Funeral services for William “Bill” Badt, 89, Savage, were at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 20, 2010, at the First Lutheran Church in Savage, with Pastor Nell Lindorff officiating.

Music was provided by Gloria Buxbaum, Lori Utter, Idelle Badt and Dick Propp. Casketbearers were Don Badt, Rod Buxbaum, Bob Propp, Darryl Buxbaum, Dan Scheetz and John Buxbaum. Honorary casketbearers were his nephews Dick Propp, Dan Loose, Delbert Loose, Donald Buxbaum, Terry Buxbaum, John Scheetz, Tom Scheetz, Dick Scheetz, David Badt, Jim Christiansen, Mike Anderson and Jonathan Anderson. Ushers were Doug Filler and Don Carter.

Interment took place in the Riverview Cemetery in Savage under the direction of Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com. William “Bill” Badt was born on June 8, 1920, to Henry and Mollie (Damm) Badt. He grew up and attended school in Culbertson. Bill was born into a family of farmers and remained one throughout his life. As a young man, Bill worked for John Buxbaum on his sugar beet farm. This job is where he was introduced to his future wife, Lydia, John’s daughter. They were married on Dec. 8, 1940, in Sidney and had four children.

Bill was a farmer through and through. Farming was more of an obsession than a profession to him, and no one spent more time on their hands and knees digging and scratching at the dirt than he did. He came to be known as the guy who had to be the first in the field in the spring and was especially upset if George Haffner beat him to the punch.

In 1969, Bill and Lydia left Sidney for a farm in Savage. Although he would never admit it, this move took quite an adjustment for them. It took years for Bill to slow down, if but a little, to the more relaxed style of his new neighbors. Bill and Lydia worked hand in hand to develop the first 160 acres, eventually purchasing two more quarter sections, much of which had to be cleared and leveled.

In 1983, the time finally came for Bill to retire. His retirement afforded him the opportunity to spend winters in Arizona, fish at his cabin on Lake Sakakawea and, of course, watch the crops grow. He was as excited when the Conradsens were harvesting as when he was doing it himself.

Lydia passed away on May 7, 1994. Bill continued to spend his winters in Arizona where he was later united in marriage to Agnes Reidle. In January 2001, health issues forced Bill to enter Sidney Health Center’s Extended Care facility. There are no words to express how grateful Bill’s family is for the care his “girlfriends” gave to him over the last nine years of his life at Extended Care. You have truly become extended family to Bill and his son, Bob.

Bill died on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at the Sidney Health Center Extended Care facility.

Bill is survived by his son, Robert (Olivia) Badt, Sidney, and his children Shelly, Rachel and Idelle; two daughters, Barbara Holzwarth, Virginia, and her children Michael, Steven and Lori, and Deborah (David) Rowe, Virginia, and their children Lindsay, Vanessa, Kayla and Jenna; grandchildren, Susan Wetstein, Pamela Haverstraw, Erica Van Cleave and Dean Webber, all of Washington state; 11 great-grandchildren; sister, Ann Christensen, Nebraska; brother, Henry (Erma) Badt, Hamilton; sister-in-law, Martha Badt, Sidney; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Lydia and Agnes; daughter, Patricia Webber; brothers Alex, Herman and Bob; sisters, Dorothy Badt and Esther Scheetz.