In Memorium

William L. (Bill) Connor, 50, jubilantly cast off his human covering and returned to spirit on Tuesday, September 2, 2008, certain to be greeted by his two heroes in this life, his beloved son, Jaran, and his lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
Born to Marge Connor in Saint Paul, MN, on March 1, 1958, Bill’s childhood was filled with challenges that he would later credit as instrumental in shaping his adult view of the world. With no family car to travel the local streets, Bill grew adept at using the city transit system, where he typically rode free of charge, having learned early in his life the benefits of having charisma. The hundreds of bus rides made him develop an early love of motor coaches, and eventually led him to shed the responsibilities of a credit card bank president to form Prairie Coach Trailways which he ran out of Dell Rapids. He was never happier than when he was behind the wheel of one of the twelve buses in his fleet.
Since Bill’s childhood was so deficient in the things of the world, he learned to find joy in giving rather than receiving, a trait that influenced him as he matured. An ordinary day for Bill would be turned into a joyful one if he found an opportunity to help someone in some small way. For Bill, it was never about, “What can you do for me?” but “How can I help you?” After his son, Jaran was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer in 1999, Bill was inspired to form a nonprofit corporation, appropriately named Angel Bus. The mission of Angel Bus was to coordinate travel for terminally ill children in luxury motor coaches around the country. Before his illness, Bill personally drove several Angel Bus missions. He was always humbled by the opportunity to serve those most in need.
Bill was diagnosed with acute leukemia 20 days after his son passed away in 2004, and has been fighting the disease in one form or another since then, with rare periods of remission. When first diagnosed four years ago, Bill’s goal was to live to celebrate his 50th birthday. He met that goal this year. Shortly afterward, the leukemia fiercely returned. Bill was currently undergoing chemotherapy in preparation of a stem cell transplant when infection took his life. To Bill, the leukemia didn’t win, God just had a new job assignment for him to do in heaven.
Left to celebrate his wonderful life are his wife of 10 years, Nola from Colton; mother, Marge Hughes in Brainerd, MN; foster parents Grant and Judith Johnson in Pillager, MN; daughter Anika (Jake) Athman and their daughter, Ava, of Sartell, MN; several brothers and sisters spread around the country, and beloved friends Mary Schmidt, Nate and Kristy Heinert, Roy and Elaine Van Liere, and many others too numerous to mention who have been cherished prayer warriors through the best and worst of times. Special appreciation is extended to the physicians at Avera Hematology (Kelly, Vinod, Steve) and their nursing staff who all provided extraordinary medical care to Bill throughout the last four years. In every possible way, they truly cared for Bill’s life. Left to mourn Bill is his treasured Golden Retriever, Reagan, from whom Bill learned many lessons in the fine art of unconditional love and the power of patience.
At Bill’s request, a private memorial service will be held. In lieu of flowers or memorial gifts to the family, it is requested that all memorials be directed to the nonprofit River of Hope Foundation who so selflessly and lovingly provided Bill with his dream landscape and pond in the last days of his life. Contributions to bless other cancer patients with a “river of hope” can be sent to the River of Hope Foundation in care of First National Bank in Dell Rapids, SD 57022.