William Miller Dickson
William Miller Dickson passed away on Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Topeka, Kansas. He was born August 3, 1934, in Emporia, Kansas, the son of John A. and Melissa Miller Dickson. He grew up in the Miller community and graduated from Miller Rural High School. In 1956, he graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Animal Science. After graduation, William spent three years in the United States Air Force flying as a navigator on a KC 97 refueling aircraft, refueling B 47’s and B 52’s aircraft in the air.
On August 28, 1955, Bill married Marion Louise Robinson in Emporia. To this union, three children were born, Debra, Dale, and Denise. After his military service, Bill joined the Kansas State University Extension Service serving as County Agricultural Agent in Neosho and Morris Counties, then spending the remainder of his career as an extension farm management specialist in Northeast Kansas.
His wife, Louise of 28 years passed away on October 29, 1983. On June 1, 1985, Bill married Velma Tucker McLain in Council Grove, Kansas.
Upon retirement, Bill spent most of his time in community service. He was one of the founders of the Council Grove Area Foundation and the Council Grove Life Center, also serving on the boards of the Council Grove United Methodist Church, the Morris County 4-H Foundation and Morris County Hospital Foundation. He was a trustee on the Morris County Hospital Board for 17 years. In 2018, he and Velma moved to the Aldersgate Village Retirement Community in Topeka. Bill will be remembered by his wife, Velma; daughter, Debra Pryor of Manhattan, Kansas; son, Dale K. (Dodi) of Shawnee, Kansas; daughter, Denise (Jim) Tatman of Coffeyville, Kansas; stepdaughters, Cheryl (John) Alves of Durango, Colorado and Shana (Tom) Ziegler of Perry, Kansas; brothers, Willard of Topeka, and Wayne of Emporia; sister, Betty Weaverling of Salina, Kansas; 9 grandchildren; and sixteen great-grandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, John and Melissa Dickson, and brothers, John Arthur, Jr., and Dale E. Dickson, sister-in-law, Ann Dickson, brother-in-law, Bill Weaverling, sons-in-law, Gary Pryor and Jon Picolet, and grandson, Matt Picolet.
Bill’s family is honoring Bill’s request to be cremated. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026, at Manchester’s Wesley Hall at Aldersgate Village, 7220 SW Asbury Drive, Topeka KS 66614. Inurnment will be at Reading Cemetery immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Morris County Hospital Foundation or the Council Grove Area Fondation, or Aldersgate Employees Christmas Fund, sent in care of Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614.
Bill’s memorial service will be live-streamed on the funeral home’s Facebook page, you can follow this link. https://www.facebook.com/ profile.php?id=100063672125244 Condolences may be sent online at www.kevinbrennanfamily.com.