William C. 'Bill' Hickman

Funeral services for William C. ‘Bill’ Hickman, age 87, will be held Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. at the Assembly of God Church near Plummer. A graveside service will precede the service at noon, 12:00 p.m., at the Worley Cemetery. Pastors Chuck Inks and Randall Cordle will officiate at the services. Mr. Hickman passed away Dec. 24, 2013, at the rural Worley home.

He was born June 19, 1926 at Idaho Falls to Claude and Mabel (Parsons) Hickman. He grew up on the family farm started by his father in 1907. He attended Worley schools and graduated from Worley High School in 1944. Since high school, Bill has completed college courses in Business Administration. Bill started farming with his father at an early age, and has managed the farm since 1948. He farmed, producing wheat, peas, lentils, barley, oats, and grass seed.

Bill married Zella Lawrence and to their union was born a daughter, Naoma Hickman. Bill married Hazel Slusher Cooper on January 29, 1976 at Post Falls, Idaho. Hazel brought to the union four children, Teri, Ronald, Nancy, and Alice. Hazel survives at the family home.

Bill was very active in his community and his church. He was a member of the Assembly of God Church at Plummer; was a member of the Worley School Board for 12 years (1957 – 1969), 8 years as chairman; a 2-term member of the Kootenai County Agricultural Stabilization Service; a 3-year member of the Soil Conservation Service Advisory Committee; a 6-year member of the USA Pea and Lentil Council, a 6-year member of the Idaho Dry Pea and Lentil Commission; a 12-year Director of the Kootenai Electric Cooperative from 1970 – 1982; President of the Idaho State Highway Commissioners Association from 1983 – 1984; and has been a longtime commissioner of the Worley Highway District. Bill also served on the Landholders Sportsman Council, Lions Club, Panhandle Health Board, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and was a Kootenai County Resident Deputy Sheriff for 20 years.

His hobbies included Mechanical Engineering, welding, hunting, fishing, travel, and music. Bill played the steel guitar and electric keyboard. He enjoyed playing gospel and country western music.

Survivors include his wife Hazel at the Worley home; his children and (spouses); daughter Naoma Hickman Dreher (Monty) of Salida, Calif., Teri (Terry) Rice of Kingman, Ariz., Ronald (Kristi) Cooper of Athol, Nancy (Robert) Quinn of Hayden, and Alice Cooper of Mica, Wash.; 12 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Memorial gifts may be given to Hospice of North Idaho, 9493 N. Government Way, Hayden, ID 83835 or to the Assembly of God Church, P.O. Box 257, Plummer, ID 83851.

Kramer Funeral Home of Tekoa, Washington is handling the arrangements.