Below, I have shamelessly copied Bill Hall’s biography which
was written by his wife, Frances M (FURHMAN) HALL. She can tell his story better
than I could. Names of anyone still living have been removed out of respect for
their privacy, if I have missed anyone, I apologize. Otherwise this is unedited and exactly as Frances HALL wrote it
sometime after her son Ron HALL died in 1985 and before she died in 1987.
William Jonathan “Bill” Hall 1910-1989
Below, I have shamelessly copied Bill Hall’s biography which
was written by his wife, Frances M (FURHMAN) HALL She can tell his story better
than I could. Names of anyone still living have been removed out of respect for
their privacy otherwise this is unedited and exactly as Frances wrote it
sometime after Ron Hall died in 1985 and before she died in 1987.
William (Bill) J. Hall -- Frances M. Fuhrman - Wife
Bill was born in Onawa, Iowa, August 26, 1910, the second
son of J. Richard and Hannah Shellenberger. Bill's father, Richard, often
called Jerry or Dick, was born on a farm near Smithland, Iowa. Bill's mother
was born in the rural Blencoe area. His father worked in a lumber yard a few
years and went to farming near Castana when Bill was a small boy. Mr. Hall
played the violin and often played for country dances in family homes.
The first car they owned was a Model T. Ford. Bill's dad did not drive a car, horses
were to his liking, so Sam and Bill did the driving of the family car. In later
years when the older boys were gone form the home, Mrs. Hall did the driving.
Bill's parents farmed near Castana until 1952. They retired and moved to Onawa
in November of that year. Bill has seven sisters and five brothers: Anna (JENKINS)
of Austin, Minnesota; Margaret, died in infancy; Doris (COLLETT) of Onawa, died
in 1984; Nellie (RODGERS) of Onawa; Betty (GEORGIOUS) of Denison; Eileen (SICK)
of Onawa; STILL LIVING of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Samuel R. of Castana; Clarence
(Bud) of Venice, Florida; Glen, deceased; Richard Eugene Jr., died in early
childhood; James Calvin, of Amarillo, Texas. In the fall of 1932 (the lean
thirty years) Bill went to North Dakota for the harvest. He worked on a farm
that winter and next year. He met Francis and in April 1933, they were married.
In September 1933, they came to Iowa. Bill worked as a farm laborer on farms
near Turin and Castana. He worked for Bill Hussell of Turin for many years. He
started farming for himself in the early forties and rented a farm from Mr.
Hussell near Castana.
Bill and Frances had four children: Ronald William, deceased
March 20, 1985; STILL LIVING of Arvada, Colorado; Roger Gene, of Onawa, Iowa; STILL
LIVING of Elizabeth, Colorado. All four children graduated from the
Castana School. The boys were active in sports and STILL LIVING was active in
sports and vocal music. They attended the Castana Community Church. After
graduation from high school, the boys joined the Navy.
[Removed out of respect for privacy of the living. Bill HALL’s
biography is affected minimally by this removal.]
While raising the family, Bill had several jobs along with
and after his farming. He worked on construction, drove the Castana school bus,
and was custodian of Castana School for a few years. A farmer at heart, he quit
the job of custodian and went to work on a farm south of Castana for Thayer E.
Brown II of Turin. We have lived on this farm for about twenty-five years and
are semi-retired. As a hobby, Bill raises watermelons.
After the children were grown,
Francis worked at various jobs. Operated the Sweete Shoppe in Castana for a few
years, was cook at the Castana School for several years, was secretary of the
school for a couple of years, was a cook at Bennett Nursing Home in Turin for
several years, and a waitress at the Happy Chef in Onawa for several years,
retiring in December of 1984. In April 1983 we celebrated our 50th Wedding
Anniversary. All four of our children and their families were able to be there.
Our children hosted the reception and Castana Ladies Aid served. The reception
was in the Castana Community Church.
We have eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
by F.M.H.
Bill HALL died February 10, 1989 in Castana, Iowa. He was
buried at Center Cemetery, Castana, Monona County, Iowa on February 13, 1989.
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