William Burl RIDOUT

RIDOUT, MCINTIRE, HIGGINS, FOUST, UNGERN, WATSON, NORRIS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/15/2009 at 10:47:45

William “Bill” Burl Ridout, the son of Burl N. and Wilma E. (McIntire) Ridout, was born March 5, 1938, in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Bill first attended school in Armstrong and then Estherville, graduating from Estherville High School in 1956. He then received his B.S. Degree in Biology from Morningside College, Sioux City in 1960; attended the University of Iowa Medical School; received his M.S. in Zoology from the University of Iowa in June of 1967 and his Law Degree in August of 1967, from the University of Iowa law school. Bill was admitted to the Iowa Bar in 1967. On June 19, 1960, Bill was united in marriage with Carol M. Higgins, at the United Methodist Church in Estherville. In 1948, Bill served as a Page in the Iowa State Senate, while his father, Burl served as a State Senator in Des Moines. During his college years, Bill worked for the Iowa Conservation Commission’s rough fish division, the fish hatchery and also served as Lake Patrol at the Iowa Great Lakes. He also taught Zoology labs at the U of I. Bill returned to Estherville in 1967 and opened a law office above the Estherville Drug then was affiliated with a law firm in Denison from 1969 to 1970 and returned to Estherville and practiced with the law firm Sanderson, Sanderson and Ridout. He served as County Attorney in Emmet County for several years and also as the school attorney. Bill was a member of the Emmet County Bar Association and Trial Lawyers of America.

Bill was a member of the United Methodist Church – serving on numerous boards, teaching adult Sunday school classes and chaperoning canoe trips to the Boundary Waters. He also served as a member of the Big Brothers Association, Jaycees, Kiwanis, YMCA, Chamber of Commerce, the North Star Masonic Lodge #447 and over 25 years on the Parks and Recreation Board. In 1982, Bill was appointed to the Iowa Conservation Commission (Department of Natural Resources) by Gov. Terry Branstad. Bill had great respect and a passion for the outdoors and thoroughly enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and biking - participating in RAGBRAI for a number of years and served as the local chairperson for Estherville’s hosting of an overnight stay in 1982. He also enjoyed traveling, dancing, playing cards, baking bread and was an avid Hawkeye Fan.

Bill passed away on Monday, September 14th, 2009, at the Good Samaritan Society in Estherville, after suffering with Parkinson’s disease for many years, at he age of 71 years. He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Carol M. Ridout of Estherville; son, Mark A. Ridout of Boise, Idaho; daughter, Lisa M. Foust and husband Chad of Eagle Grove; brother, Dennis A. Ridout and wife Carla of Estherville; grandson, Tyler Foust of Eagle Grove; nephews, Travis Ridout and wife Carolyn and Todd Watson and wife JoAnn; nieces, Ashley Norris and husband Aaron and Lori Ungern and husband Peter; two great- nieces and two great-nephews and many other friends and relatives.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, September 17th, 2009, 11:00 a.m. from the United Methodist Church in Estherville, with Pastor Lynn A. Potter, officiating. Visitation will be held, Wednesday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Oak Hill Cemetery, Estherville. Memorials may be directed to the United Methodist Camp Scholarship Fund, Good Samaritan Society, Estherville Public Library, the E-LC Foundation or the Estherville Parks and Recreation. Foust Funeral Home, Eagle Grove in charge of arrangements.

http://www.funeralplan.com/foustfh/obits?id=178720