Billie Noecker

Monday, March 21, 2022 1:00 am

Billie Noecker, age 72 of Decorah, IA passed away on Sunday, March 20, 2022 at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, March 25, 2022, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1638 Big Canoe Rd., rural Decorah, with Rev. Nancy Solomonson presiding. Burial will be in the Hesper Public Cemetery with military rites. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at the church on Friday.

Billie Milo Noecker was born Dec. 20, 1949, in Spring Grove, Minn., to Milo and Ida (Quandahl) Noecker. Billie was raised on the family farm north of Decorah and lived there most of his life. His early years of education were spent in one room schoolhouses including those referred to as “Knoke” and “The Cottontail Ranch”. When the North Winneshiek school was built, Billie attended and was a member of their first graduating class in 1968. After high school Billie enlisted in the United States Army and spent two years serving as a medic at bases in North Carolina, Washington State, and Texas. Upon his discharge from the military, Billie returned home and picked up where he left off in helping with his family’s farming operation. Over the years they grew corn, soybeans, and oats, and raised Polled Hereford cattle.

On Sept. 21, 1974, Billie was united in marriage to Mary Stone at St. John’s Lutheran church in Waukon, Iowa. To this union three children were born, Billy, Rachel, and Sarah. Billie and Mary’s marriage later ended, but they remained lifelong friends and the best example of divorced parents their children could have ever asked for.Beyond farming, Billie spent many years bartending for his sister and brother-in-law at Matter’s Ballroom in Decorah. In the mid 1980’s Billie started substitute bus driving for the North Winneshiek school and soon had his own full-time route, which he proudly drove for thirty-two years until the school closed in 2019.

Self-described as an “easy keeper”, Billie took life as it came and was never one to complain. He loved meeting and learning to know new people and could strike up a conversation with anyone, and usually did. Although Billie did some traveling while he was in the military, he was most content close to home. He loved nothing more than when someone would stop at the farm to visit, and he always had a spot on the porch or under the pine tree, a Pepsi, and good conversation to offer. He really looked forward to the Winneshiek County Fair every summer, Hesper Mabel Steam Engine Days in the fall, and any time spent with family, especially if it included a home-cooked meal with pie and ice cream for dessert.

Billie is survived by his son Billy (Tess) Noecker of New Town, N.D.; daughter Rachel Noecker of Waukon; and daughter Sarah (Thor) Haugen of Harmony, Minn.; three grandchildren: Sully, Aurora, and Wulf Haugen; his twin sister Bettie (Les) Fox of Oelwein; sister Suzanne (John) Matter of Decorah; and brother-in-law Keith Walsh of Decorah; three nieces: Kerri (Dustin) Hunter of Mingo, IA, Erica (Robb) Worrell of Sparta, Wis., and Jennifer Matter (Ed) Lin of Seattle, Wash.; a great niece and several great nephews, and several cousins.

Billie was proceeded in death by his parents, Milo and Ida Noecker; his sister Margo Walsh; and brother Michael Noecker.