William “Bill” Lewis Stevenson Jr, 78, of Horton, Kansas, passed away at his home on Thursday, March 26, 2026. He was born on December 8, 1947, in Lawrence, Kansas, the son of Judge, William Lewis and Myrtle Irene (Benton) Stevenson Sr.
Bill graduated from Highland Community and the Kansas University with a bachelor’s degree in Business. He was the American Family Insurance agent in Horton, Kansas for over thirty-nine years. Bill was, at his core, a simple man - and to those who knew him best, his life’s work as an American Family Insurance agent said nearly everything about who he was: steady, dependable, humble, and quietly devoted to the people and things he cared about.
He found his greatest joys not in grand gestures, but in the rhythms of a life well lived. Bill was rarely happier than when he was alongside his beloved hunting dogs, Kris and Jack, or preparing for the next outing. Hunting was not just a pastime, but a lifelong passion - dove, quail, and pheasant seasons marking time in a way no calendar ever could. He approached it all with care and precision: his clothes laid out just so, his gear in perfect order, and his guns meticulously cleaned for hours after each hunt, ready for the next. An avid walker, Bill’s daily miles were more than exercise - they were preparation, a quiet commitment to the pursuits he loved. That same dedication carried into his traditions, none more cherished than the Indianapolis 500. Each year, he eagerly counted down the days and hours, calling friends at his own uniquely precise times – never quite on the hour – to make sure no one missed the moment. Bill’s friends will remember his unmistakable corniness, his unconventional timing (a 3:04 call instead of 3:00). And his habit of signing off with a simple, familiar phrase: “I’m out, see you soon on the flipside.” Those small, consistent quirks became the very things that made him unforgettable.
Bill is preceded in death by both of his parents: Judge William Stevenson Sr. and Myrtle Irene Stevenson.
Survivors include: Richard and his wife, Katrina Stevenson from Overland Park, Ks. Lane Rodvelt, Godson, Horton, Ks.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at the Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary in Horton, Kansas where the family will greet friends from 10 A.M. until service time. Burial will follow at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Hiawatha, Kansas. There will be a reception immediately following the burial in The Carwell Building at the Brown County Ag Museum, 301 E Iowa St.
