where he and Maxine raised their family and enjoyed farming until he retired.

He was elected to the IAMO Telephone board in 1975 and served as secretary for 28 years. He and Maxine have been members of St. John’s Lutheran Church where they have both been active members through the years, serving on church council and volunteering. They both volunteered at Garden View Rest Home and at the Food Pantry in Tarkio. They have enjoyed many years of attending square dances. Bill enjoyed playing and taking care of his grandchildren and attending their school and sports functions. He also loved his great grandchildren.

Bill is survived by his wife of 73 years, Maxine; their children, Brenda (Michael) Reeves of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, Sharon (Ed) Jackson of Frankford, Missouri, Joyce (Robin) Pierson of Richland Center, Wisconsin, and Bruce (JoAnne) Lang of Tarkio, Missouri. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, Jeffrey Gordon, Julia (Leonard) Steinkopf, Dennis Schleusner (Ashley Vanliew), Lori (Matt) Hill, Scott (Whitney) Jackson, Eric Pierson (Milena Mundim), Jill (Bob) Berglin, Erin (Michael) Starks, Jordan (Elizabeth) Pierson, Kevin Lang, John (Nicole) Lang, and Melissa Lang (Griffin Smith) as well as 26 great grandchildren. He is survived by two brothers, Don (Marilyn) Lang and Ron (Barbara) Lang. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Jerry Lang and Tom Lang, his sister, Linda Hopkins; and his granddaughter, Heather Gordon.

Bill was a rock in the family. Beginning with his role as the eldest child he earned the respect of his siblings at an early age. He will be greatly missed by family and friends and was known wherever he went for his smile and kindness.

Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M., Saturday, April 5, 2025, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Westboro, Missouri.

Open visitation beings 10:00 A.M., Friday, April 4, Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio, where the family will receive friends from 6:00-7:00 P.M.,

Interment: St. John’s Cemetery, Westboro.

Memorials: Three Rivers Hospice or Tarkio Food Pantry.

Arrangements: Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio.

www.minterfuneralchapels.com