Chester Alvin "Chet" Bills (1916-2002)

BILLS, DODD, PRITCHARD, BLAIR, SEARS, DIETRICK, GRAY, TRENT

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/11/2014 at 13:05:05

From Nevada Journal November 21, 2002

Chester Alvin Bills
Oct. 23, 1916 to Nov. 18, 2002

Chester Alvin Bills, 86, of Nevada, died of pneumonia on Monday, Nov. 18, at Rolling Green Village in Nevada.

He was born on Oct. 30, 1916, in Unionville, Mo., to Franklin and Leosha (Dodd) Bills. He grew up in the Unionville area and attended the Lone Star schools in Putnam County, Mo. Chet was an Army veteran of W. W. II, serving in the European theater and received the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and the Combat Infantryman Badge. He married Gloria Pritchard on Sept. 30, 1944, in Nevada. He retired in 1981 for the maintenance department with the Story County Road Department. He was a member of the Memorial Lutheran Church, William F. Ball American Legion Post No. 48, 40 & 8, V.F.W. Post No. 2209, DAV -- 34th Infantry Division Association and Moose Lodge #520. He enjoyed reading, playing cards, gardening and dancing. He had been resident of Nevada since 1945.

Survivors include his wife, Gloria Bills, of Nevada; two daughters, Judith Blair of Nevada and Sharon (and Richard) Sears of Des Moines; a son, Craig Bills (and Pam Deitrick) of Nevada; one grandson; one great-granddaughter; six step-grandchildren and 11 step great-grandchildren.

Chet is preceded in death by his parents; five brothers, Earnest Milton, Charlie, Everette (Happy), Jesse Bills and James in infancy; four sisters, Gelena Gray, Edith Bills, Leta Trent and Clara in infancy; a son-in-law, Ted Blair, and one grandson, Timothy Sears.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Memorial Lutheran Church in Nevada with Pastor Myron D. Herzberg officiating. Military graveside rites were conducted at the Nevada Municipal Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Memorial Lutheran Church in Nevada.