Willis M. (Bill) Lawson, age 85, of Faribault and formerly of Albert Lea, died on Friday, Oct. 17, 2008, at the St. Lucas Care Center in Faribault.
Willis Miars Lawson was born to Louise (Clayton) and Willis Lawson on Jan. 7, 1923, in New Ulm. He graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1940. He received his doctorate of veterinary medicine from Iowa State University in 1945 and was a member of the Farm House Fraternity. He was married to Ann Dybevik on Nov. 30, 1944, in Ames, Iowa. He served in the Army Veterinary Corps from 1952 to 1954. Bill practiced in Albert Lea for 43 years, specializing in the treatment of large animals, with a particular emphasis on swine diseases. He retired in 1991. An Elder at the First Presbyterian Church of Albert Lea, he taught men’s Bible class for many years. He served on the Freeborn County Public Health Nursing Board and as a director of the State Bank of Conger from 1958 until 1990. Bill was a 30-year member of the Albert Lea Lions Club, and after retiring, the Albert Lea Kiwanis. A hunter and fisherman, Bill loved the outdoors. Bill and Ann moved to Faribault in 1999 to be near family.
Bill is survived by his wife, Ann; daughter, Nancy (Kurt) Fischer of Faribault; son, David (Paula) Lawson of Ironwood, Mich.; five grandchildren, Heather Ring, Lisa Ring, Ellen Fischer, Matthew Lawson and Corey Lawson; sister, Helen Guiney of Fullerton, Calif.; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Kenneth.
A private family service will be held at the Memorial Mausoleum at Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis.
Arrangements are with the Parker Kohl Funeral Home of Faribault.
For guestbook and information please visit www.ParkerKohlFuneralHome.com.