Bill Busse, age 80 of Prior Lake passed away the morning of Saturday, May 31, 2014. His family will greet friends at the visitation on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 from 4:00-7:00 PM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, Prior Lake. The Celebration of Life Service is Thursday, June 5, 2014 at 11:00 AM with visitation one hour prior at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Prior Lake. Rev. John P. Vaughn will preside. Bill will be laid to rest at St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in Prior Lake.

On January 18, 1934 William Harold Busse was born to parents William and Martha (Klingberg) Busse at their farmhouse in Prior Lake. Bill was the younger brother to Betty. It was on the family farm that Bill’s strong work ethic developed. Bill began working as a bus driver at the age of 15. He’d pick kids up, drive them to the Shakopee High School, attend classes and then drive them back home. Bill enjoyed playing basketball and baseball during his school years. He continued playing baseball and softball for 20+ years after graduating from Shakopee.

It was at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Prior Lake that Bill met a beautiful young gal named Carole Trom. As luck would have it, he drove her home from a dance one evening, and the two began dating. Their love blossomed, and they were married on June 6, 1953. Bill and Carole took over farming for his parents and started a family of their own. They were blessed with three children, Randy, Patti and Mike along with seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. As a family they enjoyed life on the farm. Every summer once the crops were planted, Bill and Carole would take their family on a trip up north to get away and spend time with family and friends.

Bill was a lifelong, 4th generation farmer and the farm has been in his family since the 1850’s. Bill was always busy with other endeavors. He owned and operated the Prior Lake Feed Mill and started a fertilizer business. Bill also spent 49 years as a bus owner/operator. Everyone loved having Bill for their bus driver. At the end of the school year he treated all the kids on his route to a Dilly bar at the Dairy Queen. Bill had a way of making life a little sweeter for everyone.

He was a do-it-yourself kind of Mr. Fix-It who would never shy away from a challenge. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially with his grandchildren. He loved spending time outside on the farm and was a great conservationist. He planted trees, dug ponds and planted food plots for wildlife. He enjoyed his land as much as possible. Bill was the ultimate storyteller. He never missed an opportunity to share his stories with everyone. The 4th of July was an annual tradition at the Busse Farm. Family and friends were invited for a day long BBQ which ended with a great fireworks display. His grandkids especially loved his elaborate Easter egg hunts as much as he loved doing them. Bill had many passions in his life but family was always the most important. Bill was a soft-hearted, family-man and a friend to everyone he met.

Bill passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. He was at home on the farm he loved so much in the same house he was born in 80 years earlier.
Left to honor his life and mourn his death is his wife of 61 years, Carole Busse; children, Randy (Mary) Busse, Patti (Terry) Quinnell, Mike Busse; grandchildren, Jason (Chris) Theis, Chris (Stacie) Theis, Matt Quinnell, Kelsey Quinnell, Allison Quinnell, Bill Busse and Kristine Busse; great-grandchildren, Ella Theis, Landen Theis and Harper Theis; sister, Betty (Bill) Mesenbrink; many nieces and nephews; other loving relatives and many friends.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents.

Pall bearers are Bill’s grandchildren, Jason, Chris, Matt, Kelsey, Allison, Bill and Kristine.

The Busse family is served with honor, care and compassion by Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, Prior Lake.

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